KENNESAW STATE OWLS VS FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS: CUSA GAME ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION

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Tuesday, October 22, 2025 | Pitbull Stadium, Miami, Florida | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN2

Owls Arrive on Four-Game Winning Streak Against Panthers Seeking Stability

Tuesday evening will feature an intriguing Conference USA matchup at Pitbull Stadium in Miami when the Kennesaw State Owls (4-2, 2nd CUSA) visit the Florida International Panthers (3-3, 6th CUSA). The game kicks off at 7:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

TEAM FORM HEADING INTO THE GAME

Kennesaw State arrives in excellent form after four consecutive wins with their latest being a convincing 35-7 victory over Louisiana Tech on October 9. The Owls currently hold second place in Conference USA and are just half a game behind the conference leader.

On the other side, Florida International snapped a two-game losing streak last Tuesday when they defeated Western Kentucky 25-6. The Panthers are currently in fifth place in the conference and are searching for the consistency that would move them up the standings.

INJURY SITUATION

Kennesaw State has seven players listed as questionable before the game which could affect their rotation. FIU will be without wide receiver Juju Lewis while six other players also have questionable status. These absences could play a key role in the game's outcome.

KENNESAW STATE: DEFENSIVE STRENGTH VERSUS OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES

The Owls have an interesting profile where their offense averages 22.0 points per game (110th in the nation) while their defense allows just 20.5 points per game (44th in the nation). This shows a clear team identity built on solid defense.

In terms of yardage, Kennesaw State averages 363.0 yards of total offense per game (89th) and is relatively balanced with 83rd in rushing and 82nd in passing. The defense allows 386.8 yards per game (88th) with 94th against the run and 78th against the pass.

Key Kennesaw State Players

At the quarterback position, two players share most of the snaps. Amari Odom has accumulated 754 passing yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Dexter Williams II started the last game against Louisiana Tech and threw for 290 yards with four touchdowns - an impressive performance that showed his potential. For the season, Williams II has 526 passing yards with a 4 TD to 1 INT ratio.

In the running game, Coleman Bennett leads the team with 365 yards and two touchdowns while in receiving, Gabriel Benyard dominates with 398 yards and three touchdown receptions.

On defense, linebacker Baron Hopson stands out with 57 tackles and the defense has collectively recorded 13 quarterback sacks and three interceptions.

FIU: SEARCHING FOR CONSISTENCY ON BOTH SIDES

The Panthers have similar offensive numbers to Kennesaw State, averaging 21.8 points per game (111th) but their defense is the weaker link as they allow 27.7 points per game (93rd).

FIU is stronger in the running game (40th) than in passing (102nd) and overall averages 379.0 yards of offense per game (75th). Defensively, they are 62nd against the run but a problematic 127th against the pass which suggests a clear weakness that Kennesaw State can exploit.

Key FIU Players

Quarterback Keyone Jenkins runs the offense with 959 passing yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions - showing problems with accuracy and decision-making. He's also been sacked eight times, indicating protection issues.

In the running game, Kejon Owens is the engine of the offense with 658 yards and six touchdowns. Jenkins has also contributed four rushing touchdowns, showing dual-threat capabilities.

Wide receiver Alex Perry leads the aerial attack with 280 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.

TACTICAL ANALYSIS AND KEY MATCHUPS

Kennesaw State's biggest advantage will be in the matchup of their passing attack (217.0 yards per game) against FIU's weak pass defense (127th in the nation, allowing 267.3 yards through the air per game). This is a matchup the Owls should actively exploit, especially if Williams II starts, as he showed against Louisiana Tech that he can be productive.

FIU will need to rely on their running game where they are solid and try to control time of possession. Owens will be key to keeping the chains moving and avoiding long-yardage situations where Jenkins would have to throw against a solid Kennesaw State defense.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

These teams have met only once in history when Kennesaw State won narrowly 27-26. This suggests that while the Owls are favorites, the Panthers have proven they can be competitive.

TRENDS AND FORM

Kennesaw State has covered the spread in eight of their last 12 games and is currently 3-0 ATS in their last three. This shows consistent ability to exceed expectations.

FIU is 1-2 ATS in their last three which suggests less reliability against the spread.

Regarding totals, the under has hit in all four of Kennesaw State's last games and in five of their last six. For FIU, the under has hit in two of their last three and in four of their last six.

PREDICTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SPREAD PICK: KENNESAW STATE OWLS (5 units)

The Owls arrive with the momentum of a four-game winning streak and just half a game behind first place in the conference. Their latest 35-7 victory over Louisiana Tech showed how dominant they can be when things click.

The key factor is the passing attack versus pass defense matchup. Kennesaw State should be able to exploit FIU's 127th-ranked pass defense, especially if Williams II builds on his four-touchdown performance from last week.

FIU has struggled to put points together, scoring just 51 points in their last three games, and Kennesaw State has the 44th-ranked defense in points allowed.

OVER/UNDER PICK: UNDER (4 units)

The numbers clearly support the under. Kennesaw State is 110th in scoring while FIU is 111th - these are two teams that have trouble putting up points.

Defensively, Kennesaw State is 44th in points allowed, which is a solid number, while FIU is 93rd but faces an offense that averages just 289 yards per game on the road.

With trends strongly pointing to the under and both teams having offensive limitations, this looks like a lower-scoring game.

We thank Stats Perform for providing the data

Photo:statsalt.com

More information:24live.com