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NCAA Football Betting Online: Typically, when a head coach installs his son as a team’s quarterback there are plenty of cries of nepotism and whether or not there was a legitimate competition. That makes what’s been going on in Murfreesboro atypical.
The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders have had the perfect combination of head coach and quarterback in Rick and Brent Stockstill. Rick has been the main man for 12 seasons and his son Brent is the best quarterback the school has ever had. Provided he is healthy, this will be one of the top offenses in Conference USA.
2017 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders at a Glance
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Brent Stockstill has been very efficient with the ball in two seasons as the starter. He has tallied at least 30 touchdowns while throwing less than 10 interceptions in each year and is very elusive in the pocket too. He has been sacked just 25 times over the last two seasons.
Health is a looming factor for him heading into this year. Stockstill missed the final three games of 2016 with a broken collarbone and didn’t look like himself in the bowl game. In the offseason, he underwent shoulder surgery in his non-throwing shoulder and missed all of spring practice as a result. He is expected to come back in time for fall workouts, but his durability is a question mark. Especially so with the non-conference slate the Blue Raiders play.
Stockstill will have one of the best returning receivers in the country in Richie James. James might only be 5’9, but he finds ways to get open and is quick off the line of scrimmage. He will see plenty of passes thrown his way again in 2017.
The big concerns for the Blue Raiders are along the lines. The offensive line is pretty young. There are only two returning starters and no seniors projected to start this season. It’s a good thing Stockstill is able to evade pass rushes.
Defensive line is the glaring weakness on this team. Not only are there no seniors projected to be starters along the line, but there are no returning starters either. It’s a remarkably raw unit outside of Missouri transfer Walter Brady.
This is an extremely interesting non-conference schedule for the Blue Raiders. We will see just how good this team is quickly with three games against power conference opponents in the first three weeks. They won’t be a large underdog against any of the three and should pick off at least one of these opponents.
2017 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Schedule
September 2: Middle Tennessee State vs. Vanderbilt
September 9: Middle Tennessee State at Syracuse
September 16: Middle Tennessee State at Minnesota
September 23: Middle Tennessee State vs. Bowling Green
September 30: Middle Tennessee State at Florida Atlantic
October 7: Middle Tennessee State vs. Florida International
October 14: Middle Tennessee State at UAB
October 20: Middle Tennessee State vs. Marshall
November 4: Middle Tennessee State vs. UTEP
November 11: Middle Tennessee State at Charlotte
November 17: Middle Tennessee State at Western Kentucky
November 25: Middle Tennessee State vs. Old Dominion
List of Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Seasons
| Year |
Record |
Bowl Game |
| 2016 |
8-5 |
L – Hawaii Bowl |
| 2015 |
7-6 |
L – Popeyes Bahamas Bowl |
| 2014 |
6-6 |
|
| 2013 |
8-5 |
L – Armed Forces Bowl |
| 2012 |
8-4 |
|
| 2011 |
2-10 |
|
| 2010 |
6-7 |
L – GoDaddy.com Bowl |
| 2009 |
10-3 |
W – New Orleans Bowl |
| 2008 |
5-7 |
|
| 2007 |
5-7 |
|
| 2006 |
7-6 |
L – Motor City Bowl |
| 2005 |
4-7 |
|
| 2004 |
5-6 |
|
| 2003 |
4-8 |
|
| 2002 |
4-8 |
|
| 2001 |
8-3 |
|
| 2000 |
6-5 |
|
| 1999 |
3-8 |
|
The Blue Raiders have only had two coaches since they joined the FBS level in 1999.
Andy McCollum had some limited success during his seven years in Murfreesboro. He never managed to reach a bowl game, but gave this team a level of respectability that it has used to be a consistent contender in the Sun Belt and Conference USA.
Rick Stockstill has taken MTSU to six bowl games, but has just a 1-5 record. His offenses have been able to put points on the board against most opponents and that has led to them being competitive in all but one season under him.
The offense is going to put up massive numbers again provided the important pieces stay healthy. That should lead to another seven- or eight-win season and a dream year if they could go 3-1 or 4-0 in the non-conference slate.
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