College Football Pick: Indiana Hoosiers vs. Florida International Panthers
Game Details:
- Date: Saturday, August 31st
- Time: 3:30 PM EST
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
- TV: BTN
Betting Lines:BetUS Sportsbook
- Spread: Indiana -19.5
- Total: 51.5
Hoosiers Hope for a Turnaround:
The Indiana Hoosiers are eager to kick off the 2024 season with a fresh start after a disappointing 3-9 campaign in 2023. With only two winning seasons in the last decade, the Hoosiers are hoping for a change in fortune. However, they have a new head coach, Curt Cignetti, who is tasked with turning around a program that has struggled to find consistent success.
New Coach, New System:
Cignetti, who successfully elevated James Madison into a formidable program, brings a wealth of experience to Bloomington. However, the first year of any coaching transition is often fraught with challenges, as players adapt to new systems and schemes. Despite returning 10 starters on offense and 11 on defense, Indiana may face some early-season growing pains.
FIU: Eyeing Improvement:
The Florida International Panthers, similar to Indiana, have also experienced their fair share of struggles in recent years. They achieved back-to-back winning seasons in 2017 and 2018 but have since fallen short of those heights. With eight returning starters on offense and six on defense, head coach Mike Macintyre, entering his third year, has set his sights on a bowl game appearance, a feat that would require significant improvement from their 4-8 record last season.
The Model’s Prediction:
Our model, based on last season’s data, projects a comfortable victory for Indiana, covering the 19.5-point spread with a winning margin ranging from 23 to 29 points. The Hoosiers’ experience and home-field advantage could prove decisive against an FIU team still finding its footing.
Early-Game Value on FIU:
While the model favors Indiana, we see potential value in backing Florida International in the early stages of the game. The Panthers’ continuity and familiarity with their system, combined with Indiana’s potential first-game jitters under a new coach, could lead to a competitive first half.
Our Picks:
- Florida International + in the 1st Quarter
- Florida International + in the 1st Half
Although Indiana may ultimately pull away, FIU could surprise early on and keep the game close during the initial quarters.