Middle Tennessee State’s football team will try to make it two Conference USA wins in a row when the Blue Raiders play host to Florida Atlantic on Saturday (2:30 CT, ESPN+).
The Blue Raiders (5-5, 2-4 C-USA) are coming off a 24-14 win over Charlotte while the Owls (5-5, 4-2) rolled past Florida International 52-7 last week, their second win in a row.
Following is a scouting report on the game, including a score prediction by The Daily News Journal’s Cecil Joyce:
More:MTSU football rallies in second half, needs one win victory for bowl eligibility
Bowl eligibility
Both teams will be seeking their sixth win and bowl eligibility.
MTSU will be looking for its second bowl appearance in a row, having won the Bahamas Bowl over Toledo last season. Florida Atlantic last went to a bowl game in 2020, losing 25-10 to Memphis in the Montgomery Bowl.
The loser will have one more game left to reach bowl eligibility, with MTSU playing at FIU and Florida Atlantic playing host to Western Kentucky.
Perry, Dearmon lead strong FAU offense
Florida Atlantic’s N’Kosi Perry will be another in a line of talented quarterbacks MTSU has faced this season.
The 6-foot-4, 198-pound graduate student is in his second season with FAU after transferring from Miami (where he had nine starts from 2017-20). He is 169-of-296 for 2,103 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. He is also third on the team in rushing with 228 yards and five TDs.
He has helped the Owls average 31 points and 413 yards a game this season….
