Kicking off as part of the Week 9 college football slate, the FIU Panthers will face off with the Liberty Flames.
This marks the fifth matchup between these two sides in their respective histories. Liberty holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series, although FIU won the most recent matchup in 2025 with a 34-27 overtime victory.
Looking at the odds, Liberty enters as a 14-point favorites and hold -600 odds of winning outright on DraftKings Sportsbook. FIU holds +440 odds of pulling off the upset, with the game total set at 45.5 points.
This article will preview both teams and provide a pick for the Week 9 CFB matchup.
FIU vs. Liberty Preview
FIU Preview
The FIU Panthers enter with a 3-4 record on the season. They are looking to snap a streak of back-to-back losses, which came against Jacksonville State and Middle Tennessee. FIU has gone 3-4 against the spread, and the game total has stayed under in four of its seven games.
Willie Simmons’ squad has struggled to score the football this year. The Panthers are averaging 20.1 points per game, which ranks 120th among qualifying FBS teams. They have scored more than 24 points in just one matchup this year and have been limited to as few as nine points. Turnovers have also been an issue, with the Panthers coughing the ball up 1.4 times per game. Defensively, FIU has had more success. The Panthers are holding opponents to 16.3 points per game, which ranks 20th in the country. They are limiting teams to just 170.9 passing yards per game and have held opponents to 20 points or fewer in five of their seven games.
JJ Kohl stands in at quarterback, completing 57.7% of his pass attempts for 1,637 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions through seven games. Maguire Anderson is his clear top wide receiver, pulling in 36 receptions for 568 yards and four scores. No other pass catcher has more than one receiving touchdown, with six players recording at least 119 receiving yards. Devonte Lyons headlines the rushing attack with 383 yards on the ground and a touchdown, while Anthony Carrie adds 258 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own.
Liberty Preview
The Liberty Flames enter with a 6-1 record to start the year in Jamey Chadwell’s fourth season at the helm. They opened the season with a loss to James Madison, but have since ripped off six consecutive wins against Gardner-Webb, Ball State, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Sam Houston, and Kennesaw State. Liberty has gone 5-2 against the spread, and the game has stayed under the total in five of its seven contests.
The Flames are scoring 31.6 points per game, which ranks 49th among qualifying FBS teams. Liberty is generating 413.9 yards of total offense per game and has scored at least 30 points in five straight. Defensively, opponents are scoring just 14.0 points per game against the Flames, which ranks seventh in the country. They are also allowing just 292.4 total yards of offense per game. Liberty has not conceded more than 17 points across its past five games, and opponents have combined for just nine points across its past two.
Quarterback Deshawn Purdie headlines the production, completing 60.2% of his pass attempts for 1,226 yards and nine touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception this season. Kam Davis leads the rushing attack with 583 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while Peyton Jones adds 306 rushing yards of his own. Jaylon Coleman contributes two touchdowns, along with 260 rushing yards and 109 receiving yards. Makai Jackson leads the passing attack with 540 receiving yards and five scores. Jamari Person adds 238 yards and two touchdowns.
FIU vs. Liberty Pick
These are two teams trending in opposite directions and expect this disparity to be put on full display in this matchup.
Liberty faced a tough test out of the gates this year against James Madison. They found their stride after that loss, winning six straight games and having covered the spread in five straight matchups. The Flames have had some impressive flashes on both sides of the ball and will look to carry their momentum into Saturday.
In contrast, FIU has slipped to 3-4 on the season and has struggled to cover the spread consistently. Its issues scoring the football will be a problem against a Liberty team that can break open the game at any time. The Panthers have not faced an offense as productive as the Flames’ over their recent stretch.
Liberty’s ability to take care of the football is especially notable in this game. Deshawn Purdie has yet to throw an interception this season, and the Flames are averaging just 0.7 turnovers per game as a team. In. contrast, Liberty are facing a team that has been careless with the football. FIU quarterback JJ Kohl has thrown a Conference USA-leading eight interceptions, and the Panthers are averaging 1.4 turnovers per game.
Trust the Flames to play cleaner football and capitalize when FIU gives them opportunities. Liberty is the better football team on both sides of the ball, and expect this to be fully evident in this Week 9 matchup as both teams continue along their current trajectories. Don’t blink at the 14-point spread and expect this matchup to get out of control rather quickly.
