MTSU/ODU: The picks are in

We are back for another edition of the weekly picks for the Middle Tennessee State game.

Here are the present standings:

1. Austin Lewis: 6-4

2. Garrett Hinners: 6-4

3. Rickey Fuquay: 6-4

4. Matt Dossett: 5-5

Middle Tennessee (3-7) hosts Old Dominion (1-9) to close the 2019 home schedule. It’s been a disappointing season for the Blue Raider in head coach Rick Stockstill’s 14th year at the helm.

To be honest, I’m on a bit of a “losing streak” in my pregame predictions, having picked the Blue Raiders to beat Charlotte and Rice.

Not anymore.

The Blue Raiders will lose to the Monarchs before an announced crowd of 15,430 this weekend (let’s be honest, the actual attendance will be significantly less). Injuries, one dimensional offense, poor coaching, and poor scheduling led to a derailed the 2019 campaign.

Now, the Blue Raiders will end their home campaign with a 31-27 loss.

Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Asher O'Hara tallied a combined four touchdowns with 403 total yards on 22-of-31 and 19 carries; however the comeback was denied with Rice picking up their first win overall as well as first win in Conference USA play.

It's Senior Night in "The Boro" with the worst team in the Conference USA East Division coming to town. Old Dominion comes into this matchup ranked last in total YPG (250.6), passing YPG (162.3), rushing YPG (88.3) and PPG.(15.6).

Just like UNC-Charlotte, the Blue Raiders are undefeated against the Monarchs. On paper, this should be a blowout; however after the fiasco against the Owls last Saturday, I'm not sure if I can trust them.I'm going to put my faith in the Blue Raiders and say that they will come out with a lot of energy and send our 16 seniors out on a high note.

Middle Tennessee 35, Old Dominion 14

MTSU will be trying to bounce back from an inexcusable loss last week and, on paper, Old Dominion looks like a great get-right spot. Old Dominion is terrible and has lost nice straight games. But, Rice is also terrible and had lost nine straight until facing MTSU last week.

These two games, Rice and OD, should have been gimmie games for an MTSU team that was looking for a bowl birth. Now, anything can happen and no one should trust the Blue Raiders for one second.

In my season prediction I was the lowest on MTSU and had them finishing with a 3-9 record. I would not be surprised if Middle won this game, but I'm going to stick with my season long call and say MTSU drops another game they should have won.

I do think the game will be close. Old Dominion has lost to good teams pretty handedly but they've hung around in games with teams more on par with themselves. At the time of this article MTSU is -15 favorites. That's entirely too many points for a team who just lost to the worst team in the country. I want Old Dominion +15 and maybe even lay a little on their money line at almost +500.

This game is somewhat of an enigma for me. There are truly two sides of the coin when it comes to this game.

One hand, it is very possible that the Blue Raiders have mailed it in for these last two games of the season.

On the other hand, we could see a MTSU team that is desperate to get off of the mat and retaliate with a counter blow.

I tend to think that MTSU won't just simply lay down and get embarrassed again with a defeat against a lowly opponent.

It is the last game for the seniors and I think that could provide a spark for the guys that will be playing their last game inside Floyd Stadium.

I recently posted that MTSU would come up short against ODU this Saturday. I starting to waffle just a tad. Ultimately, I think MT gets the job done, barely.

Blue Raiders by a single point.