Wednesday night football works its way to Texas for a CUSA clash between a Sam Houston Bearkats team yet to get their first FBS win and an FIU Golden Panthers program going through a losing streak of their own.
Who emerges victorious? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Sam Houston vs. FIU prediction.
Sam Houston vs. FIU Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Tuesday, Otc. 17, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Sam Houston vs. FIU odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Sam Houston -5.5 - Moneyline
Sam Houston -218, FIU +180 - Over/Under
40.5 points - Game time
7 p.m. ET - Location
Elliott T. Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, TX - Predicted Weather at Kick
64 degrees, 8-10 mph winds, clear - How to Watch
FuboTV, CBS Sports Network
Can you make a few bucks on the Bearkats as they battle for a first FBS win? Are you happy to plunder some pennies on the Panthers? If you’re going to take advantage of the Sam Houston vs. FIU odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Is this the week that KC Keeler’s team snag their debut FBS win? For the first time this season, they enter the game as a favorite. FIU has won two games as a moneyline underdog this season already — against North Texas and UConn — but is 2-3 on the year when entering a game in that position.
Our Sam Houston vs. FIU prediction explains why that could be 2-4 by Thursday.
Although the Panthers are 2-3 as a moneyline underdog, they’ve covered the spread three times out of the five when they’re been a spread ‘dog. FIU hasn’t covered the spread during their current three-game losing streak, but with the struggles Sam Houston has had on offense, it’s difficult to imagine that a first win comes by anything other than the finest of margins.
Prepare yourself for a low-scoring affair in Huntsville on Wednesday night. Despite FIU having some exciting offensive playmakers, neither team has been prolific and this is likely to be a defensive affair. Between the two teams, they’ve played 13 games with just four covering the over. It’s a low line — obviously — but there’s a solid chance this game limbos under it.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Sam Houston Depth Chart | FIU Depth Chart
- QB Keegan Shoemaker, Sam Houston ($10,000)
- QB Keyone Jenkins, FIU ($9,200)
- RB Kejon Owens, FIU ($8,600)
- RB John Gentry, Sam Houston ($7,700)
- RB Shomari Lawrence, FIU ($6,700)
- RB Adrian Murdaugh, Sam Houston ($5,500)
- RB Tobias Weaver, Sam Houston ($5,200)
- RB Zach Hrbacek, Sam Houston ($5,000)
- WR Noah Smith, Sam Houston ($9,000)
- WR Kris Mitchell, FIU ($8,100)
- WR Malik Phillips, Sam Houston ($7,500)
- WR Al’Vonte Woodard, Sam Houston ($7,100)
- WR Eric Rivers, FIU ($6,100)
- WR Jalen Bracey, FIU ($5,800)
- WR Dean Patterson, FIU ($5,600)
- TE Elijah Sohn, Sam Houston ($5,200)
- TE Trapper Pannell, Sam Houston ($5,000)
- TE Josiah Miamen, FIU ($5,100)
- TE Jackson McDonald, FIU ($4,800)
There are two college football games on Wednesday to compile your DFS team from in Week 8. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “superflex” that can be any of the above. Or you can also select a tight end for the Superflex spot.
A potentially low-scoring game should limit your Sam Houston vs. FIU picks for fantasy and DFS purposes. New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia is in action on this Wednesday night slate, and he’s comfortably the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback on display with 165.7 points ahead of Week 8.
Keyone Jenkins is the best superflex option of the two QBs here.
Shomari Lawrence and Kejon Owens are vying for your attention as a running back selection as two of the top-scoring CUSA backs. Lawrence leads the Panthers in touches and yards, Owens has four scores and averages more yards per carry.
Pick one and stick with your gut, because there’s too much uncertainty in the Sam Houston backfield even to attempt a dalliance there.
FIU WR Kris Mitchell leads the conference’s pass-catchers in fantasy points, and has been good for at least 70 yards in each of the last five games. That said, he’s yet to score a touchdown in the last three. Sam Houston’s Noah Smith might be an under-the-radar play, leading the team in targets, yards, and touchdowns. He had two scores last time out.
Prediction for Sam Houston vs. FIU
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Sam Houston vs. FIU odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Can FIU halt their current losing streak to register their first CUSA win of the year at the fifth time of asking? Or is this the game where the Bearkats break through for a first win of their FBS tenure?
There’s a lot on the line on Wednesday night.
After losing narrowly to Louisiana Tech in Week 0, FIU embarked on a three-game win streak that included a victory over former CUSA foe North Texas. In that Mean Green matchup, young quarterback Jenkins showcased a dangerous and difficult dual-threat skill set that promised exciting times for the Panthers.
However, they’ve struggled to move the ball since then, ranking second last in CUSA for yards per carry in the ground game, throwing a conference-low five touchdown passes, with the result being five games where they’ve scored less than 20 points. Sam Houston has hardly been prolific on that side of the ball either, with running back injuries contributing to an anemic offense.
The Bearkats have just one game in six with more than 20 points. As such, a defensive battle should ensue on Wednesday night. Here, Sam Houston holds the advantage despite FIU boasting playmakers like Donovan Manuel and Hezekiah Masses.
Watch out for Trevor Williams, Kavian Gaither, and Caleb Weaver to be the difference makers in a close-fought first Bearkats win.
Prediction: Sam Houston 17, FIU 14