A couple of schools that prefer to focus on their running games, Head Coach Brad Lambert and the Charlotte 49ers (+17) are set to take on their in-conference nemesis Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (-17) at Johnny (Red) Floyd Stadium. This vital daytime matchup is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET and ESPN 3 has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Charlotte 49ers at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Charlotte is a significant road underdog in this CUSA matchup and is currently getting 17 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to wager $1,200 to win $100 back on the Blue Raiders (-1200). The 49ers are getting +710 moneyline odds. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 52.5 points. On the surface it appears that this contest will probably have some in-game betting opportunities.
The line opened at -17. The game’s over/under hasn’t changed since it opened at 52.5.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this season as the 49ers have gained 1.9 units and the Blue Raiders are up 1.6 units.
The 49ers have gone 3-3 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against conference opponents. The Blue Raiders are 3-3 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Niners are coming off a resounding 40-14 win over Western Kentucky last week. the 49ers completed 17-of-26 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. Chris Reynolds went 12-for-19 for 119 yards while Evan Shirreffs completed five-of-seven for 118 yards and one touchdown. Benny LeMay (121 yards on 17 rushes, two TDs) and Calvin Camp (38 yards on 12 carries) led the running attack while Victor Tucker (nine receptions, 91 yards) and Rico Arnold (two catches, 36 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Middle Tennessee narrowly fell 24-21 to FIU. As a group, the team collectively completed 15-of-27 passes for 142 yards and one interception. Asher O’Hara went nine-for-20 for 114 yards and one interception while Brent Stockstill was six-of-seven for 28 yards. O’Hara (85 yards on 21 rush attempts, one TD) and Tavares Thomas (26 yards on 10 carries, two TDs) mounted the running game while Ty Lee (five receptions, 74 yards) and Patrick Smith (three catches, 19 yards) led the Middle Tennessee pass-catchers in the loss.
Charlotte’s run the ball on 61.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Middle Tennessee has a rush percentage of 50.9 percent. The 49ers have rushed for 141.3 yards/game (including 150.3 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Blue Raiders are putting up 129.7 rush yards per game (142.3 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
The Niners offensive scheme has averaged 215.2 yards through the air overall (211.0 per game versus conference opposition) and has seven passing TDs so far. The Blue Raiders have put up 238.8 pass yards per game (239 against CUSA foes) and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Charlotte has allowed 92.2 rush yards and 237.2 pass yards per game. The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed 231.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 181.7 yards per game on the ground. The Blue Raiders are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.65 to opposing QBs, while the 49ers have given up a 7.48 ANY/A.
Offensively, Reynolds has put up 979 passing yards this year, and has completed 64 percent of his 129 attempts with six scores through the air and only one interception. He has a 6.81 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.71 over the last two outings.
Brent Stockstill has completed 101-of-146 passes for 1,010 yards, eight TDs and three INTs for Middle Tennessee. His ANY/A sits at 6.28 for the year and 6.69 over his last two outings.
These two teams faced off a year ago with the final result being a 35-21 victory for Middle Tennessee.
Charlotte 49ers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Middle Tennessee, ATS Winner: Middle Tennessee, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Charlotte’s last game was set at 44. The over cashed in the team’s 40-14 victory over Western Kentucky.
- Charlotte, as a team, has produced 2.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.3 over its last two.
- Middle Tennessee has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 3.9 over its last two.
- Middle Tennessee has lost five fumbles this season while Charlotte has lost six.
- Over its last three contests, Charlotte is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Middle Tennessee’s last game was 60.5. The under cashed in the 24-21 loss to FIU.
- Over its last three contests, Middle Tennessee is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The 49ers offense has produced five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Blue Raiders have accounted for four such plays.
- The Charlotte defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has given up five such plays.
- The Charlotte offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has created five such runs.
- The 49ers defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Blue Raiders have given up 10 such runs.
- The Middle Tennessee defense has sacked opposing QBs 15 times this season. Charlotte has registered 10 sacks.
