Two schools that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Rick Stockstill and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (+14) are set to face off against the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats (-14) at Kroger Field. This vital afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action on SEC Network.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview
The Blue Raiders come into this Saturday game as a significant dog here and they’re currently receiving 14 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to lay down $600 to win $100 back on the Wildcats (-600). The Blue Raiders are getting +425 moneyline odds. If one school can create a bunch of points early it will result in a nice betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 45 points.
This game’s line opened at -13. The total has yet to change after being initially posted at 45.
Each of these teams has posted a good return this season as the Blue Raiders have gained 5.7 units and the Wildcats are ahead 8.6 units.
The Blue Raiders are 7-3 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Wildcats are also 7-3 SU.
Kentucky enters this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Middle Tennessee has lost zero in a row. The Blue Raiders are coming off a resounding 48-32 victory over UTEP last week where Brent Stockstill completed 31-of-40 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns. Chaton Mobley (53 rushing yards on 15 attempts, one TD) led the running attack. Ty Lee (10 receptions, 158 yards, one TD) and Gatlin Casey (six catches, 75 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the win.
A week ago, Tennessee knocked off this Kentucky crew by a score of 24-7. Terry Wilson completed 21-of-34 passes for 172 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Benny Snell (81 yards on 20 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Wilson (-6 yards on 10 carries) mounted the running attack while Lynn Bowden (six receptions, 57 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Middle Tennessee has run the ball on 51.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Kentucky has a rush percentage of 62.7 percent. The Blue Raiders have produced 140 rush yards/game and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Wildcats are averaging 187 rushing yards per game and have 18 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then it seems like the Wildcats ought to have an edge in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has generated 4.6 yards per carry while their defense has allowed 4.0 YPC to opponents. The Blue Raiders have registered 3.8 yards per carry while allowing 4.3 YPC to opponents.
The Blue Raiders offense has averaged 240 yards through the air overall and has 21 passing TDs so far. The Wildcats have put up 160 pass yards per game and have 10 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Middle Tennessee has allowed 165 rush yards and 242 pass yards per game. The Kentucky D has allowed 180.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 141.4 yards per game on the ground. The Wildcats are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.77 to opponents, while the Blue Raiders have given up a 5.56 ANY/A.
Offensively, Stockstill has amassed 2,070 passing yards this year. He’s completed 196-of-278 attempts with 19 scores through the air and only five interceptions. He has a 7.05 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.11 over the last two outings.
In the other locker room, Terry Wilson has connected on 121-of-187 passes for 1,160 yards, six TDs and seven INTs. Wilson’s ANY/A sits at an ultra-pedestrian 4.12 for the year and 4.44 across his last two outings.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Kentucky Wildcats
SU Winner – Kentucky, ATS Winner – Kentucky, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
Both teams have lost eight fumbles this year.
The Middle Tennessee defense has sacked opposing QBs 26 times this year. Kentucky has recorded 23 sacks.
As a team, Middle Tennessee has produced 5.0 yards per carry across its last three contests and 4.8 over its last two.
Kentucky has averaged 2.4 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 2.3 over its past two.
Middle Tennessee has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a three-point loss to FIU on October 13th representing the only slip-up over that span.
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