I'm all over Louisiana Tech+3 in this Conference USA matchup. Fingers crossed the Bulldogs get Hank Backmeier back tonight, as he was active last week but the coaching staff wanted to give him one more week. Backup QB Jack Turner (3.5pt drop off) lead a fourth quarter comeback outscoring Western Kentucky 21-0 to just come up short one score. Tonight's opponent Middle Tennessee State has been good since 2018 when HC Rick Stockstill's son Brent was the starting QB. Last week they had a big lead at halftime versus Jax State (who was looking ahead). Jax State rolled in the 2nd half. I think this is a coaching mismatch tonight and talent advantage for the Bulldogs.

The season is slipping away from the Blue Raiders, who almost need to make a stretch run like Victory Gallop in the ‘98 Belmont to get bowl-eligible again for Rick Stockstill. Meanwhile, Sonny Cumbie’s appointment at Ruston has been no upgrade from Skip Holtz, and the belated rally vs. WKU only partially masks the fact that La Tech was down 35-7 at intermission. True, the Bulldogs haven’t lost much offense with backup QB Jack Turner in relief, but the 87th-ranked D isn’t exactly Alabama’s. Note MTSU's Nicholas Vattiato did pass for 400+ last week vs. J’ville State, when the Blue Raiders looked great for a half (up 23-7) before playing like they were running late for a Taylor Swift concert after the break.

These two teams will rack up yards offensively against each other, both in the air and on the ground. Not to mention, they both turn the ball over frequently as well, specifically Middle Tennessee. The risk with teams like this is where the turnovers come, do we get robbed in the red zone or find both squads with short fields and quick TD's? If we get No. 2 we'll soar beyond the over. Lastly, MTSU gives up a ton of points in the 2nd half of games this season. As long as we don't see multiple turnovers driving into the end zone, this could be quite the fun (and weird) Tuesday game.