Middle Tennessee State is looking to win their third game a row, this Saturday, as they square off with their biggest rival, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Believe it or not the Blue Raiders are still in contention to win their division and play in the CUSA Championship Game. This is a game that could pay dividends for the Blue Raiders as they hope to garner head to head victories with teams inside the division.
Matt Dossett and Rickey Fuquay Jr. provide their picks for this ballgame.
Matt Dossett (6-2 on the season)
It looks like it is Mike DiLiello time for the Blue Raiders when it comes to the quarterback position. DiLiello came off the bench in relief for an injured Chase Cunningham, and played the role of game manager to a tee. He was efficient with his passing, completing 8 of 12, accumulating 78 yards through the air.
Simply put, MT is going to need DiLiello to have a stellar and efficient outing Saturday on the road at WKU. I expect the Hilltoppers to load the box, daring DiLiello to beat them with his arm.
Then there is WKU signal caller Bailey Zappe. Zappe has been lighting the world on fire with his play. He has 33 touchdown throws opposed to only six interceptions. He has also eclipsed the 3,000 yard passing mark, as he has thrown for 3,407 yards.
Make no bones about it, MT's secondary will be tested early and often. Throw out the records when it comes to rivalry games, and this is certainly a rivalry game with some bad blood involved.
Look for DiLiello to manage the offense, avoiding game changing errors and mistakes.
I expect some wackiness and some zaniness with this game. Maybe a fake field goal or a blocked punt or two.
As I type this MT is a 16.5 point underdog. I absolutely expect the Blue Raiders to cover. Look for this to be a tight contest late in the fourth quarter. When it is all said and done, I think WKU has too much offensive firepower.
WKU 38
MTSU 34
Rickey Fuquay Jr. (7-1 on the season)
Middle Tennessee's defense put on a show on Homecoming as they forced five turnovers and sacked Freshman Quarterback Jake Lange seven times en route to a 35-10 win over Southern Mississippi.
The Blue Raiders will turn to Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Mike Diliello to keep the winning streak going against Western Kentucky in "The 100 Miles of Hate" rivalry after Redshirt Junior Quarterback Chase Cunningham was sidelined for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
The Hilltoppers come into matchup ranked first in Conference USA with 533.6 YPG. Meanwhile, Graduate Student Bailey Zappe leads the C-USA in completions (279), passing yards (3,407) and touchdowns (33). Even though MT lead the C-USA with 14 interceptions and the NCAA with 25 turnovers, I believe the secondary is gonna have their hands full trying to slow down the QB-WR duo in Zappe and Junior Wide Receiver Jerreth Sterns.
WKU 42
MTSU 27
