In a key game down in the Sun Belt Conference 6-2 Western Kentucky hosts 5-3 Middle Tennessee Thursday night (9:15 pm ET, ESPNU).

With both teams tied for second place in the SBC at 3-1 in conference play, the Hilltoppers were early 9.5-point favorites over the Blue Raiders.



View Middle Tennessee vs Western Kentucky Odds and Stats.

Betting Line: Western Kentucky were sitting as 10-point favorites earlier in the week at Sportsbook. The total was to be set a bit later in the week for over under betting purposes.

Power Rankings / Prediction: It's a betting matchup between the No. 9-rated Hilltoppers and the No. 112-ranked Blue Raiders, according to the NCAAF Power Rankings here at Odds Shark. Predictive-scoring models run on this game indicate a potential 35-29 result in favor of the Hilltoppers.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Western Kentucky's No. 57-ranked offense (29.5 PPG) against a Blue Raiders defense that ranks No. 70 at 28.6 PPG. The Hilltoppers passing attack has averaged 211.8 yards per game, less than the Blue Raiders give up through the air (255 YPG on average).

Defensively, the Blue Raiders feature the league's No. 64-rated road run defense, allowing 170.2 yards per game. Western Kentucky, meanwhile, ranks No. 15 in rushing offense at home.

Last time out for Middle Tennessee, they were a 38-21 Sportsbook as they battled North Texas at home. Middle Tennessee covered in the match as a 3.5-point favorite, while 59 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Logan Kilgore led his team to victory last time out, throwing for 349 yards Saturday as the Blue Raiders downed the Mean Green 38-21 at Floyd Stadium.

Western Kentucky was a 14-6 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against Florida International. They covered the 6-point spread as favorites, while the total score (20) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. Antonio Andrews went over the 100-yard mark (158) in his team's latest effort as Western Kentucky defeated Florida International by a score of 14-6 on Saturday.


Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Trends:
When playing in November are 4-6
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing within the conference are 4-6

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Trends:
When playing in November are 4-6
When playing on turf are 9-1
After being outgained are 7-3
When playing within the conference are 9-1

A few Blue Raiders at Hilltoppers trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Middle Tennessee's last 6 games on the road
Middle Tennessee is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Middle Tennessee's last 6 games
Middle Tennessee is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games
Western Kentucky is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Western Kentucky is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Western Kentucky's last 6 games
Western Kentucky is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games at home


Next up:
Middle Tennessee at South Alabama, Saturday, November 17
Western Kentucky home to Florida Atlantic, Saturday, November 10