Illinois Fighting Illini vs Mid Tenn State Blue Raiders Point Spread Picks

Middle Tennessee State is no pushover, with a winning record on the season. They hung tough for a while against Alabama on the road (covering the spread), then whipped two other teams scoring 70 and 73 points and winning by a combined score of 143-28. On the season they are 3-0 ATS. QB Brent Stockstill (9 TDs, 2 INTs) has been sharp while RB Jordan Parker is a handful averaging 6.3 ypc. The Blue Raiders are 4-0 ATS in September and 5-2 ATS against a team with a winning record. And this secondary is good behind junior college transfer Jeremy Cutrer, a shutdown corner who should be playing at LSU but failed to qualify. The Blue Raiders are off a strong defensive game and are 20-8 ATS after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. They face an Illinois team that limps home after their first real test of the season -- and get a failing grade in a 48-14 loss at North Carolina. The defense surrendered 471 yards, including 254 rushing, a whopping 6.9 ypc. Quarterback Wes Lunt could not give Illinois consistency in the air on a 15-32 effort for 140 yards and an interception. The Fighting Illini are 6-20 ATS after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game, as well as 5-11 ATS after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. Play Middle Tennessee State plus the points. Also take the UNDER. MTSU is 13-4 UNDRE int heir last 17 games following a game in which 70+ points were scored including a perfect 8-0 when 80+ were scored the prior week. And under head coach Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders are 8-1 UNDER on the road after gaining 275+ rushing yards last game. This total is inflated so back the UNDER.