Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Betting Pick & Prediction 9/14/24

ESPN+ will be covering the week three matchup between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, set to kick off at 7:00 ET from Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro. The over/under line is currently set at 54.5 points, with the Hilltoppers favored at -7.5 points. Both teams are 1-1 on the season, and the money line odds are -284 for Western Kentucky and +225 for Middle Tennessee.

WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS VS MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders +7.5

This game will be played at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium at 7:00 ET on Saturday, September 14th.

WHY BET THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS:

• We have the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders winning this one by a score of 37 to 24
• Not only do we have the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +7.5
• Look for this game to go over the line of 54.5 points

Will The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Win As Road Favorites?

Western Kentucky is now 1-1 after a 31-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky. No betting lines were available for this matchup.

The Hilltoppers took control early, leading 10-0 after the first quarter. By halftime, they extended their lead to 17-0 and added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the shutout.

Western Kentucky’s offense was unstoppable in their 31-0 win, racking up 467 total yards and 25 first downs. The Hilltoppers’ ground game was limited to 116 yards, but they made up for it with three rushing touchdowns. TJ Finley led the way through the air, completing 27 of 39 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown, finishing with a passer rating of 105.82.

Elijah Young was the top performer in the backfield, rushing for 52 yards on 13 carries. Kisean Johnson was the leading receiver, with six receptions for 119 yards.

Western Kentucky’s defense was dominant in their most recent game, holding Eastern Kentucky to just 76 passing yards on 11 completions. The Hilltoppers’ defense allowed only 190 rushing yards on 40 attempts, with Eastern Kentucky managing just 13 first downs and 266 total yards. Western Kentucky’s defense did not allow a single point in the game.

Are The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Going Win In At Upset At Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium

Middle Tennessee is looking to bounce back after a 52-3 loss to Ole Miss on the road. The Blue Raiders, who were +42 point underdogs, not only fell short of the upset but also failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 55 points was lower than the 62-point over/under line.

After trailing 17-0 in the first quarter, Middle Tennessee added a field goal in the second quarter, but Ole Miss extended their lead to 31-3 by halftime. The Blue Raiders were shut out in the second half, while Ole Miss added 21 more points to their total.

In their 52-3 loss to Ole Miss, Middle Tennessee’s offense managed to pick up 18 first downs but was limited to just 279 total yards. The Blue Raiders’ ground game was nearly non-existent, gaining only 28 yards on 25 carries. Their passing attack was more effective, with Nicholas Vattiato throwing for 209 yards on 21 completions, out of 33 attempts. Vattiato’s top target was Holden Willis, who caught seven passes for 94 yards.

Overall, Middle Tennessee’s offense finished with 251 passing yards and 28 rushing yards for the game. Vattiato ended the game with a passer rating of 68.88 and threw one interception.

After giving up 52 points to Ole Miss, Middle Tennessee’s defense will be looking for a better performance. They allowed 655 total yards, with 397 yards coming through the air. The Blue Raiders’ run defense was also a major issue, as they gave up 258 yards on the ground and six rushing touchdowns.