Florida International @ UTEP
UTEP +7 -101 over Florida International

Pinnacle +7 -101 ET365 +7 -105 Sportsinteraction +7 -105 888Sport +7 -105

Posted at 3:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX

Streaming: CBS Sportsnetwork

9:00 PM EST. The FIU Panthers (2-4, 1-1 C-USA) visit the UTEP Miners (0-6, 0-3 C-USA) in a midweek Conference USA clash, with the Miners looking for their first win of the season. FIU comes off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Liberty, where they mounted an impressive comeback but ultimately fell short. Under head coach Mike MacIntyre, FIU has shown flashes of promise this season, including a win over Louisiana Tech. However, inconsistency continues to plague the Panthers, who might struggle to maintain focus after such an emotional game.

FIU may be due for a letdown after their exhausting effort against Liberty. They erased a two-touchdown deficit to force overtime, and such emotional and physical tolls often linger and now they must travel on a short week to face a team that is going to be easy to overlook on paper.

UTEP, meanwhile, is in the middle of a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Scotty Walden. Although the Miners remain winless, they’ve faced a brutal schedule to start the season, including matchups against Liberty, Sam Houston, and Western Kentucky, which makes their 0-6 record a bit misleading. After facing a tough stretch of opponents, is finally taking a step down in competition.

One key reason to back UTEP to cover the +7 points is the market's overreaction to their quarterback situation. With starting QB Cade McConnell questionable after being injured against WKU, the spread has inflated. Despite this uncertainty, UTEP has demonstrated they can move the ball on the ground, as running back Ezell Jolly posted a career-high 119 yards last week. UTEP also has a big-play threat in Kenny Odom, who leads Conference USA in yards per catch and is tied for the most touchdown receptions. Even with a backup quarterback, UTEP’s offense has shown signs of life, especially against strong competition while FIU’s defense, while improved, has shown lapses throughout the season, making them susceptible to UTEP’s ground attack and deep threats. The home side has all the tools to win this game outright, but we’ll be more than happy to take these inflated points and put them in our back pockets.

Sherwood

Take advantage of BET365's early NCAA Football payout offer! 

For straight bets, if the team you back to win goes 17 points ahead at any stage during the game, BET365 will pay out your bet in full regardless of whether the opposition comes back to win the game.

For parlays and Same Game Parlays, if a team you have backed goes 17 points ahead, this selection will be marked as won within My Bets, with the remaining selections left to run.

Here is a wager we were paid out early on that would eventually lose. 

Sharkies

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Our Pick

UTEP +7 -101 (Risking 2.02 units - To Win: 2.00)

Rutgers +6½ -107 over Minnesota
Utah +3½ -109 over BYU
Texas Tech +4½ -109 over Colorado
Michigan +14½ -105 over Indiana