CFN Preseason All-Conference USA Football Team, Top 30 Players: Preview 2022

Who are the best players in the Conference USA going into the 2022 college football season? They’re highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-Conference USA team and top 30 players.

Who are the best players in the Conference USA going into the 2022 college football season? They’re highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-Conference USA team and top 30 players.


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2022 Preseason CFN Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year

QB Frank Harris, Sr. UTSA

Last year it was RB Sincere McCormick – along with a solid defense – that took over on way to the Conference USA title and a breakthrough season for the UTSA program. The quarterback was pretty good, too.

The 6-0, 200-pound lefty was the main man leading the way, and now this is his team more than ever after two terrific seasons. Harris has connected on 66% of his career passes, kept the interceptions down with six in each of the last two years, and in 2021 he started hitting his deep throws a bit more. Combine all of that with over 1,200 rushing yards and 15 scores, and this might be his league, too.

2022 Preseason CFN Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year

LB KD Davis, Sr. North Texas

The 6-0, 229-pounder isn’t huge, and he might not have the build of a normal middle linebacker, but he’s got great range and he makes a whole lot of tackles.

The 2021 First Team and 2020 Honorable Mention All-Conference USA honoree made 284 tackles – leading Conference USA with 121 stops – with 11 sacks and 28 tackles for loss over the last three seasons for a team not known for its defense. In his fifth year, expect him to be even more disruptive.

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-Conference USA Team: Offense

QB Frank Harris, Sr. UTSA

RB Johnny Ford, Jr. Florida Atlantic

RB DeWayne McBride, Jr. UAB

WR Daewood Davis, Sr. WKU

WR Zakhari Franklin, Sr. UTSA

TE Rivaldo Fairweather, Soph. FIU

OT Makai Hart, Sr. UTSA

OG Quantavious Leslie, Soph. WKU

C Ahofitu Maka, Sr. UTSA

OG Joshua Mote, Sr. Louisiana Tech

OT Kadeem Telfort, Sr. UAB

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-Conference USA Team: Defense

DE Praise Amaewhule, Jr. UTEP

DT Evan Anderson, Soph. Florida Atlantic

DT Davon Strickland, Jr. FIU

DE Jordan Ferguson, Sr. Middle Tennessee

LB KD Davis, Sr. North Texas

LB Breon Hayward, Sr. UTEP

LB Noah Wilder, Sr. UAB

CB Kahlef Hailassie, Jr. WKU

S Rashad Wisdom, Sr. UTSA

S Teja Young, Jr. Florida Atlantic

CB Starling Thomas, CB Sr. UAB

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-Conference USA Team: Special Teams

PK Brayden Narveson, Jr. WKU

P Lucas Dean, Sr. UTSA

KR Shadrick Byrd, Soph. Charlotte

PR Jaylin Lane, Soph. Middle Tennessee

CFN 2022 Team Previews
CharlotteFIUFlorida AtlanticLa Tech | Middle Tenn
North TexasRiceUABUTEP | UTSA | WKU
C-USA Predictions For Every Game | CFN Preview 2022
Bowl Projections | Preseason Rankings

