GoMiddle.com - Weekend primer: MT on a big stage

October 15, 2009

Chris Childers
GoMiddle.com Publisher

There aren't any major clashes at the top of the Sun Belt this week, but the action inside the conference will still be quite interesting.

Middle Tennessee will carry the conference banner in a home game against SEC foe Mississippi State, while three other games could juggle the league standings.

GoMiddle.com breaks down what to look for on Saturday in Sun Belt play.

THE SCHEDULE

Saturday's games
Miss. St. at Middle Tenn., 11:30 a.m. (ESPNU)
Troy at FIU, 6 p.m.
UL-Lafayette at WKU, 6 p.m.
FAU at North Texas, 7 p.m. (Sun Belt Network)

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

TROY'S PASSING ATTACK LICKING ITS CHOPS- Troy's potent offensive attack should be able to move the ball at ease this weekend against a very average FIU defense. Quarterback Levi Brown has really found his stride in recent weeks throwing the football and that should not change as the Panthers give up an average of 241 yards through the air. Brown is completing 64 percent of his passes and has been the driving force behind the Trojans three game win streak.

RAIDER RUN DEFENSE PUT TO THE TEST- Middle Tennessee's front seven will face a stiff test this weekend when it faces one of the top running teams in the country. Mississippi State currently ranks 10th nationally with an average of more than 225 yards per game. Anthony Dixon is one of the top backfield threats in the SEC and the Raider defense will be keyed in on avoiding costly big plays on the ground. The matchup doesn't seem favorable for MT as the Raiders rank 100th nationally in run defense.

INTERESTING MATCHUP IN DENTON- After opening the season with a surprising win over 2008 MAC power Ball State, many Mean Green fans felt perhaps the program was ready to turn the corner. However, that hasn't been the case as North Texas has dropped four straight since its opening win. The Mean Green will have a good shot at getting back that winning feeling when winless FAU visits Fouts Field. The Owls entered the year with high expectations but appear to be a team still searching for an identity.

BIGGEST UPSET POTENTIAL

MIDDLE TENNESSEE vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE- The Blue Raiders come into Saturday's game with confidence and certainly feel like they can win. The Raiders proved they can play well against major BCS programs in recent years as evidenced by two straight wins over Maryland and a narrow home loss to Virginia in 2007. If Middle Tennessee can slow down MSU running back Anthony Dixon and the nation's 10th ranked running attack than the Raiders should have a great chance to come away with a major win over a team from the SEC.

LOCK OF THE WEEK

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE over WESTERN KENTUCKY- WKU is finding out the hard way that life at college football's highest level is not a very easy transition. The Toppers come into the ULL game with an 0-5 record and that streak of bad luck should continue this weekend against a good Cajun football team. WKU features the worst ranked defense in FBS football, allowing a whopping 496 yards per game.

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