The late-game window of the Week 0 slate brings intrigue and sets the stage for what the Conference USA should look like this fall. FIU is in the process of a slow rebuild while Louisiana Tech may be a powerhouse in the C USA this fall.
The FIU vs. Louisiana Tech prediction indicates which side you should take ahead of Vegas figuring out both sides in 2023.
FIU vs. Louisiana Tech Betting Preview
- Spread
Louisiana Tech (-11.5) - Moneyline
Louisiana Tech (-450); FIU (+370) - Over/Under
58.5 total points - Game time
9 p.m. ET - Location
Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, LA - Predicted Weather at Kick
87 degrees, clear, 2-4 mph winds - How to Watch
FuboTV, CBS Sports Network
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
All values below come from FanDuel’s multi-team entries for the weekend. For each team’s depth chart:
FIU Depth Chart | Louisiana Tech Depth Chart
- QB Hank Bachmeier, Louisiana Tech ($9,500)
- QB Grayson James, FIU ($7,500)
- RB Shomari Lawrence, FIU ($6,800)
- RB Charvis Thornton, Louisiana Tech ($6,400)
- RB Craig Williams, Louisiana Tech ($6,000)
- RB Antonio Patterson, FIU ($5,600)
- WR Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech ($8,700)
- WR Cyrus Allen, Louisiana Tech ($7,400)
- WR Jalen Bracey, FIU ($6,300)
- WR Bud Holloway, Louisiana Tech ($6,000)
- WR Kris Mitchell, FIU ($5,900)
- WR Tru Edwards, Louisiana Tech ($4,400)
- TE Dean Patterson, FIU ($5,300)
- TE Nate Jones, Louisiana Tech ($5,300)
- TE Josiah Miamen, FIU ($4,900)
There are plays to be made in this game if you’re setting your Saturday lineups. In fact, you could load up your lineups with multiple players from this outing and wait until the late-game window opens to watch your team load up on points.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs got a lot better in the first year under Sonny Cumbie. They’re a talented bunch with a fast offense that added a specific addition this offseason that makes them even better.
Hank Bachmeier, the toughest quarterback in the country, enters the fray to give a consistent presence for the Bulldogs. Bachmeier is one of the top Group of Five quarterbacks when healthy, and when protected.
All too often during his Boise State career, Bachmeier was forced off his spot, made to throw under duress, or just simply beaten in the pocket because of porous offensive line play. While Tech’s offensive line isn’t quite an upgrade from Boise State’s, the offensive scheme is.
Bachmeier will get the ball out quickly and use his progressive read game to navigate this deep receiving room with plenty of viable options.
If Caleb Williams is your Superflex play this week, put Bachmeier in your QB spot and roll with it.
On the receiving end for Bachmeier, everyone knows Smoke Harris from the inside. But prepare for the breakout year from Cyrus Allen.
Allen set records with his debut last season but suffered with an inconsistent target share and a nagging injury plagued the early stages of his career.
When he’s at his best, Allen is a shoo-in for 100 yards and a score. He’ll dominate outside, where Bachmeier is known for his accuracy.
FIU allowed 2.0 receiving touchdowns per game last season, while Tech averaged 1.8 on offense themselves. These set up for disaster for the Panthers’ defense, which didn’t do a whole lot to improve in coverage this offseason.
Allen is the play and look for another potential breakout from Tech WR Tru Edwards, who was listed as the starter on the outside opposite Allen for the Bulldogs. At $4,400 in a DFS lineup, grabbing a starting outside receiver against a poor secondary is a no-brainer.
Prediction for FIU vs. Louisiana Tech
If the DFS predictions above weren’t indicative enough, the Bulldogs are in a great position to easily take this contest over FIU. Bachmeier’s place in the lineup gives them a sure thing at quarterback and their receivers are two-deep at each position with playmakers.
They’ll have more than enough firepower to withstand a FIU roster that is in shambles and in need of more than one season to rebuild under head coach Mike MacIntyre.
The lapses in Louisiana Tech’s defense aren’t at major pain points and FIU’s offense isn’t nearly good enough to exploit them.
As poor as Louisiana’s Tech’s run defense was a season ago, allowing a Group of Five worst 37 carries of 20 or more yards, the FIU running back stable only averaged 78.9 yards per game last season. That figure ranked sixth-worst in the country.
Despite bringing in South Dakota’s Shomari Lawrence, the Panthers’ offensive line is in disarray outside of John Bock II at center.
Also, Grayson James as the starter shouldn’t strike fear into the Bulldogs, especially with how fast they should open the game on offense, and, conversely, how slow James took to get into rhythm last season.
Bachmeier and the Bulldogs put stake to their claim as the second-best Conference USA team with a dominant showing in Week 0.
Prediction: Louisiana Tech 34, FIU 20
