MTSU football vs. Miami: Scouting report and score prediction
Middle Tennessee State will try to make it three wins in a row when it travels to Miami to battle the Hurricanes on Saturday (2:30 p.m. Central, ACC Network) at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Blue Raiders (2-1) have back-to-back wins over Colorado State and Tennessee State. Miami (2-1) is coming off a 17-9 loss to Texas A&M.
Miami is ranked No. 25 in the USA TODAY coaches poll, dropping 12 spots after the loss to the Aggies.
Here is a scouting report for the game, including a score prediction by The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce:
MTSU no stranger to Power Five games
MTSU has played in 56 games against Power 5 opponents since the Blue Raiders moved up to FBS in 2000.
The Blue Raiders have pulled off some upsets along the way, collecting eight wins during that span.
Most recently MTSU has defeated Syracuse (30-23 in 2017), Missouri (51-45 in 2016) and Georgia Tech (49-28 in 2012). The Blue Raiders lost to Virginia Tech 35-14 last season in their only Power 5 matchup.
MTSU has defeated Maryland twice and Vanderbilt twice. The biggest win was the 2012 triumph over the Yellow Jackets. The biggest loss was 59-0 to Oklahoma in 2006.
Miami is the only Power 5 program on the Blue Raiders' 2022 schedule.
WHAT HAPPENED:How MTSU rolled past Tennessee State during Week 3
Hurricane defense is very good
Miami's defense will be a stiff test for the Blue Raider offense.
The Hurricanes are allowing an average of 282 yards per game, including just 84 on the ground.
Miami has recovered two fumbles, picked off four passes and has eight sacks in its first three games.
The Hurricanes spread around the defensive success. No player has more than one sack and two players are tied for the team lead with 15 tackles.
Sophomore safety James Williams has 15 tackles (0.5 for loss), an interception and three pass breakups, and sophomore linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. has 15 tackles (3.5 for loss).
Miami offense struggled against Aggies
Take away an opening-week 70-13 win over FCS foe Bethune-Cookman and Miami hasn't exactly lit the world on fire offensively.
The sophomore-dominated Hurricanes put up just 30 points in a win over Southern Miss and were held to just three field goals in a 17-9 loss to Texas A&M last week.
Miami got into the red zone four times against the Aggies, settling for just three field goals.
The absence of sophomore wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who leads the team with 172 receiving yards, including five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown during Week 1, hasn't helped the offense. The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder missed last week's game and will miss this week's contest with a foot injury.
HOT START:Big first half propels MTSU to win over Colorado State
Miami offensive leaders
Tyler Van Dyke, So., QB: 54-of-86 for 671 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Henry Parrish, So., RB: 53 carries, 302 yards, 4 TDs
Michael Redding, Fr., WR: 8 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
Key'Shawn Smith, So., WR: 6 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD
Score prediction
Miami 35, MTSU 10: The Miami offense hasn't lit it up and the Blue Raider defense has played well. But, the Hurricanes, while very young, have a roster full of top 25 talent. Miami's stout defense will make it difficult for MTSU to move the ball consistently.
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU football score prediction vs. Miami Hurricane: Scouting report
