Saturday, November 12, 2016

Joan C. Edwards Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders take on the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The opening line for this game has MTSU as 11.5 point favorites. This season the Blue Raiders are 4-4-1 against the spread and their over/under record is 6-3-0. The Thundering Herd have an over/under record of 4-5-0 and they are 3-5-1 against the spread.

John Urzua finished with 161 yards through the air for Middle Tennessee last week. He completed 14 passes out of 27 attempts for a 52% completion percentage. The Blue Raiders were led in rushing by I'Tavius Mathers, who finished with 93 yards on 15 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 6 yards per carry. Richie James was the team leader in receiving with a total of 100 yards and 5 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 20 yards per reception. As a team in that game Middle Tennessee got a total of 19 first downs. Of those first downs, 9 came on the ground while 9 came through the air. They ran 66 total plays for 369 yards for the game. The Blue Raiders ran for 110 yards on 28 attempts.

Chase Litton finished with 87 yards passing for Marshall last week. He went 17 for 26, resulting in a 65% completion percentage. The Thundering Herd were led on the ground by Tony Pittman, who finished with 50 yards on 9 carries. He ended the game with an average of 6 yards per rush. Josh Knight led the team in receiving with 34 yards and 6 catches. He finished the game with an average of 6 yards per reception. Marshall had 10 first downs total. 5 came from running the ball and 5 came from a pass. They ran 49 total plays for 214 yards for the contest. The Thundering Herd ran for 76 yards on 20 carries as a team.

Middle Tennessee scores 38.8 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 20th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 28.2 passes on 45 attempts for a 62.7 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 337.3 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 10th in college football. The Blue Raiders run for an average of 181.1 yards per game on 31.8 attempts for an average of 5.7 yards per carry. That ranks them 57th in the nation. They also run 76.8 plays per contest and average 6.8 yards per play for an average of 518.4 yards per game, ranking their offense 7th overall this season. The Blue Raiders average 25.6 first downs per game which ranks them 13th in the country. They accumulate 54 penalty yards per game via 5.9 penalties, which ranks 67th in the nation.

Middle Tennessee allows 243.3 passing yards per game, ranking 85th in D-1, and they allow 31.6 points per contest on defense, which ranks 91st. They give up 21.8 completions on 37.6 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 58. The Blue Raiders allow 189.8 rushing yards per game on 44 carries for an average of 4.3 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 81st in the country. Middle Tennessee allows 433.1 total yards per game including 5.3 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 91st in terms of yards per game. They force 1.7 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 6.2 penalties for 56.2 yards per game, ranking them 80th among D-1 teams.

Marshall averages 28.3 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 67th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 21.7 passes per game on 36 attempts for a 60.2 percent completion percentage. They throw for 245.8 yards through the air per game, ranking them 52nd in Division 1. The Thundering Herd run for an average of 102.9 yards per game on 32.2 attempts for an average of 3.2 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 123rd on the ground. They also run 68.2 plays per game and average 5.1 yards per play for a total of 348.7 yards per game, ranking them 113th in the country on offense. The Thundering Herd get an average of 18.9 first downs per game, which ranks 109th in the nation. They average 82.3 penalty yards per game via 7.9 penalties, ranking them 1st in college football.

Marshall allows an average of 259.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 97th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 35 points per contest, which has them ranked 108th in the nation. They give up 17.9 completions on 31 attempts for a completion percentage of 57.7 per game. The Thundering Herd allow 208.6 rushing yards per contest on 43.2 carries for a 4.8 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 102nd in the country. Marshall allows 467.9 total yards per game for an average of 6.3 yards per play, which ranks 115th in D-1. They force 1.6 turnovers per contest and 7.2 penalties for 72.6 yards in each contest, ranking 120th in the nation.

Middle Tennessee Betting Trends

Middle Tennessee is 6-3-0 against the over/under this season

Middle Tennessee has an ATS record of 4-4-1 this season

Marshall Betting Trends

Marshall is 4-5-0 against the over/under this season

Marshall has an ATS record of 3-5-1 this season

Injuries to Watch

Middle Tennessee

11/07/16 QB Brent Stockstill Arm out for season
11/06/16 QB John Urzua None expected to start Saturday vs. Marshall
09/06/16 DE Chris Hale Knee out indefinitely
09/06/16 WR Demetrius Frazier Leg out for season
08/30/16 RB Shane Tucker Leg out for season
08/29/16 WR Jocquez Bruce Ankle out for season
08/19/16 WR Terry Pettis Leg out for season

Marshall

11/02/16 OL Michael Selby Arm out for season
10/06/16 WR Willie Johnson Knee out for season
10/06/16 LS Zach Wood Personal has left team
08/28/16 S Tiquan Lang Dismissed has been dismissed

Guy's Pick: Take Marshall +11.5

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