Tag: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders betting odds line spread pick predictions best bets

Middle Tennessee at Virginia Tech odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Saturday’s Middle Tennessee at Virginia Tech odds and lines, with college football expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1-0) and No. 21 Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) face off at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Middle Tennessee at Virginia Tech odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.

Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll, powered by USA TODAY Sports.

This is a “trap” game for Virginia Tech sandwiched between a massive 17-10 win against then-No. 9 UNC in Week 1 and a road matchup against rival West Virginia next week. The Hokies had a vintage defensive performance in their opener as they limited preseason Heisman candidate QB Sam Howell to 208 yards with 3 INT and sacked him 6 times.

Middle Tennessee handled FCS opponent Monmouth with ease last week, however, the game was closer than the 50-15 final score suggests. The Blue Raiders only outgained Monmouth 344-274 in total yards and averaged just 2.6 yards on 34 carries.

Starting QB Bailey Hockman faced Virginia Tech last season as NC State’s quarterback and threw for just 82 yards with 2 INT over 16 attempts.

Middle Tennessee at Virginia Tech odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:47 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Middle Tennessee +750 (bet $100 to win $750) | Virginia Tech -1400 (bet $1400 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Middle Tennessee +20.5 (-108) | Virginia Tech -20.5 (-112)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 54.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)

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Middle Tennessee at Virginia Tech odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Virginia Tech 35, Middle Tennessee 17

Money line

It’s tough to recommend the money line in games with big point spreads like this. It’s extremely unlikely the Blue Raiders pull off the upset here, while a $100 bet on the Hokies would return just $7.14. PASS.

Against the spread

Virginia Tech is bigger, faster and more experienced than the Blue Raiders, but they haven’t won a non-conference game by 20+ points in any of their last four tries (Liberty in 2020; Rhode Island, Furman, Old Dominion in 2019).

The Hokies’ inability to blow out lower-division teams combined with the trap game factor has us leaning MIDDLE TENNESSEE +20.5 (-108) to cover.

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Over/Under

Virginia Tech looked much better defensively in defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton’s second season, while the Blue Raiders’ inexperienced offensive line – they’re starting three freshmen – suggests points will be hard to come by for Middle Tennessee.

Look for the Hokies to take their foot off the gas in the second half, keeping this one slightly UNDER 54.5 (-108).

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Middle Tennessee at Troy odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Troy Trojans sports betting odds and lines, with college football betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-6) visit the Troy Trojans (4-3) in a rare non-conference rematch Saturday. The 3:30 p.m. ET kick at Veterans Memorial Stadium will mark the second meeting between the Raiders and Trojans in this unique 2020 season. Troy won at MTSU (47-14) Sept. 19. Below, we analyze the Middle Tennessee-Troy college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Middle Tennessee at Troy: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 1:20 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Middle Tennessee +315 (bet $100 to win $315) | Troy -417 (bet $417 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Middle Tennessee +11.5 (-110) | Troy -11.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 59.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Middle Tennessee at Troy: Three things to know

  • Middle Tennessee heads into Saturday’s road game on the heels of a 42-14 loss at Marshall last Saturday. That game marked MTSU’s first action since Oct. 24 (40-34 overtime win at Rice). At Marshall, the Blue Raiders fumbled three times (losing all three) and were outgained 520 yards to 303.
  • Troy rambled for 240 rushing yards and three ground scores in its Sept. 19 win over MTSU. That marks a season-high for a Trojans offense which has been very much a pass-first group since (62-38 pass-run mix on the season). Starting QB Gunnar Watson (ribs) is questionable for Saturday’s game. Watson has missed Troy’s last two games, and backup QB Jacob Free has been spotty with a 60% pass completion rate and 4 touchdowns against 4 interceptions in directing the Trojans’ aerial game.
  • The Raiders are tied for 118th in the nation with 16 giveaways on the season. MTSU has lost six fumbles — including three last week — while throwing 10 interceptions. Middle Tennessee quarterbacks combined to throw three interceptions in the Sept. 19  game against Troy.

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Middle Tennessee at Troy: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Troy 34, Middle Tennessee 21

Money line (ML)

The -417 tag on Troy carries an implied winning percentage of 80.65%. That offers some value on a Trojans team which has the advantage in just about every phase of the game in this matchup. BACK TROY (-417).

Against the spread (ATS)

Figure on a shaky Middle Tennessee front seven making for a big Troy advantage in this one. Three October home games — vs. Texas State (37-17 win), Eastern Kentucky (31-29 win), and Georgia State (36-34 loss) — look like unflattering comps on the surface.

Drilling down shows a Trojans team which didn’t score or defend as well as it played on 85% of plays from scrimmage. With less of a lean than the ML play above: BACK TROY -11.5 (-110).

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under is 8-1 in the last nine games between the Raiders and Trojans.  The Under is also 7-1-1 in Troy’s last nine games overall; and that’s the fairly healthy lean in this one.

Troy does well against the run and pass, and the Trojans are solid in limiting explosive plays. The MTSU defense is subpar but still a better one than the national points-per-game ranking (115th) would indicate. TAKE THE UNDER 59.5 (-110).

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