The Florida Atlantic Owls and the FIU Panthers will face off in college football on Saturday at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. Both teams enter the game with a 1-1 record with wins over FCS opponents and losses to Big Ten teams. This early-season non-conference clash is important for both teams going into conference play. Here, I break down this contest and give you my Florida Atlantic vs FIU prediction.
Our Florida Atlantic vs FIU Pick
- Pick: Florida Atlantic Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Florida Atlantic Owls vs FIU Panthers
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 6:00 PM ET
- Venue: Pitbull Stadium, Miami, FL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Florida Atlantic vs FIU Odds
| Odds | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic | +2.5 | +115 | Over 58.5 |
| FIU | -2.5 | -135 | Under 58.5 |
Key Storylines
- Florida Atlantic’s Offensive Resurgence: After a tough season opener against Maryland, the Owls bounced back with a commanding 56-14 victory over FCS Florida A&M. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp showcased his skills. He threw for 309 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Veltkamp wasn’t good enough against Maryland and will try to have his first good game against an FBS opponent this week.
- FIU’s Defensive Challenges: The Panthers faced a formidable opponent in Penn State last week. That game ended in a 34-0 loss to the Nittany Lions. Despite a strong first-half defensive performance, FIU struggled to contain the Nittany Lions’ offense in the second half. The Panthers will need to address defensive lapses to compete effectively against the Owls. But FIU will be excited not to be playing a top five team in the country this week.
- FIU QB Situation: If FIU wants to win this game at home they will need more from quarterback Keyone Jenkins. Jenkins has failed to throw a touchdown pass early in the season and will try to get on track against an FAU team that we haven’t learned much about this season thanks to their strength of schedule.
Betting Trends & H2H
- FAU has gone 1-1 against the spread to start the 2025 season.
- FIU has covered the spread in each of their first two games of the season.
- FAU is 1-1 this season in the over/under market.
- FIU has also split its first two games when it comes to totals.
Florida Atlantic vs FIU Model Projection
- Score Projection: Florida Atlantic 24 – FIU 21
- Win Probability: Florida Atlantic 55%, FIU 45%
Final Thoughts
The question in this game will be whether Florida Atlantic’s offense will have success or if the FIU defense will slow them down. If FIU can get pressure on Veltkamp and force him into rushed throws, they could get the win. But I think that there is some value on FAU as a moneyline underdog. Their ability to move the ball through the air is superior to that of the Panthers and that should be the difference-maker in this all-Florida matchup.
