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Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the Week 4 matchup between the Bulldogs and Blue Raiders.

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Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Game Preview

When: Saturday, Sept. 24 – 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, TN

TV Broadcast: N/A

The Bulldogs have a 29-point win over South Carolina State sandwiched by losses to Arkansas and Texas Tech. The loss to the Razorbacks was by just one point, while the Red Raiders defeat was a 14-point setback. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders have a loss to Vanderbilt sandwiched by wins over Alabama A&M and Bowling Green.

In last year’s meeting in Ruston, LA, Kenneth Dixon went wild, running for three touchdowns and catching another one as Louisiana Tech defeated Middle Tennessee 45-16.

What To Know About Louisiana Tech

The Bulldogs are riding high with their prolific offense led by quarterback Ryan Higgins, who has passed for 720 yards and seven touchdowns. This offense has a variety of playmakers, but Trent Taylor and Carlos Henderson are the top dogs with 26 and 20 catches, respectively. This is a Tech offense that wants to push the tempo and put pressure on opposing defenses. On the other side of the ball, though, the Bulldogs are giving up 420 yards per game.

What to Know About Middle Tennessee

The Blue Raiders have an even more prolific offense, as the unit is averaging 371 passing yards per game. Brent Stockstill has passed for 1,006 yards and 11 touchdowns, picking up right where he left off from 2015. The head coach’s son should find plenty of passing lanes against this rebuilt Bulldogs defense. Middle Tennessee is scoring 40 points per game and shouldn’t have many problems flirting with that number against the Bulldogs.

Advantages

Offense: Middle Tennessee. This one is close because Louisiana Tech is getting a solid year thus far from running back Jarred Craft, who is filling in nicely for Dixon.

Defense: Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have solid experience in the defensive backfield with Jeremy Cutrer and Michael Minter.

Special Teams: Louisiana Tech. Kicker Jonathan Barnes has a strong leg and has not missed an extra point this year.

Coaching: Louisiana Tech. The only rocky stint for Holtz came at USF.

Intangibles: Middle Tennessee. Revenge for last year’s loss will be on the Blue Raiders’ minds.

Matchup To Watch

I’Tavius Mathers vs. Louisiana Tech defensive front

We know that the Blue Raiders have one of the most prolific passing attacks of any Group of Five school, led by Stockstill. But Ole Miss transfer I’Tavius Mathers is averaging almost 100 yards per game on the ground. That’s an aspect of the offense that gets overlooked. So the Blue Raiders present a serious mismatch for opposing defenses.

Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Betting Odds

Spread: Middle Tennessee -5.5

Over/Under: N/A

Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Prediction

This should be a really fun non-conference game between two solid Group of Five programs. The Blue Raiders will go up and down the field, with Stockstill continuing to get better on a weekly basis. Against Texas Tech, the Bulldogs continued to fight despite falling behind 35-17 at the half. However, Patrick Mahomes was just too overwhelming, passing for 470 yards and five touchdowns. The Red Raiders converted on 80 percent of their third-down opportunities last week, so that’s a major area of concern for Louisiana Tech. Middle Tennessee gets revenge for last year’s loss, as Mathers (four touchdowns) has a solid game on the ground and complements the passing attack.

Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Score Prediction: Middle Tennessee 41, Louisiana Tech 34

MORE: 1-128 College Football Rankings – Week 4