GoMiddle.com picks 'em

The Blue Raider football season hasn't gone according to plan. Injuries, inconsistent play on offense and missed opportunities have resulted in alternating losses and wins.

MT (3-4, 1-2) is all but out of the conference title picture in Conference USA's East Division, and now they must welcome the red hot Thundering Herd from Marshall to town.

Marshall (5-1, 2-0) will be looking for redemption after their last trip to Floyd Stadium ended in heartbreak.

To date, the Thundering Herd have won four straight after dropping a tough contest to NC State, and they boast one of the nations best defensive units.

Can the Blue Raiders keep their slim conference title hopes alive with a win? Will the national television curse strike again? Will the blackout game magic strike again? GoMiddle.com takes a stab with our predictions below!

I'm fairly certain I'm going to be the only one picking a win this week, but I do think MT gets the job done against Marshall.

Why? I'll tell you why - history.

History has shown that the home team has won every game in which these two teams have played.

History has shown that Middle Tennessee typically plays well, and wins, when hosting their annual Blackout game.

History has shown that, this season, MT has followed up every loss with a win.

These are facts, and for those reasons, I think MT takes this one.

When you break things down, though, Marshall and MT are actually very similar on offense, so I envision a game in which both defenses are prepared and fully capable of keeping the other team in check. As a result, there won't be a lot of points, and I think special teams is the ultimate x-factor. And that's also why I like MT here. Kicker Canon Rooker is on fire right now, and his leg will be the difference so long as QB John Urzua takes care of the football in crunch time.

Yet another ugly game for Middle Tennessee. How many times can I say it?

Every week is going to be rough as long as Brent Stockstill is out. This week is no different. The offenses are almost mirror images on paper and MT's improved defense would normally give hope here, except for the fact that Marshall's defense is almost twice as good as Middle's defense, statistically speaking.

Add to that that this game is gonna be on national TV, Friday night, on ESPN 2 - and that's a wrap for MTSU.

The Blue Raiders do not play well on National TV, historically, and they're playing a better team. Everything on paper says "do not get your hopes up."

I also guarantee a John Urzua pick-6 in this one. This Marshall defense is too good and he makes too many bad decisions. If he's going to throw one it's going to be in this game. For all I know, every point Marshall puts up could come on defense. They will dominate Middle throughout.

Sorry Murfreesboro, but the dream dies here.

They’ll play with clear eyes and full hearts, but Middle Tennessee will lose a heartbreaker under the Friday night lights before an announced crowd of 16,500.

Do-it-all running back Brad Anderson and receivers Ty Lee and Richie James will give quarterback John Urzua the playmakers he needs to be successful, but ultimately turnovers will stall the Blue Raider offense and prevent them from reaching the end zone when they need it most.

The Blue Raider defense will put up a solid, though under appreciated, performance against the Marshall offense. Once again, however, the Blue Raider defense will be too exhausted to make one final stand.

The Blue Raiders lose this game 27-24 after a late Marshall score seals the deal.

MTSU comes back the the confines of Floyd Stadium this week after dropping a tough one in Birmingham against UAB.

MT’s season is starting to slip away and could go off of the rails with another loss. To make matters worse, MT will host a very talented Marshall team Friday night, who is flying high at the top of the division while MT is floundering toward the bottom.

Marshall’s only blemish this year was on the road versus an uber-talented NC State squad. For the most part Marshall has been in cruise control, winning four ball games in a row.

The Thundering Herd offense is headlined by QB Chase Litton. Litton has a superb QB rating of 136.3, which is off the charts, and has completed 60 percent of his passes this year. Litton has some prolific targets to throw to. Tyre Brady has snagged 34 balls for 571 yards while Marcel Williams and Ryan Yuracheck have caught 20 plus balls as well.

Marshall has a host of running backs with the headliners being Keion Davis and Tyler King. Anthony Anderson chips in as well. MT is going to need to bring their lunch pail to stifle all these weapons from Marshall. This game could come down to field goals and it’s worth mentioning Marshall’s kicker Kaare Vedvik has only hit 50 percent of his tries.

If MT’s offense doesn’t bring the juice it could be a long day. Marshall’s defense flies around and makes plays. And because of that, I think MT drops to 3-5.

It is no secret that attendance at Blue Raider football games has been down this season and I do not see that getting fixed this week. Marshall comes in 5-1, and with all due respect, I think MTSU is far outmatched in this one.

I still have zero faith in QB John Urzua leading the Blue Raider offense. I’ve seen enough out of him last year and this season to know that he is a mediocre college quarterback at best. The only way MTSU has a chance in this one is if Rick Stockstill feeds Brad Anderson and he has the game of his life, combined with a flawless defensive effort from top to bottom – which I just don’t see happening.

This game will be on ESPN, so the novelty of this game will be present. However, I feel the Thundering Herd will be more than MTSU can handle.