A Conference USA matchup is set to take place on Thursday as the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will be facing off against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The Blue Raiders, with a record of 1-4, won their first game of the season but have since lost four in a row, including a 24-7 defeat to Memphis. On the other hand, the Bulldogs, sitting at 1-3, also won their opener but then went on to lose the next three games, with a 17-10 loss to FIU in their most recent matchup. Both teams are 0-1 in the CUSA standings, and in their eight all-time meetings, the home team has emerged victorious seven times. The game is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La. According to the latest odds from SportsLine, the Bulldogs are favored by 4.5 points as the home team, with the over/under set at 49.5 points.
Before making any picks for the Louisiana Tech vs. MTSU game, it’s important to consider the predictions from the advanced computer model at SportsLine, which has a strong track record of success. The model has been profitable for $100 players on its top-rated college football spread picks and has a record of 8-4 on top-rated picks over the past couple of weeks. The model has analyzed the upcoming matchup between Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee, so be sure to check out its picks on SportsLine.
Louisiana Tech is favored in this game for several reasons. The Bulldogs have a strong defense, allowing just 21.8 points per game, which is the second-best in Conference USA. They have only given up 87 total points through four games, which is their lowest at this point in the season since 2003. Linebacker Kolbe Fields leads the team with five tackles for loss, and the defense has been effective at stuffing the run game. In their previous game against MTSU, the Bulldogs recorded nine tackles for loss. On the other hand, Middle Tennessee has struggled offensively, ranking 124th out of 134 FBS teams in scoring.
However, Middle Tennessee has offensive talent that could help them cover the spread or even secure a win. Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato leads CUSA with 1,285 passing yards, and receiver Omari Kelly leads the conference with 471 receiving yards. Additionally, the team has been successful in transitioning Holden Willis from receiver to tight end this season. Middle Tennessee can also take advantage of Louisiana Tech’s offensive weaknesses, particularly in the running game. The Bulldogs have struggled to move the ball on the ground, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry, the worst in CUSA.
When making your picks for the Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech game, consider that the model has simulated the matchup 10,000 times and is leaning towards the Over. The model has also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting well over 50% of the time in simulations. To get the full analysis and see which side of the spread is the best bet, head to SportsLine.
