UTSA travels to Boca Raton to face Florida Atlantic on Thursday night in an American Athletic Conference matchup with significant College Football Playoff implications for the Roadrunners. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with clear skies and a low of 72 degrees expected.
Betting Odds and Trends
UTSA enters as a 7-point favorite according to DraftKings, with the over/under set at 72.5 points. The Roadrunners are receiving 69% of the against-the-spread handle but only 28% of bets at -6.5. The high total has attracted heavy action on the over, with 86% of money and 60% of tickets backing it.
College Football Playoff Picture
The first CFP rankings placed Boise State as the lone Group of 6 representative at No. 25, giving the Broncos a 77.7% playoff probability per the SportsLine Projection Model. UTSA (7-1, 4-0 AAC) was unranked and holds just a 0.7% playoff chance, though a win would keep their faint hopes alive. Coach Jeff Traylor has led the program to its seventh straight bowl-eligible season and its best start since 2021.
Team Breakdown
UTSA's offense averages 33.5 points per game, led by senior quarterback Owen McCown (1,751 yards, 10 touchdowns, four interceptions) and running back Will Henderson III (664 yards, five touchdowns). Florida Atlantic counters with a more prolific offense at 37.8 points per game, spearheaded by quarterback Caden Veltkamp (2,536 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions) and wide receiver Easton Messer, who leads the nation with 74 receptions for 898 yards and nine touchdowns. However, the Owls' defense allows 468.9 yards and 35.8 points per game.
Series History and Prediction
This is the sixth meeting between the programs, with FAU leading 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Boca Raton. UTSA has won the last two encounters, including a victory in Florida in 2023. The SportsLine model projects a combined 63 points, well below the posted total.
