The 2013 Florida International schedule, includes 6 home games and 6 road games, with 5 games vs teams that were bowl eligible in 2012. Their full schedule is listed below, but first let's preview the 2013 FIU Golden Panthers. 

Mario Cristobal did a fine job for FIU. He took over a program that had gone 0-12 the year before and after going 1-11 in his first year, he improved in 2008 with 5 wins, had just 3 wins in 2009 but then made it to 2 straight bowls in 2010 and 2011 (the first bowls in school history). Last year they went just 3-9 and he was fired, so in steps Ron Turner and he has a lot of work to do with just 4 starters returning on each side of the ball.

QB Jake Medlock and RB Kendrick Rhodes both had injury problems last year, but they are back and should help this offense greatly. The offense did score 25 ppg last year and Medlock did have 13 TD's to just 2 INT's, so as long as he stays healthy they will improve on last years numbers. Trying to keep him healthy, though, will be an offnesive line that losses all 5 starters from last year. That could hinder the offense some. A guy to keep an eye on could be LSU transfer RB Jakhari Gore. WR could be a strength with 5 of their top 7 pass catchers back from a year ago.

Last year FIU returned 10 starters from 2011, yet they allowed 31.7 ppg and 403 ypg on the year. Those numbers translate into allowing 12.2 ppg and 58 ypg more than in 2010. Yikes. Now the two best players, safety Jonathan Cyprien and end Tourek Williams (6.5 sacks), are off to the NFL, aand they return just 4 starters overall to the Unit. Josh Conklin takes over as DC, but he has a lot of work to do. Tyhe DL will be one of the better in Conference USA and the secondary is miuddle of the pack, but their biggets question marks are at LB where all 3 starters depart and stepping in is 3 sophomores. Very young group. I expect the Panthers to improve some on this side of the ball, but it will be small improvement with a young group.

FIU has some talent this year, but not sure it will be enough to move up in the Conference USA standings. The OL is very green and that will not help this offense improve on last years numbers, especially since they are changing schemes. The defense struggled last year and while they should be better, they just don't have enough playmakers on that side of the ball to slow down some of the more high powered offenses in the Conference USA. I look at this as a three or four win team but based on talent they could be a good bit better if the stars align. Key Trends: 1-7 ATS vs opponent off a SU dog win... 1-7 ATS in 2^nd of BB home games... 0-7 ATS vs opponent off SU fav loss.

2013 FIU Schedule

Aug. 31: at Maryland

Sept. 7: vs. UCF

Sept. 14: vs. Bethune-Cookman

Sept. 21: at Louisville

Oct. 5: at Southern Mississippi

Oct. 12: vs. Alabama-Birmingham

Oct. 26: vs. Louisiana Tech

Nov. 2: vs. East Carolina

Nov. 9: at Middle Tennessee State

Nov. 16: at UTEP

Nov. 23: vs. Marshall

Nov. 30: at FAU