Online sports betting sites favor the Toledo Rockets to beat the FIU Panthers by a touchdown in the Bahamas Bowl. The Panthers finished the regular season with an 8-4 SU record (6-2 in C-USA play). As well as 9-3 ATS. They finished third in the East Division of the Conference USA. FIU is coming off of a loss to Marshall as 3.5-point home underdogs. The Panthers did cover the spread as set by the best online sportsbooks. This will be FIU’s fourth ever bowl game, second straight, and first in the Bahamas Bowl.
The Rockets finished fourth in the West Division of the Mid-America Conference with a 7-5 record (5-3 in conference play). Toledo went 6-6 ATS in the regular season. Their season ender was 51-31 win over Central Michigan as 19-point home faves. This will be the Rockets’ fifth straight bowl appearance and first in the Bahamas Bowl.
Betting Florida International
The loss to Marshall cost the Panthers a berth in the C-USA championship game. However, FIU still has plenty of motivation to win the Bahamas Bowl. A victory in Nassau would make this the first nine-win season for the program.
Starting QB James Morgan has 26 TDs, seven picks, and a 65.3 completion percentage. Morgan throws for 227.3 yards per game. His preferred targets are CJ Worton, Austin Maloney, and Maurice Alexander. Napoleon ‘Dynamite’ Maxwell leads the team with 56.1 rushing yards per game. Maxwell has left his left knee problems behind him. “I forget I even had surgery,” he said. “I don’t think about it or feel it anymore.”
The Panthers lost the 2017 Gasparillas Bowl, 3-28, to Temple. According to online sports betting sites, FIU was a seven-point underdog on that occasion.
Betting Toledo
“The team is ecstatic about having the opportunity to play in the postseason and be with their senior class one more time and just to have one more journey together here,” Rockets head coach Jason Candle said. “It’s really a cool experience that they will be able to go down to the Bahamas and have a chance to participate in that game. “It will be a really cool game. We have a lot of guys on our team from Florida, so we’ll know a lot of their roster and vice versa. It should make for an exciting game and an exciting trip.”
Quarterback Eli Peters has thrown 15 TDs and seven picks while subbing for incumbent Mitchell Guadagni. Regardless of who starts under center, Diontae Johnson, Jon’Vea Johnson and Cody ‘Rhodes’ Thompson led the receiving unit. The trio has combined for 24 receiving TDs.
FIU Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets Bahamas Bowl Betting Preview
- Date: December 21
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas (Bahamas Bowl)
Odds from BetOnline.ag:
- Florida International +6 (-110) 68 (-110) +205
- Toledo -6 (+120) 68 (-110) -245
Betting Trends
- The Golden Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall
- The Golden Panthers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss
- The Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall however
- The Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games
Our Predictions: Toledo ranks 105th in pass defense, allowing 257.8 passing yards per game. FIU starting QB James Morgan is a capable signal-caller and should get plenty of air-yardage against the Rockets. Toledo backup Eli Peters had a chance to warm up against the likes of Ball State and Kent State. As sparring partners go, that’s tantamount to shadow boxing. All things considered, the Panthers should cover the online sports betting sites spread.
