Conference USA begins its midweek residency on the college football schedule with a clash between two teams with opposite records so far in 2023. The 1-4 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders welcome the 4-1 Jacksonville State Gamecocks to Murfreesboro in what is a must-win for the home team.
Who emerges victorious? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State prediction.
Middle Tennessee State vs. Jacksonville State Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page.
- Spread
Middle Tennessee -3.5 - Moneyline
Middle Tennessee -170, Jacksonville State +142 - Over/Under
51 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, TN - Predicted Weather at Kick
62 degrees, 4-6 mph winds, mostly clear - How to Watch
FuboTV, ESPNU
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Looking to make some money on Middle Tennessee or are you serious about Jacksonville State securing you some silver? If you’re going to take advantage of the MTSU vs. Jacksonville State odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
The Blue Raiders come into this matchup with a successful history against the Gamecocks. They’ve won the last five games, are 9-1 in the last 10 matchups, and boast an 11-0-2 record at home. The last time the two teams met, in 1997, the Blue Raiders ran out with an 11-point win. The history backs up their status as a favorite.
As Lee Corso would say, however, “Not so fast my friend!” While they hold the home advantage, the Blue Raiders don’t hold too many other advantages in this matchup. As our Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State prediction explains in deeper detail, the Gamecocks are primed to overcome the odds for the fifth win of their fledgling FBS tenure.
Given the spread line, if you like Jacksonville State to win, take them on the money line and against the spread. The over/under line is a more complicated affair. The MTSU defense has been porous at times, and Jacksonville State gave up 28 points to Sam Houston, but the two teams have combined for a 7-3 record in favor of the under.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Middle Tennessee Depth Chart | Jacksonville State Depth Chart
- QB Nicholas Vattiato, Middle Tennessee ($9,800)
- QB Logan Smothers, Jacksonville State ($9,000)
- QB Zion Webb, Jacksonville State ($9,000)
- RB Malik Jackson, Jacksonville State ($10,000)
- RB Frank Peasant, Middle Tennessee ($8,200)
- RB Jaiden Credle, Middle Tennessee ($7,800)
- RB Jekail Middlebrook, Middle Tennessee ($5,500)
- RB J’Wan Evans, Jacksonville State ($4,300)
- WR Elijah Metcalf, Middle Tennessee ($9,800)
- WR Holden Willis, Middle Tennessee ($8,500)
- WR Perry Carter, Jacksonville State ($7,100)
- WR Justin Olson, Middle Tennessee ($6,800)
- WR Quinton Lane, Jacksonville State ($6,400)
- WR Michael Pettway, Jacksonville State ($6,200)
- WR Sterling Galban, Jacksonville State ($5,600)
- WR DJ England-Chisolm, Middle Tennessee ($5,400)
- TE Sean Brown, Jacksonville State ($5,400)
There are two college football games on Wednesday to compile your DFS team from in Week 6. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “superflex” that can be any of the above. You could also select a tight end for this spot.
There are three quarterbacks in genuine consideration for this Wednesday night slate, and two of them play in this game. New Mexico State’s Diego Pavia has scored more points than both, but Gamecocks’ signal-caller Logan Smothers’ reliability in not turning the ball over could prove a difference maker. Pavia and MTSU’s Vattiato both have four interceptions this year, while Smothers has none and is a viable dual-threat proposition with five rushing touchdowns.
While he is a narrow-edge decision at QB, teammate RB Malik Jackson is a slam-dunk selection for one of the two positional slots. No rusher in Conference USA has more fantasy points than the Gamecocks’ rusher. While he’s been a force on the ground, he also has the second-most receptions on the Jacksonville State team. Middle Tennessee’s Jaiden Credle is a legitimate option at RB, too.
The rest of your DFS lineup is unlikely to contain many Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State picks. However, if you’re needing to fill a wide receiver spot, then Blue Raiders’ pass-catcher Elijah Metcalf is your man. He leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, while sharing the team lead with one touchdown.
Prediction for Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State
So we’ve furnished you with Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State odds and some DFS picks, but now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can the Blue Raiders get their season back on track with a first CUSA win or are the Gamecocks set to continue their successful start to life in the FBS?
Jacksonville State’s last game against Sam Houston will give Middle Tennessee reasons to be optimistic about getting a favorable result. Early in the game, the previously anemic Bearkats’ offense had their way with the Gamecocks’ defense. Gamecock HC Rich Rodriguez’s team went in at the half down 21-7, as Bearkat QB Keegan Shoemaker exposed weaknesses we’d not seen before so far this season.
Middle Tennessee has certainly been a better offense than Sam Houston to this point of the year, but can they take advantage in the same way? The Blue Raiders have averaged just 5.27 yards per play on offense while scoring just 18.8 points per game. Those figures are somewhat skewed by a tough early-season schedule, but the Blue Raiders have lacked a big-play threat.
In a game where one big play may make all the difference, the Gamecocks have a game-changer in RB Jackson. Furthermore, the defense is packed with playmakers, led by DL Chris Hardie, but also featuring eight different players with an interception this fall.
Watch out for LB Quae Drake and DB Kolbi Fuqua having a say in the outcome — a Jacksonville State win.
Prediction: Jacksonville State 27, Middle Tennessee 21