Florida International Panthers

2005 Season Summary

Florida International, much like its cross-town "rival" Florida Atlantic, was college football's version of an "expansion" team as, entering 2005, they had completed just three years of football as a 1-AA program under head coach Don Strock before moving up to 1-AA status as a new member of the Sun Belt conference and regular on the college football betting boards.

Strock was a local hero, having served as quarterback of the Miami Dolphins and was best known for his phenomenal performance in the epic 1981 double overtime playoff game that the Dolphins eventually lost to the San Diego Chargers.

Losers in 1-AA

Florida International had posted straight up records of 5-6 in 2002, 2-10 in 2003, and 3-7 in 2004 as they entered 1-A status as losers in 1-AA. On the positive, Strock did have a lot of experienced players returning on both sides of the ball, which, it was figured, would make the Panthers at least somewhat competitive and a possible bargain on the college football betting boards.

Premature optimism

Florida International opened their season at Kansas State against a Big 12 team with a well-deserved reputation as a team that loved to feast on "cupcakes." K-State was a whopping 33-point favorite and a popular play with many mainstream gamblers who went on K-State's reputation for running up scores at home, rather than their recent history of not being able to cover big numbers. Florida International scored one for the savvy sharps amongst college football bettors with a 21-35 loss/cover. That served to spark premature optimism that could not be sustained.

Reality check

Up next was another Big 12 road game at Texas Tech, against a Red Raider team with an even more merciless reputation than K-State in regards to running up scores. Based in large part on FIU's effort at K-State, the oddsmakers kept the line somewhat down at Texas Tech –34.5, which proved to be a bargain value as the Red Raiders easily covered with a 56-3 win.

The Sun Belt opener was next for Florida International as they were 8-point dogs at perennial loser Arkansas State, who clobbered the Panthers 66-24 in a statement making reality check. FIU got a brief respite as they hosted 1-AA Florida A&M and took a 23-6 win that was not listed on the betting boards.

One more loss created good value

FIU next hosted North Texas, who had dominated the Sun Belt in recent years but was not playing up to their usual standards. The Panthers were 1-point chalks and proved to be unready for the role of favorite in a 10-13 loss that dropped them to 0-4 straight up and 1-3 against the spread versus 1-A competition. It turned out this one more loss created good value for the Panthers with bargain hunters.

Paid off well at the end

Florida Atlantic faced three consecutive Sun Belt road games with a reputation for not being able to get the cash. They first traveled to Troy to meet a Trojan team with a decent reputation but sub-par results in 2005. FIU got the cash in a 13-18 loss as 10.5-point dogs. Next was a trip to Louisiana Monroe where the Panthers were installed as 10-point dogs in a 31-29 upset win for their second straight cover. FIU had nothing left for their final road game of this string at Louisiana Lafayette where they were 9.5-point dogs in a 7-28 loss.

The Panthers closed the season with three consecutive home games starting with 1-AA Western Kentucky, who FIU defeated 38-35. Next was an encouraging 52-6 win over cross-town rival Florida Atlantic as 2.5-point chalks. The season finale and Senior Day game was a satisfying 35-31 upset win over Middle Tennessee as 4.5-point dogs as Florida International paid off well at the end with four covers in their final five lined games as they impressed both their fans and college football bettors with a mostly competitive team that boded well for the future.