Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Alabama Crimson Tide Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/02/2023

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, September 2, 2023

Venue:  Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL

Where to Watch:  SEC Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  MTSU +39.5, Alabama -39.5; Over/Under:  51.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  MTSU +39, Alabama -39; Over/Under:  51.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  MTSU +39.5, Alabama -39.5; Over/Under:  51.5 points

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders:  0-0 (C-USA)

Alabama Crimson Tide:  0-0 (SEC West)

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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders:  N/A

Alabama Crimson Tide:  N/A

Middle Tennessee State finished last season with an 8-5 record overall and they had a 4-4 record in their conference games too. They were 3-2 in their home games, 4-3 in their road games, and they were also 1-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be on the road for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 28.8 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 27.7 points per game. Their offense also averaged 373.3 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 409.5 yards per game. Chase Cunningham led the team in passing yards with 3156, Frank Peasant led the team in rushing yards with 777, and Jaylin Lane led the team in receiving yards with 940.

 

 

 

Alabama finished last season with an 11-2 record overall and they had a 6-2 record in their conference games too. They were 7-0 in their home games, 3-2 in their road games, and they were also 1-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be at home for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 41.1 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 18.2 points per game. Their offense also averaged 477.1 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 318.2 yards per game. Bryce Young led the team in passing yards with 3328, Jahmyr Gibbs led the team in rushing yards with 926, and Jermaine Burton led the team in receiving yards with 677.

The current betting odds have Alabama listed as a 39 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Alabama had a good season last year but it still ended in disappointment as they failed to meet the many expectations on their program. Now they will be without their starting QB Bryce Young who has gone to the NFL but this Alabama team will be playing with something to prove this season. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee State had a good season last year but they don't have the talent that a program like Alabama has and they will struggle to move the ball on the road here against this improved Alabama defense. Alabama is going to be a more physical team on the line of scrimmage this season and they will dominate MTSU as they look to prove a point and come away with a blowout win in their season opener. The best way to place a bet here is on Alabama to cover the spread in this game. 

Middle Tennessee Alabama Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 2, 2023 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Alabama 56 MTSU 10.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Alabama Crimson Tide prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAF predictions and previews.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: 4-7 ATS as a road underdog. 5-9 ATS in road games. 13-5 UNDER against SEC opponents. 21-13 UNDER in the first two weeks of the season.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 9-5 ATS as a home favorite. 8-4 ATS as a home favorite of 21.5 or more points. 7-3 ATS in non-conference games. 11-6 UNDER as a home favorite of 35.5 to 42 points. 24-17 UNDER in the first two weeks of the season.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders:  None.

Alabama Crimson Tide:  J. Miller (RB) Ques Sat - Quadricep. J. Haynes (RB) Prob Sat - Quadricep. T. Mitchell (DB) Out indefinitely - Suspension.

“It's game week and fired up. In our world it's the greatest week of the year, and, you know I'm sure every coach every player in the country saying that now. But we're excited about it we've had a really, really good offseason going all the way back to January, then through spring practice this summer, and then camp. I like where we're at right now. I like our team. It's a very, very committed an competitive team and so I'm excited about these guys and I'm looking forward to watching them play obviously. We've got a tremendous challenge and a tremendous opportunity this week with Alabama, one of the best teams in the country. They lose two games last year by a total of four points and everybody thinks that, you know, the sky is falling down there. It’s a really, really talented team. We've got to play well. We expect to play well and[are] just looking forward to getting down there and starting this season off. They have a lot of good players, but we got a lot of good players too and I believe in our team. We've got to play well anytime you play a team like Alabama, a top two, three, team in the country. You’ve got to play well. You can't give him anything. You’ve got to make the earn everything they get, then we've got to play really well. So that's our expectation, and we'll go down there and play and I expect us to play good. I expect us to, there's never any question that we’ll play hard. I know we'll play hard, but I expect this to go down there and play well this weekend. So I’m looking forward to the to this opportunity.” - Rick Stockstill on his team’s season opener against Alabama.

"For us to have the kind of team we need to have, there's got to be an element of being hungry. We've had to deal with complacency at times because of the success that we've had, and I think that creates a blatant disregard for doing what's right." - Nick Saban on his team coming into this new college football season.

WR Sherman, Javonte

WR England-Chisolm, DJ 

WR Metcalf, Elijah 

WR Tate Jr., Jeremy 

QB Vattiato, Nicholas 

RB Peasant, Frank 

WR Burton, Jermaine 

WR Brooks, Ja'Corey 

WR Bond, Isaiah 

TE Dippre, CJ 

QB Milroe, Jalen 

RB McClellan, Jase 

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Coaches:

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: Rick Stockstill (18th season)

Alabama Crimson Tide: Nick Saban (17th season)