Conference USA features a fresh look this season with four new squads, but two of the five returning schools face each other when the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs host the FIU Panthers as we look at our FIU vs. Louisiana Tech picks based on the best college football odds.
FIU was 4-4 through eight games last year but disappointingly ended on a four-game losing streak, with three of those four losses coming by 34-plus points. The Panthers begin Year 2 of the Mike MacIntyre era and look for their first winning record since going 9-4 under Butch Davis in 2018.
Louisiana Tech finished with an identical 2-6 conference record as FIU and one fewer win overall (3-9 overall record). The Bulldogs were CUSA's only winless team on the road last year (0-7) and, like FIU, are in the second year of a new head coaching regime under Sonny Cumbie.
Here is our best FIU vs. Louisiana Tech prediction and college football picks (odds via our best college football betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
FIU vs. Louisiana Tech prediction: Week 0
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A double-digit spread is a lot to lay in a matchup between two teams that finished in the basement of the conference last year for our college football best bets. But while FIU retains its starting quarterback, we are more excited about the ceiling of the Louisiana Tech offense after bringing in a high-profile transfer to be its signal caller.
Hank Bachmeier, a seasoned signal-caller hailing from Boise State, brings a wealth of experience to the table. With an impressive tally of 29 appearances spread across four seasons, his tenure on the field marks him as a gridiron veteran. Currently entrusted with the reins of Cumbie's high-octane air raid offensive scheme, Bachmeier finds himself at the forefront of an attacking juggernaut that, in its inaugural year under the head coach, delivered a compelling show of force, registering five instances of tallying 34 points or more.
Embarking on a new chapter with the Bulldogs, Bachmeier steps into an offense that boasts an enviable track record, securing a position within the top 60 of SP+ rankings for three consecutive seasons. To facilitate his seamless integration, he can rely on the dynamic receiving duo of Smoke Harris and Cyrus Allen. Harris, in particular, stands as a potent asset, solidifying his prominence with impressive stats. His name adorns the ranks of the most active NCAA players, resting at the third spot in total receptions (224), sixth in receptions per game (4.57), and sixth in receiving touchdowns (19). With such firepower at his disposal, Bachmeier is primed to hit the ground running as he embarks on this new chapter of his football journey.
While the Bulldogs had the second-worst scoring defense in the conference last year (455 points allowed), their weaknesses will not be exploited by an FIU offense that averaged 18.7 points per game, finished 115th or worse in EPA/pass and passing explosiveness, and returns just one of its three wide receivers who caught at least 25 passes last year.
FIU is still a team that lost 17 consecutive games to FBS teams. While MacIntyre eventually turned around the San Jose State and Colorado programs in his tenure, those turnarounds did not result in winning records until years three and four at those respective schools.
FIU vs. Louisiana Tech best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | bet365 |
| -11.5 (-110) | -11.5 (-110) | -11.5 (-110) | -11.5 (-110) | -11.5 (-110) |
| +11.5 (-110) | +11.5 (-110) | +11.5 (-110) | +11.5 (-110) | +11.5 (-110) |
With all five of our best sports betting apps in unison with a -11.5 point spread, BetRivers is our easy choice for our go-to shop to back the favorites, especially since it does not break the bank with a price of -113.
For those looking to wager on the underdogs, any of the following five sportsbooks offer the best value, but be sure to monitor the odds closer to kickoff in case there is any line movement in the next 24 hours.
Get the best FIU vs. Louisiana Tech odds with our BetRivers promo code: SBRBONUS.
FIU vs. Louisiana Tech odds
FIU vs. Louisiana Tech odds analysis
Most sportsbooks are in unison with an O/U of 58.5, while Caesars is the only shop at 59 (Caesars was as high as 59.5 at one point). Fifty-six percent of the early wagers have landed on the Over, which suggests the total should not move much before kickoff if the betting split remains relatively equal.
- When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 p.m. ET
- Where: Jon Aillet Stadium, Ruston, LA
- How to watch: CBSSN
- Weather: 103 degrees, 7% chance of precipitation, wind 6 mph NW
FIU-Louisiana Tech picks made 8/25/2023 at 7:10 a.m.
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