College Football News 2022 Preseason Top 30 Conference USA Players

30. Jaylen Joyner, DE Jr. Florida Atlantic

29. Quantavious Leslie, OG Soph. WKU

28. Tyrese Chambers, WR Jr. FIU

27. Trevor Harmanson, LB Sr. UTSA

26. Gabe Taylor, S Soph. Rice

25. Grant DuBose, WR Jr. Charlotte

24. Tyler Grubbs, LB Soph. Louisiana Tech

23. Teldrick Ross, S Jr. Middle Tennessee

22. Chris Reynolds, QB Sr. Charlotte

21. Manase Mose, C Sr. North Texas

20. Evan Anderson, DT Soph. Florida Atlantic

19. Chase Cunningham, QB Sr. Middle Tennessee

18. Ahofitu Maka, C Sr. UTSA

17. Tyrice Knight, LB Sr. UTEP

16. Will Boler, S Sr. UAB

15. Daewood Davis, WR Sr. WKU

14. Davon Strickland, DT Jr. FIU

13. BeeJay Williamson, S Jr. Louisiana Tech

12. Johnny Ford, RB Jr. Florida Atlantic

11. Breon Hayward, LB Sr. UTEP

10. Teja Young, S Jr. Florida Atlantic

9. DeWayne McBride, RB Jr. UAB

8. Zakhari Franklin, WR Sr. UTSA

7. Noah Wilder, LB Sr. UAB

6. Praise Amaewhule, DE Jr. UTEP

5. Jarret Doege, QB Sr. WKU

4. Frank Harris, QB Sr. UTSA

3. Rashad Wisdom, S Sr. UTSA

2. Jordan Ferguson, DE Sr. Middle Tennessee

1. KD Davis, LB Sr. North Texas

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CFN 2022 Team Previews
CharlotteFIUFlorida AtlanticLa Tech | Middle Tenn
North TexasRiceUABUTEP | UTSA | WKU
C-USA Predictions For Every Game | CFN Preview 2022
Bowl Projections | Preseason Rankings

Conference USA Preseason Predictions For Every Game: Preview 2022

Conference USA preseason predictions for every game, predicted order of finish, and lookahead to the 2022 season.

Just how much does it hurt Conference USA to lose Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss to the Sun Belt this season?

The league had to quickly scramble this offseason to change up its schedule, it’s having to do even more to keep the business going with Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA bolting in 2023 – Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State will enter the fun – and all of that will likely be the main focus of the 2022 season.

And then UAB, UTSA and WKU should be the stars of the conference again.

Where’s the big surprise going to come from?

The problem is that too many schedules have too many tough non-conference games, but it should be entertaining as several teams will likely be fighting for bowl eligibility over the final few weeks.

Knowing there’s going to be a crazy outlier to screw this all up, here are the 2022 Conference USA preseason predictions.

2022 CFN College Football Preview of Every Team

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Conference USA Preseason Predictions

Conference USA Predicted Finish

1. UTSA
2. WKU
T3. Florida Atlantic
T3. Louisiana Tech
T3. North Texas
T3. UAB
7. Middle Tennessee
8. Charlotte
T9. Rice
T9. UTEP
11. FIU

Charlotte 49ers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 3-5
2021: 5-7, Prediction: 3-9
2020: 2-4, 2019: 7-6, 2018: 5-7

Aug 27 at Florida Atlantic L
Sept 1 William & Mary
Sept 10 Maryland L
Sept 17 at Georgia State L
Sept 24 at South Carolina L
Oct 1 UTEP
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 15 at UAB L
Oct 22 FIU
Oct 29 at Rice L
Nov 5 WKU L
Nov 12 at Middle Tennessee L
Nov 19 Louisiana Tech
Nov 26 OPEN DATE
Charlotte Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

Florida Atlantic Owls

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 5-3
2021: 5-7, Prediction: 8-4
2020: 5-4, 2019: 11-3, 2018: 5-7

Aug 27 Charlotte
Sept 3 at Ohio L
Sept 10 SE Louisiana
Sept 17 UCF L
Sept 24 at Purdue L
Oct 1 at North Texas L
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 15 Rice
Oct 22 at UTEP L
Oct 29 UAB
Nov 5 OPEN DATE
Nov 12 at FIU
Nov 19 at Middle Tennessee L
Nov 26 WKU
FAU Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

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FIU Golden Panthers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 0-8
2021: 1-11, Prediction: 5-7
2020: 0-5, 2019: 6-7, 2018: 9-4

Sept 1 Bryant W
Sept 9 at Texas State L
Sept 17 OPEN DATE
Sept 24 at WKU L
Oct 1 at New Mexico State L
Oct 8 UConn
Oct 14 UTSA L
Oct 22 at Charlotte L
Oct 29 Louisiana Tech L
Nov 5 at North Texas L
Nov 12 Florida Atlantic L
Nov 19 at UTEP L
Nov 26 Middle Tennessee L
FIU Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 4-4
2021: 7-6, Prediction: 5-7
2020: 3-6, 2019: 4-8, 2018: 8-6

