The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (+14) are set to take on their CUSA nemesis Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (-14) at Johnny (Red) Floyd Stadium. CBS Sports Network has the TV rights and this Friday showdown is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Betting Preview
In this Friday Conference USA game, Middle Tennessee is tabbed as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 14 points. The Hilltoppers are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Blue Raiders are -735. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 52 points, and should one school can create a bunch of points early, it will likely lead to a nice betting scenario in-game.
The game’s total has moved higher after opening at 51. The original line of -14 has yet to change.
The disappointing Hilltoppers are 4-4 against the spread (ATS) and are down 10.2 units so far. The team’s recorded an O/U mark of 4-4. The Blue Raiders have gained 3.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-4 ATS and own an O/U record of 3-5.
The Hilltoppers have gone 1-7 straight up (SU), including 0-4 SU against CUSA opponents. The Blue Raiders are 5-3 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.
Western Kentucky enters this one on a two-game winning streak while Middle Tennessee has come up short in its last four in a row. The Hilltoppers fell to FIU 38-17 in a thumping where their defense allowed the Golden Panthers to eat up the clock by rushing for 197 yards on 38 attempts, including two rush TDs. On the offensive side, the Hilltoppers completed 18-of-34 passes for 144 yards and one interception. Davis Shanley went 14-for-25 for 105 yards while Steven Duncan completed four-of-eight for 39 yards and one interception. Joshua Samuel (83 yards on 14 rush attempts) led the ground attack. Jacquez Sloan (five receptions, 69 yards) and Lucky Jackson (five catches, 30 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Middle Tennessee just earned a 51-17 win over Old Dominion. Brent Stockstill completed 25-of-32 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Terelle West (120 rushing yards on 13 attempts, one TD) mounted the running game while Ty Lee (five receptions, 69 yards, one TD) and Tavonn Salter (five catches, 32 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Western Kentucky has run the ball on 49.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Middle Tennessee has a rush percentage of 52.3 percent. The Hilltoppers have run for 126 yards per game (including 120 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have nine scores on the ground this year. The Blue Raiders are totaling 127 rush yards per game (134 in conference) and have 12 total rushing TDs.
The Hilltoppers offense has averaged 240 yards in the air overall (220 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Blue Raiders have put up 228 pass yards per contest (221.8 against CUSA foes) and have 15 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Western Kentucky has allowed 175 rush yards and 229 pass yards per game. The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed 241.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 178.4 yards per game on the ground. The Blue Raiders are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.99 to opposing QBs, while the Hilltoppers have given up a 6.74 ANY/A.
Offensively, Shanley has put up 671 passing yards this season. He’s completed 65 percent of his 109 attempts with one passing scores and two interceptions. He’s got a 4.63 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.22 over the last two outings.
For the home team, Brent Stockstill has completed 151-of-218 passes for 1,607 yards, 12 TDs and four INTs. Stockstill’s ANY/A stands at 6.70 for the season and 6.63 over his last two games.
These two teams faced off last year with the final result being a 41-38 win for Western Kentucky.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
SU Winner – Western Kentucky, ATS Winner – Western Kentucky, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Middle Tennessee defense has sacked opposing QBs 21 times this season. Western Kentucky has produced just 14 sacks.
Middle Tennessee has lost six fumbles in 2018 while Western Kentucky has lost five.
The Hilltoppers offense has produced seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Blue Raiders have put up five such plays.
The Western Kentucky defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has given up eight such plays.
The Western Kentucky offense has created four rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has created seven such runs.
The Hilltoppers defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Blue Raiders have given up 13 such runs.
The Over/Under for Middle Tennessee’s last match was set at 62. The over cashed in the team’s 51-17 triumph over Old Dominion.
In its last three contests, Middle Tennessee is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matchups, Western Kentucky is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Middle Tennessee has won five of its last six games SU, with a -3-point defeat to FIU on October 13th representing its only loss over that stretch.
The Over/Under for Western Kentucky’s last game was set at 54. The over cashed in the team’s 38-17 loss to FIU.
As a team, Western Kentucky has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.5 over its last two.
Middle Tennessee has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.4 over its past two.
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