Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Murfreesboro, TN)
Temperature: ~79°F (26°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Partly cloudy, light humidity, winds 5–8 mph
Impact: Ideal football weather; no disruptions expected for passing or kicking.
Injury Report
Marshall Thundering Herd (Sun Belt):
QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (211 yards, 2 TDs, 1 rushing TD vs. EKU) healthy.
RB JacQai Long (50 yards, 1 TD vs. EKU) available.
WR Justin Williams-Thomas (41 yards, 1 TD receiving; 1 rushing TD vs. EKU) active.
Defense intact, led by DE Owen Porter.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (C-USA):
QB Nicholas Vattiato (247 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT vs. Nevada) healthy.
RB Jekail Middlebrook (67 yards rushing, 30 yards receiving vs. Nevada) available.
WR Myles Butler (65 yards vs. Nevada) active.
Secondary thin; CB Teldrick Ross questionable.
Key Player Matchups
QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (Marshall) vs. MTSU Secondary
Dual-threat QB who accounted for 3 TDs vs. EKU; MTSU must contain his mobility.
RB JacQai Long (Marshall) vs. MTSU Front Seven
Long’s efficiency (5.0 YPC) could keep the Herd balanced.
QB Nicholas Vattiato (MTSU) vs. Marshall Pass Rush
Vattiato threw for 247 yards vs. Nevada; Marshall’s defensive line ranks top-5 nationally in sacks.
WR Myles Butler (MTSU) vs. Marshall Corners
Butler is Vattiato’s most reliable target; Marshall must prevent chain-moving receptions.
Recent Team Form
Marshall Thundering Herd (1–2, Sun Belt)
8/30/25: L 28–14 @ Miami (OH)
9/6/25: L 31–17 @ Virginia Tech
9/13/25: W 38–7 vs. Eastern Kentucky
Trend: Offense improving behind Del Rio-Wilson; defense dominant vs. EKU.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1–2, C-USA)
8/30/25: L 34–14 vs. Austin Peay
9/6/25: L 28–7 @ Memphis
9/13/25: W 14–13 vs. Nevada
Trend: Offense inconsistent, but defense kept them alive in close win over Nevada.
Series History
Marshall leads the all-time series 6–5.
Last meeting: 2023, Marshall won 31–21.
The series has been competitive, with 7 of the 11 games decided by 10 points or fewer.
Betting Trends
Marshall:
2–1 ATS in 2025.
1 of 3 games has gone over the total.
5–2 ATS in last 7 road games.
Middle Tennessee:
1–2 ATS in 2025.
1 of 3 games has gone over the total.
0–5 ATS in last 5 home games.
Head-to-Head:
Marshall has covered in 3 of the last 4 meetings.
Last two matchups went under the total.
Historical Betting Results
Marshall: Strong ATS record in 2024 (12–3 ATS); reliable as a small favorite.
Middle Tennessee: Inconsistent ATS at home; better as a road underdog.
Sun Belt vs. C-USA: Sun Belt teams cover ~58% of the time in these interconference matchups.
Game Odds
Marshall Thundering Herd – 2.5
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 47.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
