The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (-3.5) and Old Dominion Monarchs are set to go at it on the turf at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. This Saturday afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and ESPN+ will showcase the action.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. Old Dominion Monarchs Betting Preview
Old Dominion is the underdog in this CUSA game and is currently receiving 3.5 points. The Blue Raiders are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Monarchs are +155. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 60 points. Some good live betting scenarios may exist during this matchup.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the Monarchs. The opening line was originally placed at 5.5 while the total was initially 59.5.
The Blue Raiders are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.6 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 2-5. The Monarchs have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 5.8 units. They’re 3-5 ATS and the over’s hit in seven of their games.
The Blue Raiders have gone 4-3 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against conference opponents. The Monarchs are 2-6 SU overall and 1-4 SU in conference play.
The Blue Raiders just pulled off a 21-13 victory over Charlotte last weekTheir defense allowed the 49ers to rush for 150 yards on 39 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Benny LeMay was on a different level for the 49ers in that one with 129 rushing yards and a score on 19 attempts, along with 58 yards on three catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Brent Stockstill completed 14 passes for just 111 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Ty Lee (six receptions, 60 yards, two TDs) and Thomas (three catches, 10 yards) handled the receiving duties.
The Old Dominion Monarchs just earned a 37-34 win over Western Kentucky. The defense allowed the Hilltoppers to run for 207 yards on 45 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Joshua Samuel had a productive showing in the loss, recording 87 rushing yards on 15 attempts for Western Kentucky. For Old Dominion, Blake LaRussa completed 21-of-32 passes for 327 yards and one touchdown. Kesean Strong (125 rushing yards on 27 attempts, two TDs) led the ground game in the win while Travis Fulgham (seven receptions, 102 yards, one TD) and Jonathan Duhart (five catches, 74 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Middle Tennessee has run the ball on 52.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Old Dominion has a rush percentage of 45.7 percent. The Blue Raiders have run for 116 yards per game (including 115 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have nine touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Monarchs are totaling 114 rush yards per game (124 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
The Blue Raiders offense has averaged 221 yards in the air overall (207 per game versus conference opposition) and has 13 passing TDs so far. The Monarchs have produced 306 pass yards per game (306.2 in the CUSA) and have 14 total pass scores.
Middle Tennessee seems to possess an advantage in both defensive phases. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 177 yards and pass for 228 yards per game. The Old Dominion defense has given up 278.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 235.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Blue Raiders are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.96 to opposing QBs, while the Monarchs have given up an 8.09 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Stockstill has amassed 1,410 yards on the year, and has completed 67 percent of his 199 attempts with 13 passing scores and only four interceptions. Stockstill has a 6.34 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 4.40 over the past two games.
We expect the Middle Tennessee offense to mix it up in this one. Ty Lee (239 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns this season), Asher O’Hara (85 rush yards, one rush TD, 0 receiving yards) and Tavares Thomas (140 rush yards, two rush TDs, two TDs) have all played big roles recently.
Blake LaRussa has connected on 123-of-187 passes for 1,645 yards, 10 TDs and three INTs for Old Dominion. His ANY/A sits at 7.77 for the season and 6.60 across his past two outings.
Kesean Strong (262 rushing yards, seven rush TDs, 88 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown on the year), Travis Fulgham (537 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and Isaiah Harper (301 receiving yards, one receiving TD) have combined to account for 534 total yards and five touchdowns over the past two games.
These two squads faced off last year with the final result being a 41-10 win for Middle Tennessee.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Blue Raiders offense has produced four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Monarchs have put up five such plays.
The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while Old Dominion has given up eight such plays.
The Middle Tennessee offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Old Dominion has created six such runs.
The Blue Raiders defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Monarchs have given up 19 such runs.
The Middle Tennessee defense has sacked opposing QBs 19 times this season. Old Dominion has recorded just 13 sacks.
As a team, Middle Tennessee has averaged 3.0 yards per rush attempt across its past three outings and 3.1 over its last two.
Old Dominion has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.9 over its last two.
Over its last three matchups, Old Dominion is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Middle Tennessee’s last game was 51. The under cashed in the team’s 21-13 triumph over Charlotte.
Over its last three matches, Middle Tennessee is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Old Dominion’s previous outing was set at 55. The over cashed in the 37-34 win over Western Kentucky.
Middle Tennessee has won four of its last five games SU, with an October 13th defeat to FIU representing the only loss over that stretch.
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