USF vs Florida Atlantic Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Two Florida teams that thought they would do a lot better have had a rough go of it.

USF lost four games, but all of them can be forgiven: at Alabama, Miami, Tulane, and Memphis. The problem is that the team did not even come close, based on the final scores.

But the rest of the slate, which could include Navy, can be won. This 3–4 start should be at least 7–5 and could be 8–4.

That is all Florida Atlantic can do to get its defense to play better. The offense has been hit or miss, and the team has only one win over an FBS team, which came against FIU. They need this home game because they have three road games in four days.

USF vs Florida Atlantic Preview

USF vs Florida Atlantic How to Watch
Date: Friday, November 1, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
Venue: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
How to Watch: ESPN2
Florida Atlantic (2-5), USF (3-4)

Why USF Will Win

It should be easy for the USF passing game to work.

The run defense for Florida Atlantic is not great—both Army and UConn ran for over 400 yards, which makes the stats look worse than they really are—but the secondary is getting pounded.

North Texas’s great offense went off, and UTSA threw for 340 yards against the Owls last week.

The passing attack for USF is not always very good, but when it does, it hits big plays down the field. Even if it is not always pretty, it should reach 250 yards, but

Why Florida Atlantic Will Win

Can the USF run defense hold up?

It’s been good throughout the season – it has yet to allow 200 yards on the ground, even to Alabama – but the strong teams have been able to pound away.

Take this for what it’s worth – again, USF lost to the four teams it should’ve lost to, and beat the three teams it should’ve – but in the four defeats it allowed over 101 yards on the ground, and in the three wins it gave up less than 100 yards.

Florida Atlantic will at least give it a shot on the ground. It gets production from a slew of areas, and it should keep pounding away at least 35 times. USF is in trouble if it’s giving up four yards per carry, but …

USF vs Florida Atlantic: Who Will Win

Florida Atlantic has to run the ball REALLY well to win since they can not throw the ball. The Bulls do not have to worry about a steady passing attack, though.

While both teams turn the ball over too often and sometimes have trouble with penalties, USF will win against a team of the same size because its bigger problem, pass protection, will not be shown. There is no pass rush at FAU.