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The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-5) will head to Miami on Friday for a conference game against the Florida International Panthers (3-4). Tech has lost two straight conference games, most recently running out of gas in a 42-41 overtime loss to Rice. The Bulldogs rallied late with a game-tying touchdown with 37 seconds remaining in regulation but ultimately fell in extra time.
Louisiana Tech deployed three separate quarterbacks in the defeat. Starting QB Parker McNeil and his backup Matthew Downing left the contest with an injury, leaving true freshman Landry Lyddy to try and play hero late. Lyddy was responsible for the fourth-quarter touchdown that sent the game into overtime but could not pull the rabbit out of the hat in a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt.
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Meanwhile, FIU is fresh off its first conference win since 2019. The Panthers stomped out the Charlotte 49ers 34-15, shutting out their opponents for the first three quarters. Panthers QB Grayson James collected three touchdowns, two via the ground, in his best start since Week 4. In addition, FIU won the turnover battle 5-1, intercepting 49ers QB Chris Reynolds three times.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Florida International Panthers Betting Odds
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Tale of the Tape
Long-time Big 12 offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie is in his first year as the frontman for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, taking over for Skip Holtz after the Bulldogs fired the ladder amidst a 3-9 2021 campaign. Offensively, Cumbie has installed yet another explosive pass game and an efficient run game.
Louisiana Tech leads the C-USA in passing touchdowns per game, with on-and-off injured starter Parker McNeil tossing 15 scores in 181 pass attempts. McNeil has practiced in full for Friday's matchup and should expect to get the nod barring a setback. The run game has brutal averages, mainly due to poor performances against Power 5 opponents Missouri and Clemson.
The Bulldogs' defense might as well be nonexistent. Louisiana Tech gives up nearly 40 points a game, the second-to-worst mark in all of FBS play. Opponents have had their way with the ground game, averaging a comedic 265 rushing yards a game on 6.4 a pop.
Mike MacIntyre, like Cumbie, is also in his first year as head coach. However, MacIntyre has had favorable results since taking over for Butch Davis, leading the Panthers to their best record through seven games since 2019. FIU doesn't do anything extraordinary on offense, but limits turnovers (1.4 per game), and QB Grayson James completes 62% of his passes.
The Bulldogs' secondary can be exposed by quality passers, allowing 65% of the opponent's passes to become complete. The 2.1 passing touchdowns allowed per game is the third-worst mark in the conference. They are better against the run but still allow a spotty 4.5 yards per carry.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Florida International Panthers Prediction
The FIU Panthers have played nobody. Coach McIntyre was good enough to get the Panthers to 3-4, but again, they haven't played anybody. They are ranked 129th out of 131 teams in strength of schedule and have yet to even compete against teams with competent offenses. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have lost to programs with a combined record of 24-13. The Panthers will be far and away their easiest opponent since their 52-17 win over Stephen F. Austin in Week 2. My bet is that Louisiana Tech, with a healthy Parker McNeil, will finally bounce back from a tough stretch of games that featured the likes of North Texas and South Alabama.
Prediction: LA Tech -6 (-110)
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