Midseason Thoughts on MTSU
Here we are. Middle Tennessee State is halfway through the 2019 regular season campaign. The Blue Raiders are 2-4 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA league play.
Here are Matt Dossett's thoughts on MT at the halfway point.
Still in the hunt
There is no way around the fact that this season has been a roller coaster ride so far. There have been ups and there have certainly been downs.
In other words, we have seen flashes of promise but also signs of deficiencies.
All things considered, Middle Tennessee's goal is still within sight. Middle Tennessee State is very much alive in the Conference USA hunt.
Middle Tennessee State is smack dab in the middle of the Conference USA Eastern Division.
***Current Conference USA Eastern Division Standings***
1. Western Kentucky: 3-0
2. Florida Atlantic: 2-0
3. Middle Tennessee State: 1-1
4. Marshall: 1-1
5. Florida International: 1-2
6. Charlotte: 0-2
7. Old Dominion: 0-2
When you take a gander at the rest of MT's slate, each game is very winnable in my opinion.
***The rest of the schedule for Middle Tennessee State below****
@ North Texas
FIU (homecoming)
@ Charlotte
Rice
Old Dominion
@ Western Kentucky
*****
All things considered, the conference title is there for the taking. Sure, winning the east may be difficult because FAU holds the tiebreaker, but it something that it is definitely obtainable.
MTSU is what I imagined. Well, kind of
Prior to the season, if you forced me to predict MT's results six games in, I would have looked you in the eyes and said MTSU would be 2-4.
The does not mean there haven't been some surprises as well as some hiccups.
I did foresee Middle being handled by Michigan and Iowa, but I didn't not think that the Blue Raiders would get absolutely dismantled and boat raced by the Duke Blue Devils.
Well, I'll admit, I was also a bit surprised that MTSU didn't get throttled by Michigan in the big house.
I do not mean to insinuate that I have been money with my game predictions week in and week out.
In fact, If you through the GoMiddle archives, you will see that I am 3-3 with my predictions. It is worth mentioning that my predictions were on a game-by game basis. Again, prior to the year I would have glanced at the first six games on the schedule and told you MT would be sitting 2-4.
Coming out of the Michigan game, I thought, "Ok, maybe MT will compete with Duke." In fact, I even picked MT to defeat Duke.
Regardless of that, I knew that there would be highs and lows, ups and downs.
I knew that there would be moments when Middle fans were scratching their heads, saying, "Really, that's the best the team could do?"
I also knew that there would be moments that would give the Blue Raider faithful some hope.
I am still standing pat to the notion that Middle Tennessee State will be right there in the mix for the Conference USA Eastern division title come late in the season.
What should the Blue Raider faithful expect the rest of the way?
I believe that when it really comes down to it, the fans should expect more consistency.
No more lethargic play when game and a solid outing the next game. I know some fans do not like the word "compete" in correlation with the football team, but they need to expect more of that the rest of the way.
Expanding more on competing, I think that is fair for Middle fans to expect at least a top three finish in their division. Right now they are tied for third with Marshall, and they obviously hold the tiebreaker with the Thundering Herd.
We will see how the chips fall, but at the end of the day, fans should be clamoring for more consistency on the gridiron.