The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (+1) are set to pay a visit to their CUSA foe FIU Golden Panthers at Riccardo Silva Stadium. The matchup is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET and interested parties can tune in to the action on beIN Sports.
Betting Preview: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at FIU Golden Panthers
In this Saturday Conference USA game, FIU has been projected 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. Some decent in-game betting possibilities should present themselves during the showdown.
The line opened at -3, but has recently shifted.
The Blue Raiders have recorded 2.7 units so far and are 3-2 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U mark of 2-3.
The Golden Panthers are up 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 got their second W in as many tries after a 34-24 win over Marshall last week. Brent Stockstill completed 25 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) led the ground attack. Gatlin Casey (six receptions, 54 yards) and Ty Lee (four catches, 67 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
FIU just earned a 55-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff two weeks ago. As a group, the team 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 rushing yards on 10 attempts) mounted the running game as 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 118.2 rush yards/game (including 120.0 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have six scores on the ground this year. The Golden Panthers are totaling 185.0 rushing yards per game and have 12 total rush TDs.
If 2018 results can translate to this game, then it appears the Golden Panthers ought to have the advantage along both the offensive and defensive fronts. Their offensive line has given up only five sacks while the D-line has logged nine sacks. The Blue Raiders offensive line has given up 16 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss just 14 times.
The Blue Raiders offensive scheme has logged 258.2 yards per game through the air overall (288.0 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Golden Panthers have produced 245.4 pass yards per contest and have 12 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Middle Tennessee has allowed 204.0 rush yards and 215.6 pass yards per game. The FIU defense has given up 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 opponents, as the Blue Raiders have given up an ANY/A of 6.06 to opposing QBs, while the Golden Panthers are allowing an ANY/A of 6.32.
Offensively, Stockstill has put up 1,040 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 93-of-139 attempts with nine scores through the air and only two interceptions. He’s got a 6.82 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.38 over the last two outings.
The Blue Raiders will probably try to control tempo by putting the ball into the hands of their running backs. 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 significant focal points in the offensive gameplans for Middle Tennessee.
James Morgan has managed to complete 53-of-84 passes for 889 yards, 10 TDs and three INTs for FIU. His ANY/A sits at 10.72 for the season and 14.32 over his past two games.
The Golden Panthers also prefer to keep their RBs involved. 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 gotten a lot of looks recently.
When these two teams met a year ago, Middle Tennessee knocked off FIU soundly 37-17.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at FIU Golden Panthers Free Pick
SU Winner: Middle Tennessee, ATS Winner: Middle Tennessee
Team Betting Trends
- The FIU offense has lost three fumbles this season while Middle Tennessee has let five get away.
- The Middle Tennessee defense has sacked opposing QBs 14 times this season. FIU has registered nine sacks.
- Middle Tennessee, as a team, has rushed for 3.65137614678899 yards per attempt across its last three games and 3.4 over its last two.
- FIU has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.5 over its past two.
- In its last three matches, FIU is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Middle Tennessee was favored by 3 points in its last game and the Over/Under going into it was 51. The over cashed and Middle Tennessee covered in the 34-24 victory over Marshall.
- In its last three matches, 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 Over/Under was set at 70.5. The under cashed and FIU did not cover in the team’s 55-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- FIU has won four of its last five games SU, with a -14-point loss to Miami (FL) on September 22nd representing its only defeat over that span.
