Bowling Green, Kentucky – Middle Tennessee at Western Kentucky on Thursday night opens as one of two Conference-USA meetings to be played through October on televised week night games. The MTSU Blue Raiders (1-3) look to end a four-game losing streak against the WKU Hilltoppers (2-2). The two rivals suffered huge losses to top ranked teams already this season. The Blue Raiders fell to Alabama in their opener, 56-7, while the Toppers got clobbered by Ohio State, 63-10. Both have wins against FCS competition and other games were battles. This one will be close.

Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky stats

Offensively, the Blue Raiders are led by QB Nick Vattiato who’s thrown for 916 yards, seven TDs and two INTs. Jaiden Credle leads all Raider rushers with 188 yards for a 6.2 yard gain per carry. The defense has given up 1,536 yards and allows 31.0 ppg. The Hilltopper offense is led by QB Austin Reed who led the NCAA in total passing yards in 2022. He has a lot of catching up to do ranked at No. 27 in that category currently. He’s completed 63% of his passes for 1,021 yards, nine TDs and one INT. The rushing game has totaled only 331 yards compared to the Raiders’ 512 yards. Defensively, WKU has yielded 1,991 yards per game and allows 34.0 ppg.

C-USA implications

Liberty looks to be the best team in this conference at 4-0 thus far under former Coastal Carolina mentor Jamey Chadwell. The winner of Thursday night’s game could challenge them for the C-USA title. The top two teams meet in the conference championship on December 2. This one will end close, and look for the Hilltoppers’ passing game to score the decisive final points to win at the end.

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