Sept 3 at James Madison L
Sept 10 at Colorado State L
Sept 17 Tennessee State W
Sept 24 at Miami L
Oct 1 UTSA L
Oct 8 at UAB L
Oct 15 WKU L
Oct 22 OPEN DATE
Oct 29 at UTEP W
Nov 5 at Louisiana Tech L
Nov 12 Charlotte W
Nov 19 Florida Atlantic W
Nov 26 at FIU W
MT Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule 

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 5-3
2021: 3-9, Prediction: 7-5
2020: 5-5, 2019: 10-3, 2018: 8-5

Sept 3 at Missouri L
Sept 10 Stephen F Austin W
Sept 17 at Clemson L
Sept 24 at South Alabama L
Oct 1 OPEN DATE
Oct 8 UTEP W
Oct 15 at North Texas L
Oct 22 Rice W
Oct 29 at FIU W
Nov 5 Middle Tennessee W
Nov 12 at UTSA L
Nov 19 at Charlotte L
Nov 26 UAB W
Louisiana Tech Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

North Texas Mean Green

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 5-3
2021: 6-7, Prediction: 3-9
2020: 4-6, 2019: 4-8, 2018: 9-4

Aug 27 at UTEP W
Sept 3 SMU L
Sept 10 Texas Southern W
Sept 17 at UNLV L
Sept 24 at Memphis L
Oct 1 Florida Atlantic W
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 15 Louisiana Tech W
Oct 22 at UTSA L
Oct 29 at WKU L
Nov 5 FIU W
Nov 12 at UAB L
Nov 19 OPEN DATE
Nov 26 Rice W
North Texas Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

Rice Owls

2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 2-6
2021: 4-8, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 2-3, 2019:3-9 , 2018: 2-11

Sept 3 at USC L
Sept 10 McNeese State W
Sept 17 Louisiana L
Sept 24 at Houston L
Oct 1 UAB L
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 15 at Florida Atlantic L
Oct 22 at Louisiana Tech L
Oct 27 Charlotte W
Nov 5 UTEP W
Nov 12 at WKU L
Nov 19 UTSA L
Nov 26 at North Texas L
Rice Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

UAB Blazers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 5-3
2021: 9-4, Prediction: 8-4
2020: 6-3, 2019: 9-5, 2018: 11-3

Sept 1 Alabama A&M W
Sept 10 at Liberty L
Sept 17 Georgia Southern W
Sept 24 OPEN DATE
Oct 1 at Rice W
Oct 8 Middle Tennessee W
Oct 15 Charlotte W
Oct 22 at WKU L
Oct 29 at Florida Atlantic L
Nov 5 UTSA W
Nov 12 North Texas W
Nov 19 at LSU L
Nov 25 at Louisiana Tech L
UAB Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

UTEP Miners

2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 2-6
2021: 7-6, Prediction: 3-9
2020: 3-5, 2019: 1-11, 2018: 1-11

Aug 27 North Texas L
Sept 3 at Oklahoma L
Sept 10 New Mexico State W
Sept 17 at New Mexico L
Sept 24 Boise State L
Oct 1 at Charlotte L
Oct 8 at Louisiana Tech L
Oct 15 OPEN DATE
Oct 22 Florida Atlantic W
Oct 29 Middle Tennessee L
Nov 5 at Rice L
Nov 12 OPEN DATE
Nov 19 FIU W
Nov 26 at UTSA L
UTEP Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule 

UTSA Roadrunners

2022 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 7-1
2021: 12-2, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 7-5, 2019: 4-8, 2018: 3-9

Sept 3 Houston L
Sept 10 at Army L
Sept 17 at Texas L
Sept 24 Texas Southern W
Oct 1 at Middle Tennessee W
Oct 8 WKU W
Oct 14 at FIU W
Oct 22 North Texas W
Oct 29 OPEN DATE
Nov 5 at UAB L
Nov 12 Louisiana Tech W
Nov 19 at Rice W
Nov 26 UTEP W
UTEP Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

WKU Hilltoppers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2022 Conference USA Prediction: 6-2
2021: 7-5, Prediction: 9-5
2020: 5-7, 2019: 9-4, 2018: 3-9

