MTSU football vs. Jacksonville State: Score prediction, scouting report for CUSA game
Middle Tennessee State football will attempt to win its first Conference USA game of the season when it plays host to Jacksonville State (7 p.m., ESPNU) on Wednesday.
WATCH: Watch MTSU vs. Jacksonville State live on FUBO (free trial)
The Blue Raiders (1-4, 0-1) lost to Western Kentucky 31-10 Thursday, while Jacksonville State improved to 2-0 in league play (4-1 overall) with a 35-28 win over Sam Houston.
It will be the teams' first meeting since 1997; the Blue Raiders hold a 14-1 advantage overall.
Below is a scouting report on the midweek CUSA battle, including a score prediction by The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce:
Gamecocks making good first impression
Jacksonville State moved up to the FBS and joined Conference USA this season after spending the previous two years in the ASUN, and 18 years in the Ohio Valley Conference (with nine titles) before that.
And coming off a 9-2 season in their last year in FCS, the Gamecocks are off to a good start in CUSA.
Jacksonville State beat longtime conference member UTEP 17-14 in Week 0 and knocked off fellow CUSA newcomer Sam Houston 35-28 last week. In between, it defeated East Tennessee State and Central Michigan by a combined 70-3, and lost to Coastal Carolina 30-16.
The Gamecocks have had success at each level (they were an NCAA Division II team prior to 1994). Rich Rodriguez, who also has been a head coach at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona, led them to an ASUN title in their final FCS season.
In 1992, Jacksonville State went 12-1-1 and won the NCAA Division II national championship.
Defense has sparked Jacksonville State to 4-1 start
The Gamecocks have allowed an average of just 15 points and 310 yards per game (113 rushing) this season.
They have 14 sacks and forced 11 turnovers (eight interceptions) while holding opponents to just 27% on third-down conversions. They line up predominantly in a nickel set.
Sophomore linebacker Larry Worth has 20 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
MORE: MTSU football loses fifth straight game to Western Kentucky after lackluster start
Jacksonville State came into the season expecting to run the ball successfully, and it hasn't disappointed, averaging 224 yards rushing.
Redshirt senior running back Malik Jackson, a Louisiana-Monroe transfer, has rushed for 505 yards (6.6 average) and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Logan Smithers likes to run as well, with 255 yards and five TDs.
Smithers is 45 of 74 passing for 474 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Five receivers have caught TD passes.
Score prediction
MTSU 30, Jacksonville State 24: Blue Raiders and QB Nick Vattiato shake off a disappointing loss to Western Kentucky to even their CUSA record at 1-1.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU football score prediction, scouting report vs. Jacksonville State
