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Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 0

By Reed Wallach

Florida Gators defensive lineman Daquan Newkirk (44) tracks Florida Atlantic Quarterback N'Kosi
Florida Gators defensive lineman Daquan Newkirk (44) tracks Florida Atlantic Quarterback N'Kosi / Doug Engle via Imagn Content Services,
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Conference USA football isn't waiting for Week 1 to get play started, they are playing in Week 0!

Florida Atlantic hosts Charlotte in a Week 0 conference showdown. Both teams fell short of expectations in 2021, but both will look to qualify for a bowl game in 2022. Who will get off to a hot start?

Let's check out the odds from consensus sportsbooks:

Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Charlotte: +7.5 (-115)
  • Florida Atlantic: -7.5 (-105)

Moneyline:

  • Charlotte: +230
  • Florida Atlantic: -280

Total:

  • 58.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic Betting Trends

  • Florida Atlantic is 7-13-1 against the spread (ATS) under Willie Taggart
  • Florida Atlantic went 4-2 at home last season
  • Charlotte is 14-16-1 ATS under Will Healy
  • Charlotte went 1-4 ATS as an away underdog last season
  • Charlotte went 2-5-1 in conference play last season

Need help with your college football futures bets? BetSided's Reed Wallach welcomes Ken Barkley, AKA "Locky Lockerson" of You Better You Bet to the debut episode of "The Early Reed!"

Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic Prediction and Pick

Both teams will look to get over the hump and back into a bowl game after each going 5-7 last season.

There are concerns on both sides, but FAU should have a considerable edge on defense. The team allowed just 21.5 points per game last season before falling apart down the stretch that included a four game losing streak.

Overall, the secondary should be the strongest part of the unit. The team was top third of the country in explosive pass rate and had a 39% success rate allowed. With six starters back and some Power 5 transfer talent like corner Michal Antoine (Iowa State), I expect the Owls defense to get off to a hot start against a conference foe.

Taggart has former Miami starter N'Kosi Perry back under center. Perry is capable with both his legs and his arm and showed improved decision making last season, posting a 20:7 touchdown to interception ratio. The team brings back a ton on the offensive line that needs to protect Perry after allowing a sack rate of nine percent last season, one of the worst in the nation.

While there can be some concern about the FAU offense moving forward, I don't expect Charlotte to give them issues. The 49ers had a bottom 100 sack rate and allowed more than seven yards per play.

FAU went to Charlotte last season and won 38-9 as six point road favorites. I don't see a significant change that warrants a big upgrade for the 49ers, so I like FAU to win big once again.

LEAN: Florida Atlantic -7.5 (-105)

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