Deep In The Heart Of Irving, Texas

IRVING, TEXAS -- Yes, I know the game Saturday between FIU and North Texas is in Denton, Texas on the campus of the Mean Green, but yours truly is staying in Irving where the view outside the hotel room is of Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL's version of the FIU Golden Dazzlers.

The Golden Panthers try to win 2 games in a row on Saturday for the first time since closing out the 2005 season with 3 three straight wins. While most of GPP Nation is seeing a blowout or an easy win for FIU -- who BTW is favored for the first time in a game since joining Division I in 2005 -- I cannot predict such a cakewalk win for a team that has won 2 games in 2 years. Plus, this is a conference game and rarely are those blowouts, especially between two somewhat evenly-matched teams.

Here's why: North Texas began the season with four heavyweights -- in relation to the Mean Green -- Kansas State, Tulsa, LSU and Rice. This week North Texas is in a situation that FIU found itself in last week: a game against an opponent of equal caliber. So expect the Mean Green to put up a stronger showing against the Golden Panthers than in the season's first 4 games.

The Mean Green return their top RB, QB and WR from last season and have the potential to dent the scoreboard in Denton. RB Micah Mosely, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season in 94 attempts and scored 5 TDs, has not played since the season opener, but returns Saturday. In the season opener, MM ran for 56 yards on 10 carries against K-State.

QB Giovanni Vizza is the typical Sun Belt QB that can operate the spread as effectively running or passing. His top target Casey Fitzgerald is also back. However, 2nd leading receiver Sam Dibrell quit football earlier this week so that sets back NT's O somewhat.

Judging by the first 4, the NT D has been as generous as Santa Claus at X-mas. But again that was vs. non-conference BCS boys.

LIke many of you voted, FIU's biggest potential roadblock going into this game is overconfidence. If the Golden Panthers stay level-headed and produce in all 3 facets of the game like they did vs. Toledo they arrive in Miami on a 2-game winning streak.

The FIU O needs to continue its strong running from last week. Julian Reams is not 100 percent, but should give it a go. We could see Daunte Owens (left) in his most significant playing time of the season. DO is the fastest of the 3 FIU RBs and if he gets a crease from NT you can dial up 6 for FIU.

Andy Leavine is back on the O-line and that should help with Paul McCall's protection and give the FIU QB more time to throw. If the FIU D takes care of business and the FIU run game is effective, the Golden Panthers just need PM to convert 3rd downs and be efficient.

Las Vegas has this game as a high-scoring affair with the points around 60, but an encore performance from the FIU D will keep this one a lower scoring affair and a 2nd straight win for FIU.

GPP thinks: FIU 27, North Texas 22

GOLDEN PANTHER PAWSE

We'll get the LIVE GPP BLOG kicked off at about 6:45 p.m. Miami time tommorrow. Let's see how the experiment goes and we'll take it from there for future games.

Another worldwide reader joined the Prowl last night. This time from Prague, Czech Republic. That person likes the Lightning nickname for T.Y. and likes the new GPP interview feature. Let's roll out the readership count:

The GPP is read in: 34 STATES: ALA, ARI, CA, COL, FLA, GA, HI, IDAHO, IL, IND, IOWA, KAN, KY, LA, MASS, MD, MICH, MIN, MISS, MO, NEB, NC, NJ, NY, OH, ORE, PA, RI, SC, TEN, TEX, VA, VER, WIS.

16 COUNTRIES: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Venezuela.

1 DISTRICT: Washington, D.C. and 1 TERRITORY: Puerto Rico.

Comments

[Pantera Dorada]

Good blog Pete, I hope these guys are pumped and ready to play tomorrow. If they show the same intensity as the last game they will be great. VAMOS PANTERAS!!

[Quijote]

Pete,

Please we need viewing info for the game.

Thanks

[Puma]

FIU 27
NT 20

[Baltimorepanther]

We are ESPN Gameplan tomorrow and in two weeks against Troy

[gpantera]

Pete,

I'm a alum, student, alumni association lifetime member and panther clube member. do i need any other credential to gain access to the Stadium Club on Saturday to attend the watch party?

[FIU0406]

Pete,

I just saw the headline of tomorrow's article and it said "Florida International football team in unfamiliar role as favorites" could you please call somebody and tell them its FIU before the article goes to print?

The article in today's paper was written by GARRETT W. HYLTON, any realtion to T.Y. Good-bye? And Since he's covering FIU a bit [and knows to call it FIU, unlike some editors]maybe you can invite him to come blog for the GPP nation to tell us who he is and what he thinks of the team.

Go FIU!

[esteban688]

OK im ready to put in my first win prediction! Here Goes!

FIU 31
NT 14

Just how i see it!

[Max]

Can't wait for the game tomorrow, give em hell FIU!

[TheChampionUnderdog]

lets go panthers!

[SouthPaw]

North Texas will be tougher than expected, but FIU's defense is for real. FIU 31 North Texas 20.

[FIUPanther07]

Let's Go Panthers!

[CJ]

im with you southpaw FIU D will do it once more lets go FIU!!!

[FIUJM]

Pete, I hope you're right this week!!! Winning this game would be amazing, it's all about conference play.

GO FIU!!!

[alt7787]

a bunch of media outlets still refer to us as FIU. Hopefully we can continue winning so that we can have actual cause for complaining.

actually Pete, if FIU wins can you please lobby for more FIU space in the Herald. Last week's paper had about 4 or 5 articles writing about UM's loss, but only like 1 or 2 articles about our WIN. throughout the week I see pointless articles written about UM players while FIU gets shunned. lets keep winning and hopefully this'll change. right pete?

[FIUrulez]

FIU 20 NT 21

[quijote]

alt7787...baby steps man! I'm already impressed we are right below UM and above UF and FSU in the daily camp reports.

[Puma]

pete wants to give us space win or lose, it's his bone-headed editor who in spite of the demand apparently needs to see some w's before they give us coverage.

of course if he were in charge of the chicago tribune, he'd never cover the cubs b/c they haven't won the series in 100 years!

write to the sports editor.

[TNGoldenPanther]

FIU 27
NT 17

GO FIU!!!

[Pete Pelegrin]

Quijote: Pete, Please we need viewing info for the game.
-----------------

Quijote, I placed all the viewing info on the last blog's comments section: 1) ESPN Regional TV; 2) North Texas's website where they will have live streaming video; 3) The GPP will have a LIVE BLOG

[Pete Pelegrin]

gpantera: Pete, I'm a alum, student, alumni association lifetime member and panther clube member. do i need any other credential to gain access to the Stadium Club on Saturday to attend the watch party?
------------------

Nope, you got plenty of FIU credentials.

[Pete Pelegrin]

FIU0406: Pete, I just saw the headline of tomorrow's article and it said "Florida International football team in unfamiliar role as favorites" could you please call somebody and tell them its FIU before the article goes to print?

The article in today's paper was written by GARRETT W. HYLTON, any realtion to T.Y. Good-bye? And Since he's covering FIU a bit [and knows to call it FIU, unlike some editors]maybe you can invite him to come blog for the GPP nation to tell us who he is and what he thinks of the team.
-----------------------------------

Sometimes I am not always on-line to monitor headlines. When I am I inform them downtown about "Florida International".

No relation, between Garrett Hylton and T.Y. Hilton...different last names.

[Pete Pelegrin]

alt7787: actually Pete, if FIU wins can you please lobby for more FIU space in the Herald.
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I'm always lobbying. I should be involved in politics since I lobby so much or work in a lobby as a doorman.