FIU will host Old Dominion University this Saturday coming off their 50-17 loss against Middle Tennesse.
The Panthers have some work to do on defense during the week. FIU gave up a total of 471 yards rushing and five touchdowns against Middle Tennesse, compared to the Panthers’ 89.
The Panthers are hoping to get back into bowl game contention as they take on Old Dominion. ODU is currently riding a seven-game losing streak and were demolished 41-3 in their homecoming game against FAU this past weekend.
The Panthers defense has a fairly easy matchup this week against an Old Dominion team that has broken 20 points twice this season. Old Dominion doesn’t have the weapons on offense that Middle Tennesse has so the defense should be able to contain them.
Offensively, the Panthers will need to get James Morgan going. FIU has leaned on the run game for the last three weeks and was effective until Middle Tennesse. Anthony Jones continued to run well with 4.1 yards-per-carry but was the only running back who could find space.
Morgan had a mere six yards passing in the second half against Middle Tennesse and will need to air it out if the offense wants to put up big numbers. The rain in Tennesse was definitely a factor last weekend but Morgan has taken a backseat on offense for three straight games.
The Panthers were riding a three-game win streak and hope to get back on track against a 1-7 Old Dominion team.
FIU is two wins away from being bowl eligible, more of a consolation prize at this point in the season. This was not the season the Panthers envisioned in Butch Davis third year. The season has been filled with adversity from the start but the Panthers can still salvage what is left of it.
The Panthers will take on the Old Dominion Monarchs Saturday, Nov. 2nd at 12 p.m. at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
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