Friday night college football and we will see the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders take on the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk, Virginia. The game has a start time of 8:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on Fox Sports 1. Current Vegas odds have the Monarchs listed as 3.5 point favorites, while the total is set at 69.
Analysis: 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. MTSU comes in to this game at 2-2- on the year, with home wins vs Savannah State and Western Kentucky to their credit, while absorbing road losses to Minnesota and Memphis last week. They really had a rough game vs Memphis, getting outgained in the game by 155 yards, while hitting just 27% of their third downs and having 3 TOs in the game. QB Austin Grammar did hit 68.6% of his passes for 237 yards in the game, but also had no TD passes and 1 INT. The Blue Raiders are a better than average offensive team overall, as they come in ranked 50th in total offense (457.5 ypg) and 37th in scoring, while on the defensive side of the ball they have struggled, ranking 104th in total defense (444.5 ypg) and 102nd in points allowed (31.2 ppg).
The Old Dominion Monarchs have had a nice 3-1 start to their year, with their lone loss being at NC State a couple of weeks ago. Last week this team was involved in a wild game as they beat rice on the road by a score of 45-42. This is a team that is used to wild high scoring games, after their games averaged 76 ppg last year. In the game vs Rice, the Monarchs put up 530 yards of offense, including 430 yards through the air, while also totaling 25 FDs in the game. The defense was not so good, as they allowed 526 yards in the game, while allowing the Owls to convert 63% of their third downs. Taylor Heinicke has been very strong under center for the Monarchs, as he has hit 66.7% of his passes for 1172 yards and TDs thus far, while only throwing 2 INTs. The Monarchs rank 39th in the nation in total offense (467.5 ypg) and 56th in scoring (34.2 ppg), while on defense rank 86th in yards allowed (413 ypg) and 96th in points allowed (29.8 ppg).
Pick: I will go with the Over in this one. Neither team will be on the national stage to often so I expect them both teams to put on a great offensive showing here. That is no problem for the Monarchs who have averaged 42+ ppg the last 2 years and has hit the 40 point mark twice this year already. The Monarchs score plenty, but also allow plenty as they have given up 28 or more 3 times so far and 42+twice. MTSU knows how to give up points as well as they have allowed 31.2 ppg this year and are 114th in yards allowed for the season at 444.5. This really has the feel of a shootout with two uptempo offense and two teams that play very little defense. This one should hit 75+.
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