SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Florida International Panthers vs UTSA Roadrunners Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/26

College Football Preview

The 2025 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will feature the Florida International Panthers taking on the UTSA Roadrunners. This postseason game will be held at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, December 26, 2025, at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Florida International finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, going 5-3 in Conference USA play. The Panthers had an even 3-3 road record. On the other side, UTSA ended with a 6-6 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in the American conference. The Roadrunners have a 4-2 record at home, providing them some comfort as they play in Texas.

Florida International Team Preview

The Florida International Panthers have been strong in their recent games. They won four of their last five games, showing their ability to perform both at home and on the road. Their most recent win was against the Sam Houston Bearkats, with a score of 56-16.

Offensively, the Panthers have been productive this season. They rank 48th in points scored with 351 and have a strong rushing game, ranking 36th with 2,281 rushing yards. Kejon Owens has been a key player, leading the team with 1,283 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Panthers have some injury concerns heading into their next game. Key players like Joe Pesansky and Tar’varish Dawson are listed as questionable. Juju Lewis and Richard Nwaukoni are out for the season, which could impact their depth and performance.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Florida International vs UTSA Game Day Info

  • Sport: NCAA Football
  • Teams: Florida International Panthers vs. UTSA Roadrunners
  • Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX
  • Date: Friday, December 26, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Florida International +254, UTSA -320

UTSA Team Preview

The UTSA Roadrunners had a mixed performance in their recent games. They won against East Carolina Pirates with a score of 58-24 and against Charlotte 49ers, 28-7. However, they faced losses to Army Black Knights, 27-24, and South Florida Bulls, 55-23.

UTSA’s offensive stats show they scored 405 points this season, ranking 25th in the league. Their passing game reached 2,919 yards, placing them 52nd, and they rushed for 2,096 yards, ranking 55th. They achieved 258 first downs, which ranks them 36th overall.

Owen McCown, their top quarterback, played 12 games with 2,695 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. Robert Henry Jr. led the running backs with 1,045 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Devin McCuin was the standout wide receiver, with 59 receptions and 653 receiving yards.

BTB Betting Pick

The spread for the game has UTSA favored by 8.5 points. Florida International has improved their offensive stats this season, especially in rushing yards, ranking 36th. With UTSA’s defense ranked 128th in points against, Florida International covering the +8.5 spread seems likely. The projected score is UTSA 35, Florida International 28.

The total for the game is set at 59.5 points. Both teams have shown strong offensive capabilities, with UTSA ranked 25th in points for and Florida International showing improvement. However, both defenses have struggled, with UTSA ranked 128th in points against. This suggests the total will go over 59.5, with a projected score of UTSA 35, Florida International 28.