BOCA RATON – As the FIU Panthers (5-4) battle for a spot in a bowl game and the FAU Owls (6-3) look to make their second Conference USA title game in Lane Kiffin’s three seasons, the two teams will meet up for the 18th installment of the Shula Bowl.
After starting the season off 1-3, the Butch Davis-led FIU Panthers have rattled off four wins in their last five games to put themselves one game away from the team’s third straight bowl game.
The Shula Bowl, however, might be the team’s best chance to make that bowl game, as the Panthers get Miami and Marshall to finish off the regular season.
On the other side of the field, the FAU Owls began their season with losses to Ohio State and UCF but have since won six of their last seven games. The Owls are just one game behind Marshall for the top spot in the C-USA East Division.
In last year’s Shula Bowl, FAU, despite having a rough season, were able to keep its bowl hopes alive in a 49-14 win over FIU. Running back Devin Singletary, who is now in the NFL, had 184 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
Last year’s win gave FAU its second consecutive win over FIU in the Shula Bowl. The Owls are 12-5 against the Panthers in this annual series.
Players to Watch:
•Keep an eye on FAU linebacker Akileis Leroy.
In his junior season, Leroy has quickly become one of the leaders on the FAU defense, leading the team in total tackles (67), sacks (6.5) and forced fumbles (3). The Georgia native has also added an interception and a blocked kick, which was returned for two points against Middle Tennessee.
•Although DeAngelo Antoine has taken the slot wide receiver spot in the FAU offense, wide receiver Willie Wright has continued to make strives forward from a late hit suffered against FIU in last year’s Shula Bowl.
Against Western Kentucky, Wright had a 51-yard touchdown reception on his one reception. Wright also added a touchdown against ODU in FAU’s 41-3 road win over the Monarchs.
While Wright’s playing time is unknown for now, the slot receiver could be in for some more playing time as the season progresses.
•For FIU, senior running back Napoleon Maxwell holds an important piece for his teams’s offense. Against ODU, Maxwell finished with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, pushing his season total to 459 yards and six touchdowns.
FAU’s inconsistency in the run game and an injury to wide receiver Maurice Alexander could mean that Maxwell, along with other running backs Anthony Jones and D’Vonte Price, sees an uptick in production.
•FIU’s defense should also receive a boost now that linebacker Sage Lewis is fully healthy. Lewis’ injury has put a big damper in the FIU defense, especially on the ground. Against FAU, the FIU rushing defense will need to build off a strong week against ODU to keep the FAU offense off the field.
Keys To Success:
•If FAU wants to capture its third Shula Bowl win in a row, the Owls will have to create turnovers.
Although FIU quarterback James Morgan has thrown just two interceptions this season, the senior quarterback has had his fair share of mistakes. Against ODU, Morgan had at least three times that a pass could have been intercepted. Keep an eye on the defensive backs, led by James Pierre and Da’Von Brown, to create turnovers.
•To become bowl eligible, FIU has to find a way to stop the rushing attack.
Although FAU has struggled with injuries to the running back room, the FIU defense has had its own struggles in stopping the run. In a 50-17 loss to Middle Tennessee just two weeks ago, the Panthers allowed 471 rushing yards, including 159 to quarterback Ashley O’Hara.
Score Prediction:
Although FAU are 10-point favorites over FIU, all bets are off in a rivalry game. Expect a close and hard-nosed game.
36-28 win for FAU
