Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Pick
On Friday afternoon, the Florida International Golden Panthers will take on the Toledo Rockets in the Makers wanted Bahamas Bowl at 12:30 p.m. ET. Laying a touchdown, will the Rockets cover or are the upset-minded Panthers the better value for bettors?
Game Snapshot
217 Florida International Panthers vs. 218 Toledo Rockets
12:30 p.m. ET, Friday, December 21, 2018
Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Rockets are 6-point favorites to beat the Golden Panthers. The total, meanwhile, sits at 59.5 points. As of this writing, 51% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Panthers.
Florida International Golden Panthers
Florida International junior QB James Morgan completed 21-of-33 passes for 177 yards and two interceptions in Saturday’s 28-25 loss to Marshall. Morgan was briefly taken out for QB Christian Alexander who rushed for a touchdown. This was arguably his worst game of the season as the junior signal-caller didn’t throw a touchdown for the first time all year. The Golden Panthers will finish third in the CUSA East behind Marshall and Middle Tennessee State with an overall record of 8-4 and 6-2 in conference play.
Toledo Rockets
The Rockets (7-5) and the Panthers (8-4) both finished second in their respective conference divisions, and this matchup will not be one we haven’t seen. These teams have met in bowl games on four different occasions with the last one coming in the 2010 Little Caesars Bowl. For Toledo, it’s the team’s fifth straight bowl trip and the third in a row for Jason Candle, who is 27-12 as head coach.
Betting Trends
Florida International
The over is 5-0 in the Golden Panthers last five games overall.
Toledo
The over is 4-0 in the Rockets’ last four non-conference games but the under is 4-1 in their last five bowl matchups.
Prediction
2018 has been a season of exceeded expectations for the Golden Panthers, who went over their season win total of five by finishing 8-4 on the year. If they don’t win their ninth game of the year, I expect FIU to at least keep the game close today. The Rockets own the No. 105 passing defense in the nation and unlike FIU, underachieved at 7-5 this season. While Eli Peters has been serviceable for Toledo, he’s still a backup and could struggle to move the ball against a FIU defense that finished 27th in passing yards allowed (188.2) this season. Bottom line, this is too many points to lay on a Toledo team that has, in some respects, disappointed this year.
Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Prediction: Florida International Golden Panthers +6