Long Island University Sharks (0-0 FCS Northeast Conference) vs FIU Panthers (Links to an external site.) (0-0 Conference USA)

Date/Time: Thursday, September 2nd, 7:00 PM EST

TV: ESPN3 (Play-By-Play: AJ Ricketts/Analyst: Cameron Lynch)

Radio: WQBA 1140 AM Univision Radio South Florida (Play-By-Play: Patrick Murray/Analyst Corey Brooks)

Location: FIU Stadium, Miami, FL

Betting Line: FIU -33.5 O/U 50.5

All-Time Series Record: First-ever meeting

FIU Preview

After a season to forget, FIU returns to the gridiron in search of their first victory in 649 days when they welcome FCS Long Island to Miami. The Panthers return 18 starters from last year’s team, so they’ll have an opportunity to show that last year was nothing more than a confluence of extraordinary circumstances.

Max Bortenschlager is back for a second season in Miami.

Maryland transfer Max Bortenschlager arrived at FIU in the midst of the pandemic last year, which hurt his recovery from an ankle injury that ended limited him to three games in 2018 and a lower-body stress fracture that kept him out in 2019 entirely. The 6-3, 210-pound signal-caller was named the starter by head coach Butch Davis earlier this week. He started twice last year and led the team with 284 yards passing. In his last full season, Bortenschlager started eight times for the Terrapins in 2017, throwing for 1,313 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.

While Bortenschlager will start the season-opener for the second consecutive year, freshman Haden Carlson is listed as the backup and could see time against the Sharks. The former three-star recruit out of Tampa didn’t appear last season. However, Davis noted that Carlson “would have started” had the season continued beyond November. While the passing attack that ranked 121st last year is a work in progress, they’ll undoubtedly be helped by the presence of running back D’Vonte Price, who’s one of the top NFL draft prospects in Conference USA.

The LIU Sharks (Links to an external site.) (Northeast Conference) will clash with the FIU Panthers (C-USA) in the 2021 NCAAF Regular Season Competition at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 7:00 PM ET. Long Island earned 14 outright and 4 shared Conference titles in the Northeast Conference last season. The LIU Sharks represent Long Island University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA. The Sharks played their home contests in the 6,000 seat capacity at the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The LIU Sharks ended their first season with no victory record and after one month the season ended, QB Clay Beathard was slain. Since then, QB Conor Regan took the starting position and connected 18 of his 24 attempted passes for 172 yards with a TD in his single game played.

Florida International ranked 207th in passing and 112th in passing yards with total yards per game that ranked 197th in the league. The Sharks were 43rd in points collected and 59th in points allowed. The LIU Sharks will be entering this season with three quarterbacks in their roster- QBs Kevin Melore, Camden Orth, and Luke Sprague. RB Jonathan DeBique led the running game with 60 attempted rushes for 361 yards and 58 long rushes while landing two touchdowns. In leading the receiving group, WR Tosin Oyekanmi grabbed 19 passes for 163 yards with 24 long receptions. The defensive lines are composed of 13 players with eight Linebackers and 13 secondary this season.

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LIU Sharks vs FIU Panthers Predictions 9/2/2021

The Florida International Panthers. ended last season with 0-3 conference and 0-5 overall standing while occupying 6th place in the Conference USA East Division. Florida International lost three games at home and two on the road while collecting a total of 112 points but wasted 162 for a point differential of -50. The 0-5 overall standing of FIU was caused by interruptions in practicing their plays due to COVID 19. RB D’vonte Price is returning with a team-high 581 rushing yards while WR Tyrese Chambers, TEs Sterling Palmer, and Rivaldo Fairweather are back as well. The Panthers did not name their starting quarterbacks yet but Shemar Thornton and Bryce Singleton will give FIU options in their passing offense. The secondary will be FIU’s strong line on their defense with returning CBs in Richard Dames and Josh Turner. Safety Dorian Hall and Jamal Gates are also back along with several defensive line starters to beef up the backfield for the Panthers.

Last season, QB Max Bortenschlager completed 22 of his 48 pass attempts for 284 yards with two touchdowns, one interception, and five sacks in leading the passing offense for FIU. RB D’vonte Price recorded 85 attempted rushes for 581 yards with 77 long rushes and four touchdowns in leading the running game. TE Rivaldo Fairweather led the receiving squad with 10 catches for 165 yards and landed a touchdown. DB Richard Dames led the defense with 36 tackles and defended two passes.

LIU Sharks vs. FIU Panthers. The NCAAF pick for this contest is Long Island. The Panthers are yet to overhaul their roster after they finished the 2020 season with a zero-win record. The Sharks come into this 2021 season with a complete and healthier roster with three quarterbacks in rotation to blend their offense. The LIU Sharks will win predicted at 36-17.

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LIU Sharks vs FIU Panthers 9/2/2021 Picks Predictions Previews

NCAAF Starting Time: 7:00 PM ET

Location: Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, FL

Date: Thursday, September 2, 2021

TV: ESPN3

NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: LIU Sharks -18

NCAAF Totals: 54.5

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