Saturday, October 15, 2016

Johnny Red Floyd Stadium

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The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers take on the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Johnny Red Floyd Stadium. The opening line for this game has Middle Tennessee State as 2.5 point favorites. This season the Hilltoppers are 1-5-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 2-4-0. The Blue Raiders have an over/under record of 2-3-0 and they are 2-2-1 against the spread.

Mike White finished with 340 yards through the air for Western Kentucky last week. He completed 36 passes out of 50 attempts for a 72% completion percentage. The Hilltoppers were led in rushing by Anthony Wales, who finished with 83 yards on 14 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 6 yards per carry. Nicholas Norris was the team leader in receiving with a total of 108 yards and 10 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 11 yards per reception. As a team in that game Western Kentucky got a total of 26 first downs. Of those first downs, 7 came on the ground while 18 came through the air. They ran 73 total plays for 427 yards for the game. The Hilltoppers ran for 87 yards on 23 attempts.

Brent Stockstill finished with 295 yards passing for Middle Tennessee State last week. He went 24 for 45, resulting in a 53% completion percentage. The Blue Raiders were led on the ground by I'Tavius Mathers, who finished with 135 yards on 24 carries. He ended the game with an average of 6 yards per rush. Richie James led the team in receiving with 134 yards and 8 catches. He finished the game with an average of 17 yards per reception. Middle Tennessee State had 24 first downs total. 7 came from running the ball and 13 came from a pass. They ran 77 total plays for 477 yards for the contest. The Blue Raiders ran for 182 yards on 32 carries as a team.

Western Kentucky scores 36.5 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 39th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 23.3 passes on 36.2 attempts for a 64.5 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 325 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 15th in college football. The Hilltoppers run for an average of 134.5 yards per game on 28.7 attempts for an average of 4.7 yards per carry. That ranks them 107th in the nation. They also run 64.8 plays per contest and average 7.1 yards per play for an average of 459.5 yards per game, ranking their offense 38th overall this season. The Hilltoppers average 21.7 first downs per game which ranks them 56th in the country. They accumulate 66.7 penalty yards per game via 6.3 penalties, which ranks 26th in the nation.

Western Kentucky allows 290.7 passing yards per game, ranking 114th in D-1, and they allow 27.5 points per contest on defense, which ranks 69th. They give up 21.8 completions on 37.8 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 57.7. The Hilltoppers allow 103 rushing yards per game on 37.3 carries for an average of 2.8 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 15th in the country. Western Kentucky allows 393.7 total yards per game including 5.2 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 60th in terms of yards per game. They force 2 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 8 penalties for 62.7 yards per game, ranking them 98th among D-1 teams.

Middle Tennessee State averages 37.6 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 32nd in the country. In the passing department, they complete 29.4 passes per game on 47.8 attempts for a 61.5 percent completion percentage. They throw for 352.6 yards through the air per game, ranking them 7th in Division 1. The Blue Raiders run for an average of 175.8 yards per game on 32.6 attempts for an average of 5.4 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 65th on the ground. They also run 80.4 plays per game and average 6.6 yards per play for a total of 528.4 yards per game, ranking them 12th in the country on offense. The Blue Raiders get an average of 25.8 first downs per game, which ranks 13th in the nation. They average 65.8 penalty yards per game via 6.8 penalties, ranking them 31st in college football.

Middle Tennessee State allows an average of 220.6 passing yards per game, which ranks 59th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 23 points per contest, which has them ranked 40th in the nation. They give up 22.2 completions on 39.4 attempts for a completion percentage of 56.3 per game. The Blue Raiders allow 150 rushing yards per contest on 38.4 carries for a 3.9 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 53rd in the country. Middle Tennessee State allows 370.6 total yards per game for an average of 4.8 yards per play, which ranks 46th in D-1. They force 1.4 turnovers per contest and 6 penalties for 53.4 yards in each contest, ranking 58th in the nation.

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky is 2-4-0 against the over/under this season

Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 1-5-0 this season

Middle Tennessee State Betting Trends

Middle Tennessee State is 2-3-0 against the over/under this season

Middle Tennessee State has an ATS record of 2-2-1 this season

Injuries to Watch

Western Kentucky

10/09/16 LB T.J. McCollum Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Middle Tenn St
10/01/16 RB D'Andre Ferby Shoulder out for season
10/01/16 DB Marcus Ward Knee out for season
09/26/16 DL Nick Dawson-Brents Ankle expected to miss 3-4 weeks
09/06/16 RB Leon Allen Knee out indefinitely
08/27/16 QB Nelson Fishback Pectoral out for season

Middle Tennessee State

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

Tony's Pick: Take Middle Tennessee State

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