Middle Tennessee vs Monmouth-NJ 9/4/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders meet the Monmouth Hawks Saturday in week 1 college football action from Floyd Stadium. This will be the first game of the 2021 season for both teams. Monmouth managed to play four games this spring, posting a 3-1 overall record. As for the Blue Raiders, they went 3-6 last season, finishing one spot out of the basement in the division. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Monmouth cancelled their fall sports season last year, but got a schedule together in the spring. The Hawks started out well, posting wins over Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb and Kennesaw State before a cancelled matchup versus Robert Morris. 

The Hawks posted a Big South Conference championship with their 3-0 run, qualifying for the FCS Playoffs. Monmouth was bounced in the First Round however, falling 21-15 to Sam Houston State on April 24. 

Over on the Middle Tennessee side, they had a disappointing season overall in 2020, logging a 3-6 overall record with a 2-4 mark in Conference USA play. That result left the Blue Raiders one spot above FIU in the basement of the East Division. 

The bad news is that the Blue Raiders lost their first four games of the year, dropping to Army, Troy, UTSA and Western Kentucky in succession. The good news is that MTSU won three of their last five, beating FIU, Rice and Troy in that final stretch of games. 

Check back for the current trends in this matchup once they are released. 

PICK: I’m going to take Middle Tennessee in this one. The Raiders offense put up some nice stats in the passing game, but they were hamstrung by being behind on the scoreboard for most of the year. Asher O’Hara is gone (Sacramento State), but MTSU gets seven of their top eight receivers back. Veteran Jarrin Pierce caught 59 balls last year and will be a lynchpin of the Raiders’ passing game this season. If the offensive line can get RB Chaton Mobley going and provide decent pass protection I can see the Raiders offense singlehandedly winning a few games for the team in 2021.