Aug 27 Austin Peay W
Sept 3 at Hawaii L
Sept 10 OPEN DATE
Sept 17 at Indiana L
Sept 24 FIU W
Oct 1 Troy W
Oct 8 at UTSA L
Oct 15 at Middle Tennessee W
Oct 22 UAB W
Oct 29 North Texas W
Nov 5 at Charlotte W
Nov 12 Rice W
Nov 19 at Auburn L
Nov 26 at Florida Atlantic L
WKU Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

James Madison vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, Game Preview

James Madison vs Middle Tennessee game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 1 game on Saturday, September 3

James Madison vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 1, Saturday, September 3


James Madison vs Middle Tennessee How To Watch

Date: Saturday, September 3
Game Time: 6:00 ET
Venue: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA
How To Watch: ESPN+
Record: James Madison (0-0), Middle Tennessee (0-0)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

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CFN Preview 2021: All 131 Teams
CFN Predictions of Every Game
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt
2022 Bowl Projections | Week 0 Rankings 1-131
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

James Madison vs Middle Tennessee Game Preview

Why Middle Tennessee Will Win

Can the takeaways continue?

Middle Tennessee might not have always been great last year on either side of the ball, but the defense came up with turnover after turnover, leading the nation with 32.

It was also disruptive in the backfield, the line should be stronger against the run, and for all of the good things about James Madison, pass protection might be a problem early on.

Offensively, Middle Tennessee’s backfield should be able to keep things moving and control the clock a little bit, but …

Week 1 CFN College Football Expert Picks

Why James Madison Will Win

The Dukes are coming into the FBS world loaded with veterans and good playmakers.

The defensive side might have to replace some of the stars, but the pass rush should be terrific and the secondary will hold up against the Blue Raider receivers.

It’s the other side that should take over right away with a fantastic line needing to get the job done against the Blue Raider pass rushers. Give the James Madison passing game time, and – even with new starters at quarterback and receiver – everything should work.

As long as the Dukes aren’t turning it over, they should be able to feed off of the …

Week 1 Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews, Saturday

What’s Going To Happen

Energy.

Everyone is jacked for the start of the college football season, but the James Madison fans getting ready for the move from the FCS world up to the big league are ready to explode.

And the football team is pretty good, too.

Middle Tennessee won’t be any sort of a pushover.

This is a well-coached club with the offensive pieces to make this a four quarter fight, but the James Madison offense will be too effective in the fourth quarter on two good scoring drives to pull out a fun first win.

All of the CFN Predictions

James Madison vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, Line

James Madison 27, Middle Tennessee 20
Line: James Madison -5.5, o/u: 57.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

How every college coach does against the spread

James Madison vs Middle Tennessee Must See Rating: 3

5: Gangs of London Season 2
1: Mack & Rita

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Predictions of Every Game
Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules For All 131 Teams

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview 2022: Season Prediction, Breakdown, Key Games, Players

Middle Tennessee College Football Preview 2022: Team breakdown, season prediction, keys to the campaign, and what you need to know

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview 2022: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Middle Tennessee season with what you need to know and keys to the season.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview
Head Coach: Rick Stockstill
17th year at Middle Tennessee, 101-98
2021 Preview: Overall: 7-6, Conference: 4-4
Keys To The Season
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Middle Tennessee Top 10 Players | Schedule

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview 2022

It got bleak for a little while.

Middle Tennessee had been chugging along under longtime head coach Rick Stockstill with winning seasons and bowl games the norm. And then came an off year in 2019 going 4-8, followed up by an 0-4 start in a 3-6 2020.

2-4 to start 2021, the program was saved by a lovely run of some of the easiest teams in the FBS to play, and the season turned around, there was a bowl appearance, and a slightly-stunning win over Toledo made it a 7-6 season with things starting to look back to normal.

But now it’s time to start doing more.

Conference USA was gutted by the Sun Belt – losing Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss. More will be bolting next year to the American Athletic Conference – Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, UTSA – and that leaves the league a shell of its former self for the 2023 season.

Middle Tennessee was on the verge of leaving for the MAC, but it’s staying around, and so is FIU, Louisiana Tech, UTEP, and WKU, to go along with the addition of Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston State.

What does this mean? It makes this a make-or-break season for the program.

