CFB: Sun Belt Conference Showdown

Florida Atlantic (1-3, 2-2 ATS) returned 18 starters from last year’s Sun Belt championship team and once again played an ambitious non-conference

2008-09-30

Florida Atlantic (1-3, 2-2 ATS) returned 18 starters from last year’s Sun Belt championship team and once again played an ambitious non-conference. Starting Tuesday, we’ll find out if the effort was worth the trouble. The Owls have been outscored 54-3 playing at Michigan State and at Minnesota and were spooked by Texas in the opener 52-10. This will be Florida Atlantic’s third consecutive road game and fourth in five games, traveling to Murfreesboro, TN.

Quarterback Rusty Smith has been off target, losing five turnovers during the stretch on four interceptions and a fumble. When Smith was on target, usually reliable receivers Cortez Gent, Lester Jean and Chris Bonner dropped critical passes. "We look forward to getting in conference play," FAU head coach Howard Schnellenberger said. "We need to have a good week of practice to refocus and we need improvement from all three phases of the football team.”

Smith, the reigning SBC Player of the Year will need to respond from a pair of sub-par performances and get the offense back in the groove. An improved running game would help; like it did in 49- 34 win over UAB. In that contest, FAU ran for 196 yards, which opened up the passing game, totaling 358 yards thru the air. This will help take the pressure off a run defense that is 112th in the country, allowing 213.2 yards per game. Going up against the Longhorns and Spartans ground attack didn’t help matters, but the Owls surrendered 169 to UAB also.

Middle Tennessee State (1-3, 2-2 ATS) is already 0-2 in Sun Belt action, making this a must-win to entertain any thoughts of competing for conference crown. What is disappointing to coach Rick Stockwell is he felt the schedule worked against him this season. "I think with such a young team, you just wish you had more non-conference games early in the year," Stockstill said. "And I say that because you'd just like to have more of a chance to get their feet wet with such a young football team.” The Blue Raiders actually have played better out of conference with upset of Maryland 24-14, which is looking more impressive each week and falling by only six points to Kentucky as 19.5-point underdogs.

The Mid. Tenn. State passing game has been exceptional behind senior quarterback Joe Craddock, ranking 18th in the country at 276.7 yards per game. Mid. Tenn. State is 1-4 ATS in last five games after allowing 30 or more points, yet is 9-0 ATS in weeks 5 through 9 under coach Stockwell.

Sportsbook.com has Middle Tennessee State as 1.5-point favorites, with a total to be listed later. This could work to Florida Atlantic advantage being 8-3 ATS as conference visitors. The Blue Raiders pass defense has been more vulnerable in allowing 252.3 yards per game in last three outings. This is area Smith of FAU would seem to be able to attack. The Owls are 6-0 ATS when they score 28 or more points on the road.

Mid. Tenn. State’s polished passing attack could cause issues for FAU who is 0-7 ATS vs. passing teams with a completion percentage of 62 percent or better.
This Sun Belt showdown is set for 8 Eastern on ESPN2

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