Looking at Game 1, Middle Tennessee State

Who: Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

When: Thursday, August. 29,  TBA

Where: Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (31,788) in Murfreesboro, TN

Series history: The Catamounts and Blue Raiders have met four times previously, all between 1973 and 1981. The series is tied between the two at 2-2, with both Catamount victories coming on the road.

Their conference: Conference USA (FBS)

The coach:  Rick Stockstill, record at Middle Tennessee: 43-44/8th year

Last year’s record: 8-4 (6-2, tied for 2d Sun Belt)

How they got there:  Following a 2-10 season in 2011, Middle Tennessee bounced back with one of the nation’s best turnarounds. The Raiders’ 6 win increase from the previous year,  places MTSU with both Ohio State and Kent State for the biggest win increases in the 2012 season.  Middle Tennessee State is one of the teams making a move from the Sun Belt to Conference USA (effective 1 July 2013, I believe) this season.  The C-USA move is viewed as a step up in the FBS conference standings from the SB.

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 4-3 Multiple

Offensive starters returning/lost: 9/2

Defensive starters returning/lost: 8/3

2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Defense: 188.25 (84, 8)
Pass Defense: 252.58 (90, 5)
Total Defense: 440.83 (92, 8)
Scoring Defense: 28.00 (62, 4)
Rushing Offense: 176.67 (4th in Sun Belt)
Passing Offense: 216.08 (77, 8)
Total Offense: 392.75 (66, 5)
Scoring Offense: 26.58 (75, 6)

Biggest losses: WR Anthony Amos; RB Benny Cunningham; C Micah James; K Carlos Lopez;

Watch out for:  Logan Kilgore, QB, 2,571 yards passing;  Jordan Parker, RB, 851 yards rushing;  Kyle Griswould, WR 531 yards receiving;  Craig Allen, LB, 82 tackles

Strengths:  MTSU should have one of the more high powered offenses in C-USA this season, thanks to quarterback Logan Kilgore, running back Jordan Parker and wide receiver, Kyle Griswould.  Kilgore is a three year starter at QB, and has become one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Middle Tennessee State record books. In 2012, he threw for 2,571 yards and 16 touchdowns. Parker is a sophomore and finished 2012 with 851 yards rushing, on 166 carries. He may just be better this season.  Kyle Griswould, caught 45 passes last season, for a total of 531 yards, making him the top receiver on the Blue Raider's roster.   These 3 players bode nothing good for the WCU defense, which ranked last in the SoCon last season in rushing defense.

Weaknesses: The Blue Raiders will be able to score on their opponents, however, last season they had a habit of giving up points just as quickly as they scored. (Does that sound familiar? kind of like the Catamount defense in 2012). Middle Tennessee ended 2012 ranked eighth in the Sun Belt in rushing defense, but they do have 8 starters returning, so this will be a more experienced defensive unit on the field in 2013 for MTSU.  However, even with the increased experience factor, they will still have difficulty stopping the run in the CAA.  With this being the first game of the season, the Cats can only hope to face a defensive unit that has not jelled.

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