Murfreesboro, TN- Since our season opener when Jacksonville State defeated UTEP, 17-14, their offense has picked up and the Gamecocks lead Conference USA with a 4-1,2-0 record. The offensive output under Junior QB Logan Smothers has picked up some steam averaging over 30 points per game since. Smothers has completed 60.8% of his passes for 474 yards, Five TDs and no INTs. He’s run for 255 yards and five scores. Malik Jackson leads in rushing with 505 yards for three six-pointers. Jacksonville State Head Coach Rich Rodriguez’s defense has recorded 14 sacks and eight interceptions.
MTSU needs to step-up against Jacksonville
On a Black-out Night at Red Floyd Stadium, the Blue Raiders are looking for their first C-USA win at 1-4, 0-1. QB Nick Vattiato has passed for 1,168 yards and Jaiden Credle and Frank Peasant have combined for 492 yards. The team has to improve regarding the -3 in the turnover department. Sacks and INTs stand at nine and two respectively. Not a good sign on defense when Safety Tra Fluellen leads in tackles with 38 and his counterpart Safety Jakobe Thomas is third with 26. Head Coach Rick Stockstill’s defenders up front need to turn on some heat to win this one.
Blue Raiders favored by 2.5, but not sure why. Jacksonville State joined the FBS as a very successful FCS program, and it looks like it’s holding its own so far after five games. MTSU is 1-1 at home with win against very wee FCS Murray State. Jacksonville seems to have good balance on offense to keep the Blue Raiders on their heels to win this one.
Busy in October!
Following this week’s Wednesday night Conference USA game, college ffotballfan.com ventures back east. At Princeton Stadium, thee Lafayette Leopards of the Patriot League bring their 4-1 record against the Princeton Tigers (2-1) of the Ivy League. The following Tuesday, we’re back at Floyd when MTSU hosts Louisiana Tech. Another first for us is a second weekday night game during the same week. We trek to Greenville, NC to see SMU visit East Carolina for our first game there. On Saturday, we go to Charlotte for the first time. The 49ers host Navy in and American Athletic showdown. That’s five games in eleven days, some kind of an FBS record here!