Conference USA will be there for the taking, and Stockstill has to prove after 16 seasons going into 2022 that everything is on track for his Blue Raiders to be the star.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview 2022: Offense

The offense has to be far, far better. 12th in Conference USA and 96th overall, the Blue Raiders averaged just 362 yards per game, but cranked up the points against the bad teams averaging 30 per game. There was no running game, and the downfield passing attack didn’t exist. However …

The offense gets its guy back. Chase Cunningham was having a nice season throwing for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns with just three picks in eight games, but he was knocked out with a leg injury.

Nicholas Vattiato balled out and won three of the last four games – including the bowl – after giving up five picks in the loss to WKU. Now the Blue Raiders have a strong QB situation.

Leading receiver Jaylin Lane returns after rolling for 528 yards and four touchdowns on 42 catches, and Yusuf Ali is a nice midrange receiver who made 45 grabs. The transfer portal is bringing in help at tight end, and again, getting Cunningham back will make everyone better.

The Blue Raiders used a whole lot of parts for the running game, but leading rusher Martell Pettaway only gained 372 yards. He’s done, but sophomore Frank Peasant is experienced enough to take over. It’ll be a rotation of young, quick backs behind him.

The offensive line was decent in pass protection but now it has to start doing more for the ground attack. The problem is that the front five is all but starting over. There’s bulk around all-star center Jordan Palmer, but it’s going to take a little while.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview 2022: Defense

The defense might not have always been great, but that thing took the ball away in bunches. Middle Tennessee led the nation with 32 takeaways, led Conference USA in tackles for loss, and was decent enough to save the season.

However, there are some massive talent losses losing mainstay star safety Reed Blankenship, heart-and-soul LB DQ Thomas, and second-leading tackler Greg Grate. In all, the top four tacklers are gone and five-pick corner Quincy Riley is off to Louisville, but …

The defensive front should be okay on the inside. All four starters are expected back on the line – starting with all-star pass rusher Jordan Ferguson – and with a nice rotation at tackle.

The back seven will need more time. There’s no replacing what Blankenship and Thomas brought, but Johnathan Butler is a good tackler in the middle of the linebacking corps and Teldrick Ross should be among the best defensive backs in the conference when he comes back healthy.

Keys To The Season
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Middle Tennessee Top 10 Players | Schedule

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats NEXT

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Top 10 Players: College Football Preview 2022

Who are the top 10 Middle Tennessee players going into the 2022 college football season?

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview 2022: Who are the top 10 players going into the season?


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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Keys To The Season | Schedule
Season Prediction, What Will Happen  

College Football Rankings, Season Predictions: Conference USA Spring Version 2022

Conference USA college football rankings and predictions with realistic best and worst case records and quick analysis – the 2022 spring version.

Conference USA college football rankings and predictions with the realistic best and worst case records and quick analysis – the 2022 spring version.


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It’s a new world for Conference USA with the loss of Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss over to the Sun Belt. There are still plenty of good teams still around, but the league is hanging on through the expansion process.

Can 2021’s star teams keep it all going? UTSA and WKU won’t be quite as good, UAB should be strong, and UTEP might just keep on stunning.

If Florida Atlantic can rise up after a down season, and if North Texas and Middle Tennessee can be bowl-worthy again, it should be a fun run.

The rankings are based on how good the teams should be and not the final projected records. Keeping in mind that this all could/might/will change when we make the final calls in August …

2022 College Football Schedules By Teams: All 131 Schools

Middle Tennessee Beats Toledo 31-24: Bahamas Bowl 5 Thoughts, Instant Reaction

5 Thoughts and Instant Reaction to Middle Tennessee’s Bahamas Bowl win over Toledo.

Middle Tennessee vs Toledo. 5 thoughts and instant reaction after the 31-24 win by the Blue Raiders in the Bahamas Bowl.


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Middle Tennessee vs Toledo: Bahamas Bowl

5. Middle Tennessee went for it. Toledo didn’t.

Toledo played a strange game. It sort of went conservative when it shouldn’t have, and it sort of kept pushing when it shouldn’t have, and Middle Tennessee thanked the Rocket coaching staff and left with a win.

The Rockets needed to keep moving the chains, the running game was great – more on that in a moment – and they didn’t push it too much as they went for field goals – missing a few of them – and not trying to capture the momentum to take over the game.

