The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (+1) are set to take on their conference counterpart FIU Golden Panthers at Riccardo Silva Stadium. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET and beIN Sports will broadcast the action.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. FIU Golden Panthers Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, FIU has been tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 1 point. The Blue Raiders are also receiving -105 moneyline odds while the Golden Panthers are -115. There will likely be some good live betting possibilities for this game.
This game’s line opened at -3, but has recently shifted.
The Blue Raiders are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) and have recorded 2.7 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an Over-Under mark of 2-3. The Golden Panthers have gained 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-1 ATS and also have an O/U record of 2-3.
The Blue Raiders have gone 3-2 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Panthers are 3-2 SU overall and 1-0 SU in conference play.
The Blue Raiders are coming off a 34-24 victory over Marshall last week. Brent Stockstill completed 25-of-40 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. Tavares Thomas (42 yards on 15 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Stockstill (31 yards on 13 carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack. Gatlin Casey (six receptions, 54 yards) and Ty Lee (four catches, 67 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
FIU just picked up a 55-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff a couple of weeks ago. As a group, the Golden Panthers collectively completed 13-of-19 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns. James Morgan went nine-for-14 for 341 yards and four touchdowns while Christian Alexander was four-of-five for 52 yards. Shaun Peterson Jr. (38 yards on 10 rush attempts) mounted the running game while Maurice Alexander (five receptions, 144 yards, one TD) and Cadarius Gaskin (two catches, 86 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Middle Tennessee has run the ball on 49.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while FIU has a rush percentage of 60.3 percent. The Blue Raiders have produced 118 rush yards/game (including 120 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have six touchdowns on the ground this year. The Golden Panthers are putting up 185 rushing yards per game and have 12 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then the Golden Panthers should hold an edge in the trenches. Their offensive line has given up only five sacks while the D-line has registered nine sacks. The Blue Raiders O-line has given up 16 sacks and their defense has got to opposing QBs just 14 times.
The Blue Raiders offensive scheme has averaged 258 yards through the air overall (288 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Golden Panthers have produced 245 pass yards per contest and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Middle Tennessee has allowed 204 rush yards and 216 pass yards per game. The FIU defense has allowed 225.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 185.0 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Blue Raiders have given up an ANY/A of 6.06 to opposing QBs, while the Golden Panthers are yielding an ANY/A of 6.32.
Passing-wise, Stockstill has put up 1,040 yards this year. He’s connected on 93-of-139 attempts with nine scores through the air and only two interceptions. Stockstill’s got a 6.82 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.38 over the last two games.
The Blue Raiders will likely try to control tempo by feeding their running backs early and often. Along with Ty Lee (117 yards), Brad Anderson (40 rush yards, 268 receiving yards) and Tavares Thomas (74 rush yards, one rush TD, 79 receiving yards, one receiving TD) have been focal points in the Middle Tennessee offensive scheme.
In the home locker room, James Morgan has completed 53-of-84 passes for 889 yards, 10 TDs and three INTs. Morgan’s ANY/A sits at 10.72 for the season and 14.32 across his past two games.
The Golden Panthers will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to CJ Worton (223 receiving yards, two receiving TDs), Maurice Alexander (31 rush yards, 236 receiving yards, three receiving TDs) and D’Vonte Price (195 rush yards, three rush TDs) have seen a lot of touches lately.
When these two schools faced each other a year ago, Middle Tennessee won handily 37-17.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Middle Tennessee was favored by 3 points in its last game and the O/U was set at 51. The over cashed and Middle Tennessee covered in the 34-24 victory over Marshall.
As a team, Middle Tennessee has produced 3.65137614678899 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.4 over its last two.
FIU has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.5 over its last two.
FIU has lost three fumbles this season while Middle Tennessee has lost five.
In its last three matchups, Middle Tennessee is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
FIU was favored by 57 points in its last game and the O/U was set at 70.5. The under cashed and FIU did not cover in the 55-9 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Over its last three matches, FIU is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
FIU has won four of its last five games SU, with a -14-point defeat to Miami (FL) on September 22nd representing the only loss over that stretch.
The Blue Raiders offense has registered four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Golden Panthers have accounted for six such plays.
Both teams have allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more and six pass plays of 30+ yards.
The Middle Tennessee offense has created five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while FIU has created seven such runs.
The Blue Raiders defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Panthers have given up eight such runs.
The Middle Tennessee defense has 14 sacks on the year while FIU has nine.
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