MT vs. FIU Staff Predictions

Middle Tennessee State is around the midway point of the 2020 football season. As it stands right now, staff members Rickey Fuquay Jr. and Tyler Pellom are 4-0 with their game predictions, while publisher Matt Dossett has one blemish, standing with a 3-1 record.

MT goes to Miami Saturday to square off with Florida International. Here are the predictions!

Tyler Pellom (4-0 this season)

Middle travels down to South Beach this week looking, hoping, and praying for anything to go their way. Four straight losses to start the season is basically unprecedented for this program - it's only happened one other time in the last 15 years.

This is probably the hardest game to project so far this season. FIU had games against Jacksonville State and UCF postponed by COVID-19 before opening the season with their loss to Liberty. Last week was a scheduled bye week, so the Golden Panthers have only played one game and the Blue Raiders have played four.

We have a pretty good feel for who MT is (bad offense, average defense), but we know very little about FIU. Nashville native and Davidson Academy grad Stone Norton looks to be in line to either start or see significant snaps this week at QB for FIU. The Golden Panthers played 3 QBs against Liberty two weeks ago, but Norton was clearly the most effective. He completed 9-of-13 passes for 120 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. Middle Tennessee did not offer out of high school.

I'm of two competing thoughts in this one. While MT has not played well, they do have four games under their belt. One would think that gives them an advantage over a team that still has a lot of question marks and is likely still battling some rust. However, you could also make the argument FIU is fresh having only played one game, while MT has been beaten up pretty badly in each of its' contests.

All told, I'll take what I know over what I don't. Scott Shafer's defense has started to round into form in recent weeks, but Tony Franklin's offense has yet to keep up.

FIU: 30

MT: 24

Matthew Dossett (3-1 on the season)

MTSU is sitting with an abysmal 0-4 record for the 2020 campaign. Right now I am curious as to how much gas is in the tank right now for the Blue Raiders. They have every reason to raise the white flag and toss in the towel.

At this point I do not expect that to occur. I think that MT will fight, battle, and put forth effort.

This week's road game against FIU is a prime opportunity to display team grit. ESPN"s FPI index gives the Blue Raiders a 19.8 percent chance of going down to Miami, defeating the Florida International Panthers.

Like MT, FIU is winless, but they have only played one game, opposed to MTSU's four ballgames.

As for FIU's quarterback position, it has kind of been musical chairs for the Panthers. Stone Norton, Max Bortenschlager, and Kaylan Wiggins have all gotten game reps in the one game.

D'Vonte Price has been the go-to halfback for the Panthers. Price had 148 yards on 13 carries In the game against Liberty. That's 11.4 yards per carry.

Quarterback Kaylan Wiggins has darted off with the ball for 11.7 yards per carry.

As mentioned in my FIU preview article, I think that in the end, MT will fall to 0-5 after Saturday's game.

It will not result in a blowout, I don't think.

I think it will be a competitive game late in the fourth quarter, with FIU getting the victory.

FIU: 31

MT: 27

Rickey Fuquay Jr. (4-0 on the season)

It was a very efficient day for Middle Tennessee offensively as the Blue Raiders committed zero turnovers while Redshirt Junior Asher O'Hara recorded a combined two touchdowns on 315 total yards along with 25 carries as well as 23-of-33 passing; however it wasn't enough to pick up their first win of the 2020 season on Homecoming.

MT moves ahead to Florida International. The Panthers comes into this game ranked 11th in Conference USA in total yards per game while the Blue Raiders are once again ranked in C-USA in total YPG on defense.I can't trust the Blue Raider defense any longer after seeing Western Kentucky eclipse for 326 total yards on offense. FIU. And, I feel like Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Stone Norton is going to torture the Blue Raider defense all game sending MT back to Murfreesboro with yet another L.

FIU: 24

MT: 21