2017 at First Glance: Week Three Florida International Golden Panthers

FIU wide receiver Thomas Owens (81) has 10 career catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns against IU. Image: FIU.edu

FIU wide receiver Thomas Owens (81) has 10 career catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns against IU. Image: FIU.edu

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

We keep rolling with our First Glance series as the Hoosiers return home in week three to face Florida International for the third consecutive season. The Hoosiers are 2-0 against the Golden Panthers winning 34-13 in Miami last year and 36-22 in Bloomington in 2015. 20117’s version will feature two new head coaches and some familiar faces.

Game Information

Week Three: Florida International Golden Panthers

Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th, 3:30 pm

Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

TV: Big Ten Network

Golden Panthers at a Glance

Head Coach: Butch Davis

Entering his 11th year as a head coach, 1st at FIU

Overall Record: 63-43

At Florida International: 0-0

Golden Panthers Last Season: 4-8 (4-4)

Golden Panthers Returning Leaders

Passing: Alex McGough (58.4 pct. 1,891 yards 13 TDs 11 INTs)

Rushing: Alex Gardner (181 att. 930 yards 5.14 YPC 6 TD)

Receiving: Thomas Owens (47 rec. 652 yards 13.87 YPR 7 TDs)

Tackles: LB Treyvon WIlliams (109 tackles 6.5 TFL 3 Sacks 1 PBU)

Pre-season Predictions

Athlon’s: 6th in C-USA East

Lindy’s: 4th C-USA East

Street & Smith’s: 6th in C-USA East

Phil Steele: TBA

 

Impact Newcomers For The Golden Panthers

Cody Bowes, Right Guard-

FIU may have one of the most experienced teams coming back in 2017, but there are opportunities for freshman to crack the two-deep, especially along the offensive line. Bowes was FIU’s second-highest rated commit in the 2017 class and is already penciled into the backup right guard position.  The 6’4” 280-pound lineman has the size to play immediately in Conference USA and FIU head coach Butch Davis may have a quick hook if upper-class men don’t perform well.

Willa Pierre, Right Tackle-

Willa Pierre is another three-star offensive line commit, who will find his way into the FIU two-deep at tackle. FIU could use his 6’3” 288-pound frame to establish some offensive line depth and to jump start the run game.

Dorian Hall, Athlete-

Hall is FIU’s highest rated commit in the 2017 class and does not have a real position, but it’ll be hard to keep this talent on the sideline as FIU needs as many explosive offensive players as possible. Hall, at 6’4” 200 pounds, played both wide receiver and safety in high school but it is unclear what side of the ball he will be used on in 2017.

Noah Curtis, Defensive End-

The Golden Panthers need to get pressure on the quarterback in 2017 and defensive end Noah Curtis could be the injection of talent at that position to create havoc in the offensive backfield. He has the length at 6’6” of a great defensive end, but needs to fill out, as he weighs just 225 pounds.

Why The Golden Panthers Will Win

Florida International has put a scare into Indiana the last two seasons as both games came down to key plays in the fourth quarter. The Golden Panthers have one of, if not, the most experienced team in the FBS. They return their leaders in every major category including passing, rushing, receiving, tackles, sacks, and interceptions. Seniors Alex McGough (QB), Alex Gardner (RB), and Thomas Owens (WR) are a formidable trio on offense. In two games against IU McGough has thrown for 512 yards and three downs while Gardner has rushed 28 times for 84 yards and a score. Thomas Owens had a huge 2015 game with nine catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns, but was held to one catch and eight yards in 2016.  If this trio gets going the FIU defense has a couple playmakers in linebacker Anthony Wint and corner Isaiah Brown that could put a damper on the IU offense.

FIU has to finish against Indiana, something it hasn’t done in the previous two games. Butch Davis brings some coaching star power as well. The Golden Panthers should be at worst 1-1 coming into this matchup and you know these seniors want to get one of these games against IU after letting the past two get away late.

Why The Hoosiers Will Win

If the Hoosiers want to go bowling again this is a game that should be a comfortable win against an inferior opponent at home. FIU is supposed to finish anywhere from the middle-of-the-pack to the basement of Conference USA this season and they are going through a coaching transition. FIU could also be breaking in a new quarterback. Don’t be surprised if Davis has a quick hook with McGough and rolls the dice with sophomore Maurice Alexander, who might be a better overall player than McGough.

 

The Hoosiers have recorded three pick sixes in the first two games of this series and the defense is going to be licking their chops again. IU’s offense should also be able to push around a small FIU front and take advantage of a talent mismatch at the skill positions.

Final Analysis

This is about as sure of a win that there is on the 2017 IU schedule. These are the kind of games where IU has to flex their Big Ten muscles and blow a lower tier opponent out of the water. That rarely happened under Kevin Wilson though. Blowouts may be boring, but they serve an important role in the development of a program as it is a chance to get many of the freshmen and redshirt freshmen game reps.

IU just has too much firepower on both sides of the ball. After a tough start to the season, this is a chance for the Hoosiers to have a ‘feel good’ win in front of the home crowd. Don’t be shocked if IU takes another interception to the house either.

Hoosier Win Percentage: 95%