MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
Conference USA
2015 Record – 7-6
ATS – 7-5-1
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
East Division #2
Conference #3
2015 Recap
The Blue Raiders started out scoring 70+ points in two of their first three games and then had to scramble with a late season charge to make a bowl game. MTSU was no match for a strong Western Michigan team in the Bahamas Bowl but still managed to finish with a 7-6 record. That is four consecutive seasons with 6+ wins for the Blue Raiders.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
Whoa. QB Brent Stockstill really turned some heads in his freshman season garnering C-USA Freshman POY recognition and leading the Blue Raiders to a seven-win season and a bowl game. Stockstill threw for over 4,000 yards and 30 TDs and ranked in the top-20 in the FBS in passing efficiency. MEGALOCKS C-USA MEDICAL ALERT INSIDERS have advised us that the Blue Raiders are now without two projected starting WRs due to injury (Shane Tucker – from RB, Terry Pettis) and that is going to Make Stockstill’s job more difficult this season. The good news is that he has……..
JUGGERNAUT ALERT – WR Richie James was fantastic last year. He finished up #3 in the FBS in receptions per game and 12th in the country in receiving yards per game. This was all done as a FRESHMAN. It is going to be tough to replicate last season’s overall numbers (108-1346, 12.5, 8 TD) but we give him a shot in this offense.
The Blue Raiders’ offensive line returns 3/5 starters and all of the projected starters weigh-in at 300+ pounds. The running game needs to be better than last season (11th C-USA rushing offense) and it appears as though the RB load will be carried by Ole Miss transfer I’Tavius Mathers and Desmond Anderson. Neither are proven, but both have promise. Overall, despite the injuries at WR the Blue Raiders should be potent once again.
DEFENSE
We are cautiously optimistic about the defense. While it is true they have only five returning starters, it should be noted that the DL has FOUR (4) (Cuatro) seniors back and the secondary features two experienced starters. The LB unit is a reload, but overall, we think that this defense can still be good enough to make this team competitive against anyone in the conference.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Danger. Danger. MTSU needs to find a new PK and new return specialists. P Matt Bonadies is back but the Blue Raiders were next-to-last in C-USA in net punting last season. Special teams often go overlooked by handicappers but this red flag cannot be ignored.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Seven road games. And one of their home contests is against Alabama A&M. Someone is in the schedule-makers’ bad books. They also have a 4/5 road game stretch starting on October 22nd without the benefit of a bye week.
Overall, we give the BLUE RAIDERS a 6.0 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season. We like the look of this team. If the running game comes around this offense is going to be a handful. But what about the defense and special teams ? HC Rick Stockstill has done a fine job in three years as part of C-USA leading the Blue Raiders to a 21-17 record overall (17-19-2 ATS). Teams that are pass-focused with a suspect defense are not normally our cup of tea but we think there is significantly more upside with this team than downside. Eyes wide open.
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News
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