Start Date/Time: Saturday, September 1st, 2018. 7:00 PM

TV: CBS Sports Network (Brad Johansen/Danny Kanell

Radio: WAXY 790 AM The Ticket Miami (A.J. Ricketts and Kenny Kelly)

Location: Riccardo Silva Stadium, University Park, FL

Betting Line: -10.5 Indiana O/U 55

All-Time Series Record: Indiana-2 FIU-0 (Last matchup Indiana won 34-13 in 2016)

Preview

FIU torched most pre-season prognostications for them in 2017, by going 8-5 under Butch Davis in his return to college football. Heading into 2018, they’ll have to defy the odds again as they lost 10 starters from last year’s team.

However, there’s reason for optimism around this year’s Panther team.

FIU has a ton of depth on the offensive and defensive line in addition to a stable of running backs and talent at the skill positions.

Head coach Butch Davis has a track record of his team’s improving in the win column in his second season leading a program (Miami & North Carolina).

Indiana comes into 2018 at a bit of a crossroads. The Hoosiers went to back to back bowl games under Kevin Wilson in 2015 & 2016.

However, Wilson was forced to resign under a cloud of controversy and Tom Allen took the reigns before the Foster Farms Bowl in 16’.

Allen’s record in thirteen games is 5-8 and last season ended on a sour note with rival Purdue taking the Old Oaken Bucket and Indiana’s shot a bowl game away from them.

Peyton Ramsey is firmly entrenched as the starting QB having beaten out former Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins.

However, he’ll be missing last year’s leading rusher in Morgan Ellison, who was indefinitely suspended from the team late last week.

Prediction

Indiana comes in as a two-score favorite. However, the last-minute loss of Ellison will hurt the Hoosiers.

FIU has yet to name their starting QB, but it is known that both Bowling Green transfer James Morgan and Christian Alexander will see time. This one comes down to a battle of running games and who lines at the line of scrimmage.

Final Score: FIU 21 Indiana 17