Middle Tennessee vs Army Odds and Picks

• Army is a small 4-point favorite over Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 5th at 1:30 PM EST
• The Black Knights missed out an bowl appearance last season for the first time since 2015
• Read below for the game preview, odds and betting advice for the Saturday’s game

The Army Black Knights are being listed as small 4-point favorites over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders when the two teams clash at Michie Stadium in West Point on Saturday, Sept 5 at 1:30 PM EST.

Army is coming off a 5-8 season in which they missed out on a bowl for the first time since 2015, while Middle Tennessee is coming off a 4-8 campaign of their own.

Considering this is the first ever matchup between the two programs, how should you bet on the Middle Tennessee vs Army Odds?

 Middle Tennessee vs Army Odds

Odds taken September 3rd

Asher O’Hara Is QB to Watch

Betting on opening week college football games is always a difficult task because you don’t know how players will adapt to new schemes and rosters. One thing you can always trust is an experienced QB.

The Blue Raiders have the best QB in this game in Asher O’Hara. The junior started all 12 games for the Blue Raiders in 2019, throwing for 2,616 passing yards and 20 touchdowns to go with eight interceptions, while rushing for an additional 1,044 yards and nine TDs.

Middle Tennessee can win this game by relying on their quick-tempo offense to set the tone and jump out to an early lead. If they can control the game in the air, the Black Knights don’t have the fast-paced offense to keep up.

Can Blue Raiders Stop the Triple Option?

Army will be bringing it’s triple-option offense into this game, which could pose a problem for a Blue Raiders defense that lost seven of its top 12 tacklers from 2019.

The Blue Raiders struggled mightily on the defensive end in general last season, allowing 459.3 yards per game, so even if O’Hara is balling, their defense could prevent a victory.

.@CoachStock on defending Army's triple-option offense:#BlueRaiders | #MT | #EATT pic.twitter.com/h7yuHwuswO

— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) August 26, 2020

Replacing quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. is the issue for the Black Knights, but they’re still going to be a threat on offense with running back Sandon McCoy returning and Camden Harrison, Artice Hobbs IV and Michael Roberts all returning at receiver.

I like Middle Tennessee’s offensive potential in this game, but the defense is a major concern. They haven’t faced this type of offense since 2012, and with it also being the first game of the season, it’s a big question mark if they’re going to be able to adapt and make the adjustments required to stop the triple option.

‘Over’ Has Been Popular Play

One popular trend for both teams heading into this game is the ‘over’. Both teams gave up plenty of points in the final stretch of the 2019 season, with Army losing seven of their last nine games and the Blue Raiders dropping five of their last seven.

Coming into this matchup at West Point, the over has hit in five of the Blue Raiders last six games and has cashed in Army’s four most recent home games. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the season, the atmosphere may not have as big of impact on the home team, but it’s still a trend worth noting.

The Best Bet 

There’s reason to get excited about the offense that is being built in Middle Tennessee, but I’m reluctant to bet on this team on the road in the opening game of the season against an experienced Army squad. The Black Knights might not have the best QB in this game, but they have the run game to wear down their opponent.

One key stat to consider for this matchup is possession. Army ranked 16th in time of possession in 2019, while Middle Tennessee ranked 117th. Even if O’Hara and company make the most of their opportunities, they won’t have the ball enough to garner the victory.

Play it safe and bet on the Black Knights to take care of business on their home field in the opening game of the season.

Pick: Army Black Knights -4.0 (-110)