Tuesday's college football action kicks off with Middle Tennessee visiting FIU at Pitbull Stadium in Miami on October 20. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, with FIU listed as a 10-point favorite and the total at 45.5. Can the Panthers cover at home, or will the Blue Raiders keep things close? Below, we break down our Middle Tennessee vs. FIU picks and predictions, including the betting odds, key matchup factors and best bets.
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Tuesday’s Best College Football Picks & Predictions: Middle Tennessee vs. FIU
Week 8 of the 2026 college football season kicks off with a three-game Tuesday night slate. There are two Conference USA matchups and one Sun Belt battle. Let’s break the games down for our top college football picks and predictions for Tuesday night’s game Middle Tennessee vs. FIU.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Florida International Panthers
We have two Conference USA games on tap for Tuesday night. Let's break down one of them, as Florida International (FIU) hosts Middle Tennessee. The Panthers are worth backing as 9.5-point home favorites for this weekday clash.
FIU's strong defense should control this matchup. The Panthers are ninth in the country in total yards and points allowed per game. They also rank seventh nationally in defensive success rate and ninth in defensive expected points added (EPA)/play.
This elite-level FIU defense now faces a Middle Tennessee attack that's struggled more often than not. The Blue Raiders rank 125th in adjusted offensive EPA/play and 92nd in offensive success rate. They did put up 33 points in last week's win, but that might've been more about how bad Delaware has looked.
Previously, Kansas shut out Middle Tennessee while Jacksonville State held them to 13 points. Both games were on the road, like this matchup at FIU. Don't expect much from the Blue Raiders' offense against a Panthers defense that has allowed only six total points in its past two home games combined.
Meanwhile, FIU should score enough against Middle Tennessee's weak defense. The Blue Raiders rank 121st nationally in defensive EPA/play and 131st in defensive success rate. They're also allowing 31.2 points per game against FBS competition this season.
Pick: Florida International -9.5 (-120)
