vs. FIU Golden Panthers
When: Saturday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m. on Comcast Sport Channel
Where: Dolphins Stadium in Miami (Capacity: 77,000)
FAU 35, FIU 34
Prediction: Sporting News College Football names this game as a must win for both FAU and FIU. Expect a tough game for both teams with a crowd of at least 30,000. FIU lost far more players to graduation before the2006 season than FAU. This should be the difference. A double-overtime regular season ending extravaganza gets people excited about FAU’schances in a bowl game.
Why: This game is for the Shula Trophy and is also a Sun Belt Conference game. After winning the first three Shula Bowls, FAU lostlast year’s game 52-6. Nothing went rightin that game and capped a five win, six loss successful season for FIU. This should be the best game for the colleges in thefive-year history of being rivals. With these two teams vastly improved, this game should be for a chance to win the Sun Belt and a birth in the New Orleans Bowl onDec. 22, which matches up the Sun Belt winner with Conference USA winner.