MTSU football vs. UTSA: Scouting report, score prediction for Conference USA opener
Middle Tennessee State's football team will open Conference USA play against defending league champion Texas-San Antonio on Friday (6:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
The Blue Raiders (3-1) are coming off the program's biggest win, a 45-31 triumph at No. 25 Miami on Saturday and have won three in a row. The Roadrunners (2-2) are coming off a 52-24 win over Texas Southern.
Here's a scouting report of the game, with a score prediction by The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce:
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Big day for Byard
Former MTSU star and Tennessee Titans Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard will have his No. 20 jersey retired in a ceremony during halftime of the game.
Byard, who played at MTSU from 2011-15, holds school records in career interceptions (19), interception return yards (377) and interception return TDs (4) and ranks sixth in total tackles.
Byard has been named to two Pro Bowls with the Titans. He has 25 career interceptions and 585 tackles during his six-plus years with Tennessee.
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UTSA QB is one of nation's best
UTSA redshirt senior quarterback Frank Harris will be a tough task for the MTSU defense.
The 6-foot, 205-pound dual-threat has followed last year's stellar season with a big start in 2022.
Harris, who set school marks in passing yards (3,177) and touchdowns (27) last season, is 104-of-154 for 1,310 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 162 yards and two TDs.
After graduating all-conference running back Sincere McCormick, the Roadrunners have thrown the ball more this season behind Harris. The team's leading rusher, he has 205 yards (3.4 average) and three TDs through four games.
Harris' favorite targets are veterans Zakhari Franklin (32 receptions for 393 yards and four TDs), Joshua Cephus (29-412-2) and De'Corian Clark (27-417-6).
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MTSU hopes for balanced offense
After MTSU's passing attack, led by senior Chase Cunningham, accounted for 408 of the team's 507 yards against Miami, the Blue Raiders will hope to have a more balanced attack against UTSA.
The Roadrunners might be the defense to accomplish that. UTSA is allowing 438 yards per game, including 213 rushing and 225 passing.
MTSU has run the ball better this season, with junior Frank Peasant rushing 63 times for 298 yards and six touchdowns. He is averaging 4.6 per carry, but the team as a whole is averaging just 3.0 per tote.
Cunningham is 85-of-120 for 1,000 yards, seven TDs and three interceptions. He is the team's second-leading rusher with 57 yards.
Both teams battle tested
Both MTSU and UTSA have had tough schedules to begin the season.
The Roadrunners played Houston (37-35 loss) and Texas (41-20 loss), as well as Army (41-38 overtime win) before last week's game against Texas Southern.
The Blue Raiders have faced the Hurricanes and James Madison to start the season. JMU is unbeaten and ranked in the top 35 in the nation.
Score prediction
MTSU 37, UTSA 35: The Roadrunners may be a better team than MTSU defeated last week in Miami, but they have more weaknesses on both sides of the ball than they did last year. The Blue Raiders are playing as well as they have in several years. This game could come down to the final possession.
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU football vs. UTSA scouting report, score prediction of C-USA game
