Conference USA takes center stage on Thursday night, featuring two matchups under the national spotlight. One of them sees the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders hitting the road to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in Ruston. With both teams off to challenging starts, who will secure their first conference victory of the season?
Our Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech prediction breaks down everything you need to know, including the latest betting odds and each team’s chances of success for the remainder of the 2024 college football season.
Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech Betting Preview
All Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Louisiana Tech -1.5 - Spread
Louisiana Tech -4.5 - Moneyline
Louisiana Tech -205, Middle Tennessee +170 - Over/Under
48 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Joe Aillet Stadium | Ruston, LA - Predicted Weather at Kick
53.6 degrees, clear, 5.6 mph winds - How to Watch
CBS Sports Network
The ninth matchup between Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech comes at a pivotal time for both programs, with both needing a win to kickstart a spluttering season. Despite winning last year, Middle Tennessee has never won in Ruston in four attempts — losing by multiple touchdowns on each occasion.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The moneyline favors the Bulldogs in this one, and our Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech prediction agrees that Sonny Cumbie’s team can get the win here. However, despite dropping one point early this week, the 4.5-point spread is a little generous toward the Bulldogs, with CFN’s Football Playoff Meter (FPM) giving the home team a 1.5-point advantage.
As such, Middle Tennessee should cover for the second successive game. Louisiana Tech hasn’t covered as a favorite in their last two games.
Middle Tennessee’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Middle Tennessee has a 47.5% chance of winning this CUSA clash. After opening the season with a win over Tennessee Tech, the Blue Raiders have run a gauntlet of difficult matchups against some Power Four powerhouses and CUSA frontrunner Western Kentucky.
The clash with Louisiana Tech is the first of two opportunities to get their season back on track.
- at Louisiana Tech: 47.5%
- vs. Kennesaw State: 70.3%
- at Jacksonville State: 35.9%
- at UTEP: 49.2%
- vs. Liberty: 17.4%
- vs. New Mexico State: 52.5%
- at FIU: 47.5%
Louisiana Tech’s Winning Probability
Meanwhile, the CFN FPM gives the Bulldogs a 52.5% chance of winning on Thursday night. It’s worth noting that the FPM correctly predicted Louisiana Tech’s 1-3 start when the oddsmakers had installed the team as a favorite in their last two losses.
- vs. Middle Tennessee: 52.5%
- at New Mexico State: 47.5%
- vs. UTEP: 51.2%
- at Sam Houston: 31.2%
- vs. Jacksonville State: 36.4%
- at Western Kentucky: 21.9%
- vs. Arkansas: 12.2%
- vs. Kennesaw State: 74.6%
Prediction for Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech
It’s been a rough start to the season for both teams, with Middle Tennessee’s brutal opening slate putting Derek Mason in a precarious spot early on. Meanwhile, a 1-3 record through four games has done little to ease the pressure on Cumbie in Ruston. With both teams desperate for a win, this matchup becomes crucial.
Will Middle Tennessee notch their first-ever win in Ruston on Thursday night, or will the Bulldogs prove too tough for the Blue Raiders? Who’s got the edge, and where will the key battles unfold?
The outcome of this game might boil down to one simple equation: offense versus defense. Louisiana Tech boasts a formidable defense, while Middle Tennessee’s offense has struggled to gain any traction. Averaging just 16 points per game, the Blue Raiders haven’t been able to generate enough scoring, even with a daunting early schedule.
It’s not for lack of trying. Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato leads all CUSA quarterbacks in both pass attempts and yards per game. But the Blue Raiders have only managed touchdowns on 46.2% of their red zone trips and rank 108th nationally in passing scores, with just five touchdowns through the air.
Their ground game hasn’t fared much better, managing a meager 2.75 yards per carry and only five rushing touchdowns.
Louisiana Tech’s offense isn’t exactly lighting it up, either. The Bulldogs are putting up just 18.8 points per game and have the lowest-ranked rushing attack in CUSA. Although quarterback Jack Turner has shown some explosiveness, they have just one offensive player with more than one touchdown—Jimmy Holiday, who’s found the end zone three times so far.
With both offenses sputtering, this game will likely be decided by defense. Middle Tennessee has been a sieve, surrendering 39 points per game and giving up the most passing touchdowns in CUSA (13).
They’re allowing opponents to complete 72.6% of their passes and giving up 9.1 yards per attempt. On the other hand, Louisiana Tech’s defense has been a bright spot. They rank first in rush defense, second in pass defense in the conference, and 25th nationally in total defense.
Advantage Bulldogs.
Prediction: Louisiana Tech 21, Middle Tennessee 17
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