Through 1 Quarter
The Middle Tenn. Blue Raiders typically have all the answers at home, but the Florida Atlantic Owls are posing a tough problem. The Owls have emerged as the frontrunner after one quarter and are ahead of Middle Tenn. 7 to nothing.
Florida Atlantic has been relying on WR Je’Quan Burton, who has caught one pass for one TD and 48 yards, and QB N’Kosi Perry, who has passed for one TD and 64 yards on 12 attempts.
Florida Atlantic’s lead is tied with the biggest they have had this year going into the second quarter.
Who’s Playing
Middle Tenn. @ Florida Atlantic
Current Records: Middle Tenn. 5-6; Florida Atlantic 5-6
What to Know
The Middle Tenn. Blue Raiders have enjoyed the comforts of home their last two games, but now they must head out on the road. The Blue Raiders and the Florida Atlantic Owls will face off in a Conference USA battle at 7 p.m. ET Saturday at FAU Stadium. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they’ll have plenty of motivation to get the ‘W.’
It was all tied up 10-10 at halftime, but Middle Tenn. was not quite the Old Dominion Monarchs’ equal in the second half when they met last week. Middle Tenn. took a 24-17 hit to the loss column. That makes it the first time this season they have let down their home crowd. No one had a standout game offensively for the Blue Raiders, but QB Mike DiLiello led the way with one touchdown.
Meanwhile, there’s no need to mince words: Florida Atlantic lost to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers last week, and they lost bad. The score wound up at 52-17. Florida Atlantic was in a tough position by the half, with the score already sitting at 31-10. One thing working slightly against Florida Atlantic was the run-of-the-mill game of their most targeted running back, RB Johnny Ford, who rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries.
Middle Tenn. is expected to lose this next one by 3.5. Those burned by picking them against the spread last week might want to keep in mind that the team has not yet dropped back-to-back games against the spread this season.
The losses bumped both teams down to an identical 5-6. The Blue Raiders and the Owls are both 3-2 after wins this year, but that symmetry won’t hold for long.
How To Watch
- When: Saturday at 7 p.m. ET
- Where: FAU Stadium — Boca Raton, Florida
- TV: STADIUM
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Ticket Cost: $13.20
Odds
The Owls are a 3.5-point favorite against the Blue Raiders, according to the latest college football odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Owls as a 4-point favorite.
Over/Under: -113
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Series History
Middle Tenn. have won three out of their last five games against Florida Atlantic.
- Oct 12, 2019 – Florida Atlantic 28 vs. Middle Tenn. 13
- Sep 29, 2018 – Middle Tenn. 25 vs. Florida Atlantic 24
- Sep 30, 2017 – Florida Atlantic 38 vs. Middle Tenn. 20
- Nov 26, 2016 – Middle Tenn. 77 vs. Florida Atlantic 56
- Nov 14, 2015 – Middle Tenn. 24 vs. Florida Atlantic 17
