WKU Football: Staff Predictions Week Three - FIU
The Tops return to The Houch to face FIU. How do we see this game going?
After losing a heartbreaker to Indiana, WKU return home to face a struggling FIU team as well as their first C-USA opponent of the season.
We were split on IU last week but do we think this game will be a cakewalk? Let’s see how we think this one will go!
Matt McCay (3-0)
I’ll try to keep it short this week. I tend to ramble. I like this WKU team. Yeah, that Indiana loss was a kick in the gut. But also, Western had to screw up double digit times to hand a game to a Big Ten team that will win at least one game in conference and should probably flirt with a bowl game invite if they can stay healthy.
Moving forward to FIU, I really like this matchup for WKU. Obviously Vegas agrees, with the line starting at 26 and popping up above 30 by midweek. Hopefully, the guys in the locker room don’t care about the line and just focus on a conference opponent. Never underestimate a Florida team. They’re going to be loaded with hidden talent. Are they always developed and capable fundamentally to compete? That’s a different question. But expect more athleticism and speed from FIU for a team that’s not supposed to be very good.
That being said, I’ve got to think this is a Western win, one way or another. Western is too good, and FIU needs to do a lot to be competitive in C-USA this year. I don’t see that happening in two weeks.
I’ll take Western Kentucky: 45, Florida International: 9.
Alex Sherfield (2-1)
After last week’s loss in Indiana, without a doubt Tops fans are ready for conference play. The tone for the rest of the season will depend on how well they’ll fend off a wandering Golden Panthers ball club.
FIU enters Saturday looking to play spoiler to the avenging Hilltoppers. Tyrese Chambers will be the guy to watch out for in terms of someone who’ll challenge the Tops pass defense. With 18 receptions leading the team, he’ll probably get more targets so I’d expect some containment from Kaleb Oliver and Upton Stout.
They’re not the best running team after their first two games. I would expect the Tops run defense to continue their prowess in plugging the run after coming off a game where they allowed 120 yards last week.
Austin Reed should have an exciting day throwing through football. Also, let’s have a game where the penalty slate stays somewhat clean.
Give me WKU: 45, FIU: 26.
Devin Stewart (2-1)
Short and sweet. Give me WKU 52-18.
Jacob Giannelli (0-1)
This will not be close. WKU thumps FIU, 52-13.
Jake Gary (2-1)
Is that score prediction even enough to cover the spread? Seriously though WKU should blow by FIU without having any real troubles. Would love to see a defensive or special teams touchdown in this game for the Hilltoppers as they bounce back from almost beating Big 10 opponent Indiana last week. Look for the Tops to take a little frustration out on a struggling FIU this weekend.
Western Kentucky: 52, FIU: 21.
Jared Rosdeutscher (3-0)
Last week was really disappointing but thankfully this game is the perfect rebound opportunity for the Tops to get back on track and get their first C-USA win this season.
I hate to say it this plainly but FIU is not good. They went 1-11 last year and barely won an overtime game against Bryant to start their season. With this game being at home and WKU looking better than I thought they would be at IU, I think this is a fairly easy win for the Tops.
Give me WKU winning 48-20.
Fletcher Keel (3-0)
This may be the most simple preview analysis we’ll have this year.
WKU is a really good football team, one that should be a favorite to play in the Conference USA title game (with a win last week, I think that “should” would be a “are”, but I digress).
FIU is…not a good football team, having not finished over .500 since 2018 and are in the first year of a new head coach in Mike MacIntyre.
Three games into a college football season is the beginning of a usable sample size to tell us what teams are, and that story couldn’t be more true for FIU, a team that beat Bryant by a point and gave up 41 points to Texas State.
The Panthers had a bye week to fine-tune a couple of things, but I fear it won’t be enough time. Reed is starting to get into a rhythm with the offense, WKU may have finally found its consistent rushing attack and the defense will not only want to make an early statement but a loud one.
This game should be over relatively quickly. It’s a win for FIU if it isn’t 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. I feel like I’m overselling how good we should expect WKU to look, but I don’t see any other way this one can go.
Give me the Hilltoppers, 41-14, and that’s only because the second-string offense will be in halfway through the fourth quarter, if not sooner.