College Football Week 13: Middle Tennessee vs. New Mexico State Preview

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are set to face the New Mexico State Aggies in a College Football Week 13 clash at Floyd Stadium on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 2:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The Blue Raiders are entering this match as three-point favorites, with the total over/under at 53 points.

New Mexico State Aggies have been undergoing a challenging season, with a 2-8 record and three consecutive losses in their recent games. Their last outing against Texas A&M resulted in a 38-3 defeat, highlighting the team’s offensive struggles. The Aggies were able to score 28 points in their previous game against Western Kentucky, but their defense allowed 41 points. Quarterback Santino Marucci’s performance has been mixed, as he completed 10 out of 20 passes for 129 yards, contributing one touchdown but also two interceptions. As a team, the Aggies are averaging a mere 18.8 points per game, which places them 124th nationally, while defensively, they’re conceding an average of 37.2 points per game, ranking 128th.

Meanwhile, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have had a similarly tough season, with a 3-7 record. Two games ago, they managed a 20-13 victory but fell back into losing form in their last encounter, scoring only 17 points while allowing 37 points against their opponents. Middle Tennessee’s quarterback, Nicholas Vattiato, showed promise by completing 22 of his 33 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. The Blue Raiders’ offense is currently ranked 128th, averaging 17.2 points per game. Their defense, conceding 34 points per game, ranks them 118th in college football defensively.

As the two teams prepare to compete, Middle Tennessee is anticipated to leverage their offensive capabilities, particularly through Vattiato, to exploit the weaknesses in the Aggies’ defense. Observers predict that the Blue Raiders will manage to cover the spread, relying on a more formidable offensive performance to secure a win. New Mexico State’s offense, averaging only 18.8 points per game, appears less capable of keeping up with the pace needed to challenge Middle Tennessee effectively.