The 2025 First Responder Bowl will take place on Friday night as the Florida International Panthers take on the UTSA Roadrunners in Dallas. FIU rides a four-game winning streak into its first bowl appearance in six years, while UTSA seeks to finish strong an up-and-down campaign and secure its third consecutive bowl victory. Here, I break down this matchup in college football and give you my FIU vs UTSA prediction for this matchup in the Metroplex.
Our FIU vs UTSA Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 4/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Florida International Panthers vs UTSA Roadrunners
- Date & Time: Friday, December 26, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
- FIU returns to the bowl stage for the first time in six seasons, with momentum from four consecutive wins. FIU has also secured its longest winning streak in program history and will try to extend their winning streak with a victory in this bowl matchup.
- The UTSA faces roster disruptions, especially in the secondary, due to opt-outs and the transfer portal. The defense of the Roadrunners wasn’t great to begin with this season and they will be without several starters in this contest.
- UTSA ended the regular season at 6-6 after inconsistent results, including a loss to Army to close out the regular season. Injuries and opt-outs have trimmed the roster, but UTSA still features experienced offensive talent and will try to outscore the Panthers despite their issues on defense.
- Both teams have familiarity from past Conference USA games, with the all-time series deadlocked at 2-2 through four meetings.
Quarterback Play
UTSA’s quarterback Owen McCown has been the key for the Roadrunners’ offense, throwing for 2,700 yards, with a 27 to 7 touchdown to interception ratio this season. He provides leadership and efficiency through the air but will need protection against a physical FIU front. FIU’s offensive picture has been more balanced, relying heavily on its rushing attack led by standout running back Kejon Owens. Owens has amassed 1,298 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. FIU’s quarterback situation is clouded by late-season injury concerns, but both Keyone Jenkins and Joe Pesansky are expected to play in some capacity.
Betting Trends
- FIU is 8-4 against the spread so far this season.
- UTSA is 6-6 against the spread going into Friday night’s game.
- FIU has gone 6-5-1 in the over/under market this year, slightly favoring the over.
- The Roadrunners have gone over the total in 9 of their 12 regular-season games.
FIU vs UTSA Model Projection
Final Thoughts