Middle Tennessee didn’t do anything crazy, but it kept bringing the defensive pressure, took advantage of the opportunities that were there, and got the win.

It helped the cause that …

4. Toledo stopped running the ball

Bryant Koback was ripping through the Blue Raiders.

The Toledo back ran for 126 yards and averaged seven yards per carry, but he only had 18 carries. QB Dequan Finn was running well when he got his chances. The ground attack overall averaged 7.3 yards per carry, and yet the offense stopped going with what worked.

Toledo finished with just 32 carries, Finn completed just 18-of-39 passes, and it all played right into Middle Tennessee’s defensive strengths.

Toledo needed to keep running and running and running, and it didn’t, and it lost control of your 2021 Bahamas Bowl.

3. Middle Tennessee got it done without having to be Middle Tennessee

Toledo came into this as the most penalized team in the country, and it didn’t disappoint with 12 for 119 yards – including a big one early that led to a touchdown.

Middle Tennessee came into this as the best team in the country at taking the ball away, but it only got one, it came late, and it didn’t really need it.

The Blue Raiders were able to win with ball control, timely plays, and again, with an aggressive nature that Toledo didn’t have.


CFN Predictions | Bowl Schedule
Expert Bowl Picks Dec 17-27 Bowls


2. Toledo just never found its footing

Toledo piled up a good 7-5 record with wins over a whole slew of bad teams, but it also pushed Notre Dame. It rocked a flaky Western Michigan squad, and it managed to go 4-1 over the final stretch to overcome a disappointing season – this was a MAC Championship-caliber team on talent – with a shot at ending with something strong.

Instead, the passing game didn’t work until late, the double-digit favorite lost, and it’s a fourth straight bowl loss for head coach Jason Candle.

The team is loaded for next year, but the pressure is on. Toledo should be – and should’ve been – must stronger than this Bahamas Bowl loss.

1. Middle Tennessee has its quarterback … maybe

Chase Cunningham was the star of the Blue Raiders before suffering a knee injury with four games left, and freshman Nick Vattiato burned his redshirt year to carry the team down the stretch.

He doesn’t run, he’s not big, and he had interception issues, but he didn’t throw any picks, he went for 270 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-sealer – and he left the running to Mike DiLello, who stepped in and ran for 44 yards and a score – but threw an interception.

Middle Tennessee finishes at 7-6 with a great finish after a 2-4 start to the season. After two straight losing seasons, it was a great way to close things out for a program with a big upside for 2022.

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Toledo vs Middle Tennessee: Bahamas Bowl Prediction, Game Preview

Bahamas Bowl: Toledo vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might or might not win.

Toledo vs Middle Tennessee: Bahamas Bowl prediction, game preview, how to watch 


Toledo vs Middle Tennessee: Bahamas Bowl How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 17
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Network: ESPN, Live stream on ESPN+
Records: Middle Tennessee (6-6), Toledo (7-5)
CFN Predictions | 2021-2022 Bowl Schedule

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Toledo vs Middle Tennessee Bahamas Bowl Preview

It wasn’t the season Toledo was hoping for. It came into the year with enough talent to win the MAC Championship, but after a rough start it got hot late with three straight wins to close things out thanks to the league’s best defense and an offense that scored 49 points in three of its last four games.

A strange team, Toledo got flagged more than anyone in America, but it made up for the mistakes by leading the nation with the fewest turnovers. The small things mattered – four of the five losses were by three points or fewer. Now the team that gave the ball up less than anyone faces the team that led the nation in takeaways.

Middle Tennessee sputtered early, but turned things around in the middle of the season. Just as it looked like it was about to make a move, it lost star QB Chase Cunningham for the season before the final month.

The Blue Raider offense picked it up with a decent balance, the defense kept taking the ball away, and the two wins in the final three games – including a clutch performance at Florida Atlantic to get bowl eligible – were enough to get here.

Why Toledo, Middle Tennessee Will Win
Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: Why Toledo Will Win, Why Middle Tennessee Will Win, Bahamas Bowl Prediction

Florida Atlantic vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, Game Preview

Florida Atlantic vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win this Saturday.

