The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders had a nice 8-5 season a year ago, but it did end on a down note as they lost to Navy 24-6 in the Armed Forces Bowl. It was their second 8 win season in a row, after going just 2-10 in 2011. This year’s Blue Raiders squad has 49 letterman back and look to build off the last 2 years, but beating out the thundering herd in East will not be easily done. Preview & schedule below.
The Blue Raiders averaged 29 ppg last year and this year have just 5 starters back and must replace QB Logan Kilgore. This year Austin Grammer looks to take the QB job and is 1 of 3 dual threat QB’s on the roster. Grammer will team up with 4 returning backs that all had at least 241 yards rushing last year. This is a deep corps of RB that MTSU has, but there are questions on the OL, where the entire interior of the line must be rebuilt. Seniors Marcus Henry (549 yards) and Chris Perkins (123 yards) lead a decent but unspectacular WR corps. The defense for the Blue Raiders allowed 26.2 ppg last year, but with 25 of 33 lettermen back, including 8 starters, I expect this group to improve this year. The strength of this unit is the LB Corps, which is led by TT Barber, who led the team in tackles with 119 and also had 11.5 TFL and 3 INTs on the year as well. A defensive stat stuffer. Kevin Bayrd is back to lead s ball playmaking secondary, after he had 106 tackles, 5 PBUs and 5 INTs last year. The DL is also looking very solid with 3 of 4 starters back and some good depth. This defense was 5 th nationally in takeaways last year.
Marshall will not be beat this year in conference play, so really MTSU will be battling FAU and WKU for second place in the East. The offense has plenty of playmakers on it, which will produce plenty of points, but still the OL needs to gel to make that happen. I see the defense as much improved over last year’s group, especially if the back 7 plays to their potential. MTSU’s schedule ranks 124th in the nation and even though this team may be overall weaker than last year, they should still produce another 8 win season and grab another bowl invite. I do think they are 3rd though in Conference USA East. KEY TREND: 6-0 ATS after playing Western Kentucky.
2014 MTSU Blue Raiders Schedule
Aug. 30 SAVANNAH STATE
Sept. 6 at Minnesota
Sept. 13 WKU
Sept. 20 at Memphis
Sept. 27 at Old Dominion
Oct. 4 SOUTHERN MISS
Oct. 11 at Marshall
Oct. 18 UAB
Oct. 25 Bye
Nov. 1 BYU
Nov. 8 Bye
Nov. 15 at FIU
Nov. 22 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Nov. 29 at UTEP
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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