Home › NCAA Football Lines › NCAA Football Articles › NCAAF Florida International Golden Panthers
NCAA Football Betting Online: The Florida International Golden Panthers may have hit a home run with their coaching hire this offseason. FIU brought in Butch Davis to rejuvenate the program after Ron Turner left it in shambles over the past four seasons. He hasn’t coached since leaving North Carolina in turmoil at the end of the 2010 season, but there’s no doubt that he can recruit. Despite being on the job for only a few months, he landed one of the top recruiting classes in the conference.
2017 Florida International Golden Panthers at a Glance
Florida International National Championship Odds:
Florida International Odds to Win Conference USA:
Florida International Regular Season Win Total:
Davis has been credited with reviving two major programs, Miami and North Carolina. In just six seasons in Miami, he turned ‘The U’ back into a powerhouse. He was able to build a fence around Miami and keep most of the talent at home rather than see other schools come in and steal it away.
At North Carolina, he turned around the fortunes of the Tar Heels, but left a major academic scandal in his wake. That turned him into persona non grata in the college football world. He waited and waited but no major school was willing to take a chance on him again, so FIU was able to get a top-tier coach at a bargain price.
Davis will inherit a team that has more talent than you may think.
Alex McGough is one of the most experienced starting quarterbacks in the country. He has been the starter for FIU since his freshman year and is extremely familiar with his teammates. For all that experience though, he has had his fair share of troubles. His numbers have been rather pedestrian and although Davis anointed him the starter, he will probably have a short leash if he struggles.
The interior line is iffy at best for the Golden Panthers. Kai Absheer moved from guard to tackle in the offseason and there are no returning starters among the guards and center. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Davis make one of his talented recruits a starter as a true freshman, but that’s a position with a huge learning curve.
FIU is likely to get waxed against UCF and Indiana in the first few weeks of the season, but do get two of the three toughest teams in their half of Conference USA at home. The game against Western Kentucky at the end of the season might not mean as much to the Hilltoppers if they have already clinched the division and gives FIU a shot to pull off an upset.
2017 Florida International Golden Panthers Schedule
September 2: Florida International at UCF
September 9: Florida International vs. Alcorn State
September 16: Florida International at Indiana
September 23: Florida International at Rice
September 30: Florida International vs. Charlotte
October 7: Florida International at Middle Tennessee State
October 14: Florida International vs. Tulane
October 28: Florida International at Marshall
November 4: Florida International vs. UTSA
November 11: Florida International vs. Old Dominion
November 17: Florida International at Florida Atlantic
November 25: Florida International vs. Western Kentucky
List of Florida International Golden Panthers Seasons
| Year |
Record |
Bowl Game |
| 2016 |
4-8 |
|
| 2015 |
5-7 |
|
| 2014 |
4-8 |
|
| 2013 |
1-11 |
|
| 2012 |
3-9 |
|
| 2011 |
8-5 |
L – Beef O’Brady’s Bowl |
| 2010 |
7-6 |
W – Little Caesars Bowl |
| 2009 |
3-9 |
|
| 2008 |
5-7 |
|
| 2007 |
1-11 |
|
| 2006 |
0-12 |
|
| 2005 |
5-6 |
|
| 2004 |
3-7 |
|
Don Strock was the first coach in school history and gave the university some instant credibility. He was the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins for 15 seasons and he had two respectable seasons before an 0-12 campaign led to his ousting.
Mario Cristobal was easily the most successful coach in school history. Cristobal made the Golden Panthers competitive and took them to both of their bowl appearances. A dispute with the athletic director led to his surprise dismissal and the program has struggled ever since.
Davis gives this program renewed optimism. Although the record didn’t fully capture it, they were one of the worst teams in the country under Ron Turner. Davis gives this team a shot in the arm and he knows how to recruit south Florida. This is an experienced squad so don’t be surprised if he takes them back to a bowl in his first year.
Join BookMaker to get all the latest NCAA Football Betting Odds on your mobile device. Bet on spreads, totals, props and futures on the go at BookMaker today!
NCAA Football Teams
