UTSA vs. FAU Recap: Messer and Valsin Cash in FAU's 60-29 Rout

Florida Atlantic routed UTSA 60-29 at home on Thursday night. The Owls scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, led 35-22 at the half and pulled away after a UTSA fumble set up a 4-yard AJ Johnson score early in the third. FAU piled up 563 total yards, ran for 339 and did not turn the ball over. Three DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game, all on FAU receivers.

What cashed

Easton Messer 80+ receiving yards (-320 at FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Messer had cleared 80 in eight of his last 10, averaging 110.3, and his main line sat at 109.5. - What happened: 7 catches for 85 yards and 3 touchdowns, with a long of 30. He scored from 6 and 15 yards out in the first quarter and from 6 yards in the fourth, and he also threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to AJ Johnson. He cleared the alt by 5.5. - Worth watching: He did it in a game where FAU ran 49 times. Even when the Owls lean on the run, he stays the top target.

Kelby Valsin 70+ receiving yards (-189 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Valsin had 70 or more in each of his last five games and seven of eight this season. - What happened: 6 catches for 77 yards with a long of 31, 7.5 over. He also caught the two-point conversion after Johnson's third-quarter touchdown. - Worth watching: His yardage held up even with Caden Veltkamp throwing only 25 passes.

Kelby Valsin 6+ receptions (-162 at FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Six or more catches in eight of his last 10, averaging 6.2, with FAU expected to throw a lot as a 7-point underdog. - What happened: Exactly 6 catches. It cashed by half a point. - Worth watching: The game script we expected never came. FAU led most of the night and never had to chase, and he still got there with nothing to spare. Catches props on him lean on volume, so the script matters.

How the game played out

Veltkamp completed 17 of 25 passes for 210 yards and 4 touchdowns. On the ground, Leonard Farrow ran 12 times for 126 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. UTSA kept it close early behind Owen McCown, who threw for 265 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Mekhi Anderson, who caught 6 passes for 117 yards and 2 scores. The Roadrunners were shut out in the fourth quarter and lost two fumbles.

Trends to watch

• Messer caught 3 touchdowns and threw another. FAU keeps finding ways to get him the ball, so his yardage alts stay worth a look.
• Valsin's floor comes from volume. Watch the spread: if FAU is favored, his catches line carries more risk.
• FAU averaged nearly 7 yards per carry. A run game this productive can cap passing volume in games the Owls control.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More on reading these prices: alternate lines, player props and our college football hub.