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AwayFlorida InternationalNo. 111 · -10.2
AT
HomeSouth FloridaNo. 41 · +4.6
Week 1Saturday, September 5 at 7:00 PM EDTESPN+Raymond James Stadium
Live 4M scoreSouth Florida 34 · Florida International 19
4M fair spreadSouth Florida -14.5
4M fair total52.9
Home win79%

How the game projects

South Florida has the stronger baseline. The path still runs through down-to-down execution.

The model makes South Florida the neutral-field leader after blending opponent-adjusted efficiency, predictive ratings, roster quality, returning production, portal impact and special teams. Home field contributes to that position. The median score is South Florida 34 · Florida International 19, with roughly 12.0 possessions per team.

This is a distribution, not a promise. The home team wins 79% of the model's outcome curve; the remaining probability captures turnovers, finishing-drive variance, injuries and the uncertainty that is highest early in a season.

The number bridge

Every point between neutral field and the final line.

Neutral marginSouth Florida +12.2Team strength before location
Base home field+2.0National home baseline
Venue + altitude+0.3Learned history, capacity and elevation
Travel + body clock+0.1Relative trip and kickoff timing
Rest0.0Days-between-games difference
Live availability0.0Verified personnel overlay

The location calculation is no longer a blanket home-field number. It combines the learned national baseline with venue and conference history, capacity, altitude, travel, body clock and rest while the archived team ratings remain neutral-field numbers.

Matchup engine

Where the projection is coming from.

Offense gapSouth Florida+32.3 index pts
Defense gapSouth Florida+23.3 index pts
Roster gapSouth Florida+27.3 index pts
Player gapSouth Florida+23.7 index pts
Special teamsSouth Florida+11.5 index pts

South Florida's cleanest route is to keep the game in standard downs and make its stronger units appear repeatedly. Florida International's upset path is higher variance: create short fields, win explosives and force the favorite to finish long drives instead of allowing easy scoring opportunities.

Personnel file

Continuity, transfers and the people who can move the number.

Florida InternationalWillie Simmons

53 returning roster matches · 17 portal additions · 22 departures

  • JJ KohlQB · 4.9 pts · Transfer in from App State
  • Zach MarkerQB · 2.0 pts · New / unverified
  • Zachary WatersQB · 1.9 pts · Returning
  • Matt IvaldiQB · 1.6 pts · Transfer in from Fordham
  • DJ AlexanderQB · 0.9 pts · New / unverified
Full team dossier →
South FloridaBrian Hartline · new staff

51 returning roster matches · 44 portal additions · 34 departures

  • KJ CooperQB · 4.5 pts · Transfer in from Texas Southern
  • Luke KromenhoekQB · 2.8 pts · Transfer in from Mississippi State
  • Michael Van Buren Jr.QB · 2.4 pts · Transfer in from LSU
  • Jayden BradfordQB · 1.6 pts · Transfer in from Liberty
  • D.J. CrowtherRB · 0.8 pts · Transfer in from Dartmouth
Full team dossier →

Market translation

Review before betting.

No licensed market is currently attached. That makes this a football forecast, not a betting recommendation. Wait for a real price before deciding whether an edge exists.