Hawaii Bowl: Scouting report, score prediction for MTSU football vs. San Diego State

Middle Tennessee State's football team will try to end the season like it did in 2021 − with a bowl victory − when the Blue Raiders take on San Diego State in the Easy Post Hawaii Bowl Saturday (7 p.m. CT, ESPN).

The Blue Raiders, who defeated Toledo in last year's Bahamas Bowl, are 7-5, having won three games in a row to finish the regular season. The Aztecs are also 7-5, having won five of their last seven.

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San Diego State is favored by seven.

Here is a scouting report for the game, including a score prediction from The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce:

Mayden's move from DB to QB sparked Aztecs

San Diego State has played much better since Mississippi State transfer Jaylen Mayden took over as starting quarterback following the team's 2-3 start.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior, who came to SDSU expecting to play safety and played the first five games there, has completed 122 of 194 passes for 1,721 yards and 10 touchdowns, but also seven interceptions, in his seven starts. He's also rushed 57 times for 205 yards and three TDs.

"We have a quarterback now that played 48 plays at safety against Toledo (Week 4)," San Diego State coach Brady Hoke said. "We made some changes. ... They were tough changes. When I asked (Mayden) to come back to offense, he said the same thing he did when we asked him to go to defense. He said, 'Anything I can do to help the team.' That's what Jaylen's done."

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Stopping the run

Both teams have excelled stopping the run this season.

San Diego State is allowing 128 yards a game rushing, and those numbers are skewed by big ground games from Toledo and Air Force. The other 10 Aztec opponents have struggled on the ground. The Blue Raiders are averaging 123 yards per game rushing.

MTSU is allowing just 122 yards per game on the ground this season. SDSU likes to spread the carries around, having no player with more than 400 yards rushing, but five with more than 200.

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SDSU Players to watch

WR Tyrell Shavers: The 6-6, 210-pound Shavers, who played previously at Alabama and Mississippi State, has 34 receptions for 581 yards and three touchdowns.

DL Jonah Tavai: The 6-foot, 290-pound Tavai has 57 tackles (12.5 for loss) and a team-leading nine sacks. He also has a forced fumble.

LB Michael Shawcroft: The 6-2, 220-pound Shawcroft has a team-leading 77 tackles (12 for loss), 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

K/P Jack Browning: Browning is averaging 45.9 per punt (including 28 inside the 20) while making 17 of 21 field goals (long 50) and all 28 of his extra points. He has 31 touchbacks on 53 kickoffs.

Score prediction

MTSU 24, San Diego State 21: Both of these teams have good defenses, and that should show. The Blue Raiders, who have eight games with multiple takeaways, should take advantage of an Aztecs team that has 20 turnovers this season.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Hawaii Bowl scouting report between MTSU football and San Diego State