Florida Atlantic vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, November 27


Florida Atlantic vs Middle Tennessee How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 27
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
How To Watch: Stadium
Record: Florida Atlantic (5-6), Middle Tennessee (5-6)
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Florida Atlantic vs Middle Tennessee Game Preview


Why Middle Tennessee Will Win

It’s just this simple. Take the ball away and – usually – win, don’t take the ball away and lose.

Duh – that’s life for a whole lot of teams, but turnovers mean something extra for Middle Tennessee.

The Blue Raiders continue to lead the nation in takeaways, coming up with 29 on the year with five in the win over Southern Miss, four against FIU, and 21 in the last seven games.

The loss to Liberty was the only time since September that they didn’t win after generating a takeaway.

On the other side, Florida Atlantic’s offense has stalled. It hasn’t totally collapsed, but it’s struggling to score – it hasn’t pushed past 17 in any of the last three games – and …

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Why Florida Atlantic Will Win

Florida Atlantic doesn’t really have a turnover issue.

It has big problems in a whole slew of areas, but it’s been able to control the turnover margin. Even when it gives the ball away – like it has over the last few games – with five turnovers in the last two – the defense makes up for it.

The Owls haven’t been in the negative turnover margin since early October.

Not, the offense hasn’t been great, but the Middle Tennessee attack hasn’t been consistent enough.

At home, as long as the FAU running game can get in control of the game, everything else should work.

The Owls are 4-1 in Boca Raton with the only loss coming to Marshall.

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What’s Going To Happen

So it’s an interesting situation.

Both teams are 5-6, but there probably won’t be enough bowl eligible teams. If that’s the case, the schools with five-win football teams get in based on the Academic Progress Rate, and Middle Tennessee should be right there in the mix.

So if Florida Atlantic wins, both teams will likely go bowling. If Middle Tennessee wins, FAU will be out.

Middle Tennessee’s offense will stall just enough on the road – it’s not quite the same against good teams without starter Chase Cunningham – and the Owls will own home once again.

College Football Schedule: Week 13 Predictions, Lines

Florida Atlantic vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, Lines

Florida Atlantic 24, Middle Tennessee 20
Line: Florida Atlantic -3.5, o/u: 50
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1

Must See Rating: 3

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Old Dominion vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, Game Preview

Old Dominion vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win this Saturday.

Old Dominion vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, November 20


Old Dominion vs Middle Tennessee How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 20
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, TN
How To Watch: ESPN+
Record: Old Dominion (4-6), Middle Tennessee (5-5)
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Old Dominion vs Middle Tennessee Game Preview


Why Old Dominion Will Win

Who’s the hottest team in Conference USA?

It’s WKU and UTSA, but all of a sudden, Old Dominion has become a player with three straight wins with a stunner over Florida Atlantic. Now the team can get bowl eligible with wins over Middle Tennessee this week and Charlotte to close.

What is it doing right? The passing game has improved, the defense has been solid, and to be obvious, the schedule has been easier. FAU was a great win, but all six of the losses were supposed to happen.

Middle Tennessee kicked its own offense back in against a miserable FIU team, but the O is struggling to get to 300 yards on a consistent basis. However …

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Why Middle Tennessee Will Win

After taking a week off in the blowout loss to WKU, the defense cranked up the turnover train again.

The best in the nation in takeaways, the D forced four FIU turnovers last week and came up with 21 in the the last six games – and that’s without coming up with any against WKU.

Old Dominion is doing a whole lot of things right, but it also turns the ball over on a consistent basis with two or more in each of the last seven games. It’s going to give it up at least twice in this and …

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What’s Going To Happen

Middle Tennessee QB Nicholas Vattiato appears to have settled in. In place of injured starter Chase Cunningham, Vattiato completed 20-of-24 passes for 147 yards and two scores against FIU – and with no picks.

He gave up five interceptions in the loss to WKU, but Old Dominion doesn’t take the ball away. As long as the Blue Raider running game can work a wee bit against the solid Monarch defensive front, and as long as there aren’t any forced throws, the D should be able to take care of the rest to get the team bowl eligible.

College Football Schedule: Week 12 Predictions, Lines

Old Dominion vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, Lines

Middle Tennessee 26, Old Dominion 20
Line: Middle Tennessee -4, o/u: 50
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

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