Tag: FIU Panthers

Duke football assistant coach agrees to become Florida International head coach

Duke football lost one of its top assistants to a head coaching job on Saturday morning.

The Duke football program lost one of its most decorated assistant coaches on Saturday morning when the FIU Panthers reportedly hired Willie Simmons as their next head coach.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Simmons agreed to a four-year contract with the program.

Simmons spent the past season as the Blue Devils’ running backs coach, and he helped veteran transfer Star Thomas and sophomore Peyton Jones both average more than four yards per carry. With presumed starter Jaquez Moore out with an injury for most of the season, that duo combined for 1,170 yards and 10 scores on the ground, and Thomas rattled off three straight 100-yard games in Weeks 3-5.

Before Simmons joined Manny Diaz’s staff this offseason, he spent nearly a decade as a head coach at Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M. He compiled a 66-24 record with both programs, including a stunning 12-1 season with the Rattlers in 2023.

FIU finished with a 4-8 record in 2024, the program’s third straight season with that exact record, and the Panthers have a 13-40 mark since 2020.

Penn State football’s season-opening results since 2000

Let’s take a look at every Penn State football season opener since 2000.

Penn State opens the 2021 college football season against Wisconsin on Sept. 4. It will be here before you know it. This got us to thinking about how the Nittany Lions have fared in their season openers since the year 2000. Needless to say, there have been some mixed results since the turn of the century.

Camellia Bowl: Florida International vs. Arkansas State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Camellia Bowl betting odds between the Florida International Panthers vs. the Arkansas State Red Wolves, with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Florida International Panthers (6-6) square off with the Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-5) in the Camellia Bowl Saturday in Montgomery, Ala., at 5:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Florida International-Arkansas State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Florida International-Arkansas State: Three things you need to know

  1. The Red Wolves own the better of the two offenses. ASU averaged 33.7 PPG (while yielding 34.8 PPG). The Panthers averaged just 26.5 PPG (allowing 26.7 PPG). However, ranked by yards per point, Florida International will be the third-best defense Arkansas State has seen this season.
  2.  Arkansas State won four consecutive games – from Oct. 26-Nov. 23 – before losing 34-31 at the South Alabama Jaguars Nov. 29. During their streak, the Wolves had three wins by seven points or less and piled up hidden yards by way of turnovers, special teams and uneven possessions. That stretch sent ASU into its game against South Alabama as a 10-point favorite to be faded.
  3. ASU averages just 3.6 yards per carry, so the Panthers pass defense – one putting up its best games the second half of the season – figures as a big key in this matchup. Since Oct. 5, FIU foes have completed just 51% of their pass attempts, gaining 149 yards per game with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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Florida International-Arkansas State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Florida International 31, Arkansas State 27

Moneyline (ML)

The 2017 and 2018 recruiting classes – which make for the bulk of talent on the field – show a definitive talent advantage for FIU. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL +105 is a go on the moneyline.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on FIU returns a profit of $10.50 if it wins.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The Panthers are 11-5 ATS over their last 16 games as an underdog. The Red Wolves are 1-4 ATS over their last five bowl games and 1-5 ATS over their last half-dozen non-conference affairs. Advantage FIU in talent and conference. Arkansas State is also a slight fade based on recent-game analytics. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL +2.5 (-110) is a solid play.

Over/Under (O/U)

PASS. No lean either way on the O/U of 63.5 (+115, -139).

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