MTSU football vs Duke: Score prediction, scouting report for Middle Tennessee homecoming

Middle Tennessee State football will try to even its 2024 record under first-year coach Derek Mason when the Blue Raiders play host to Duke on homecoming Saturday (3 p.m., ESPNU).

The Blue Raiders (1-2) have lost two in a row, including a 49-21 setback to rival Western Kentucky in their Conference USA opener last week.

Duke is MTSU’s second power conference opponent (including a 52-3 loss to Ole Miss Week 2). The Blue Devils are off to a 3-0 start, including a 26-21 win over UConn last week.

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Below is a scouting report on the game, including a score prediction by The Daily News Journal’s Cecil Joyce:

Duke football coach Manny Diaz, assistants return to Murfreesboro

MTSU’s homecoming will also be a homecoming for Duke coach Manny Diaz and two of his current assistants.

Diaz, who was defensive coordinator with the Blue Raiders from 2006-09, is in his first year with Duke after spending the past two seasons as defensive coordinator at Penn State. His other head coaching stint was at Miami (2019-21), where he went 24-15.

It will also be a return to Floyd Stadium for Duke tight ends coach Justin Watts and running backs coach Willie Simmons, who were both on staff at MTSU with Diaz. Watts was wide receivers coach from 2006-14. Simmons was running backs coach from 2007-11 and was also offensive coordinator in 2011.

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Duke is seeking another 4-0 start, but it hasn’t been easy

Duke is looking to begin 4-0 for the second consecutive year, but the early season resume may not be as strong as the record shows.

The Blue Devils’ opening-week win (26-3) came over FCS foe Elon. It took double-OT for Duke to knock off Northwestern (26-20) Week 2 and it trailed UConn in the second half last week before pulling off a 26-21 win.

But the ACC team…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mtsu-football-vs-duke-score-100547873.html

Author : The Daily News Journal

Publish date : 2024-09-19 10:05:47

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