The Charlotte 49ers (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) and Florida International Panthers (1-4, 0-1) tangle in a Friday night contest at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Charlotte vs. FIU odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Charlotte heads on the road for the third time in four weeks. The 49ers are coming off a 24-14 loss at Illinois in which Charlotte was held to a season-low 263 yards. The 49ers were torched for 336 yards on the ground, and that’s part of a season-long trend. Charlotte ranks 128th in FBS with 254.8 rushing yards allowed per game.
The Panthers are back at home after losing three straight on the road and FIU has dropped four straight overall. For the season, the Panthers rank 118th with 35.2 points allowed per game and 128th in total defense with 502.8 yards allowed per game. Florida International is looking for its first Conference USA victory since Nov. 2, 2019.
The 49ers and Panthers are meeting on the gridiron for the first time since 2019. FIU is 5-0 all-time against Charlotte (2-2-1 against the spread).
Charlotte at FIU odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Charlotte -170 (bet $170 to win $100) | FIU +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread (ATS): Charlotte -3.5 (-107) | FIU +3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 60.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Charlotte at FIU odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Charlotte 38, FIU 35
Money line
Charlotte has a win over Duke and a respectable outing at Illinois on its record. The 49ers look to be getting a bit too much of a lean with the public, and the betting lean here is with the Panthers.
PASS on the money line, though. A price of +145 or better would be required for any value.
Against the spread
Panther QB Max Bortenschlager has tossed 2 TD passes in each game. The redshirt senior is a transfer from Maryland who has thrown for 250-plus yards in four of five games.
Bortenschlager has some talented weapons to target, and that FIU pass game gives the home side a puncher’s chance against a Charlotte team on a short week and playing its third road game in four weeks.
BACK FIU +3.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Over is 4-1 in this series, and the four wins have been decisive (23.6-point margin of cover).
The FIU defense hasn’t really stopped anyone. Look for Charlotte to have success running the ball and in producing a few explosive plays in the passing game. Peg the Panthers as being able to manufacture some big plays in the air as well.
In analytic measures like havoc and finishing drives, both offenses figure to have a sizable advantage.
TAKE THE OVER 60.5 (-112).
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