The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders will be taking on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Thursday Night under the prime time lights of CBS SportsNet!  Kickoff for this game is set for 7:30 PM at Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  

Middle Tennessee State has struggled to start the season with a record of 1-3 and has lost all three of their games against FBS teams while Western Kentucky is 2-2 but is on a two-game losing streak which includes a 24-27 loss on the road in week 4 against the Troy Trojans. Which team will get the win in this matchup on Thursday evening? Let’s take a look at how these teams have fared this season.

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders enter this game with a record of 1-3 following a loss at home against the Colorado State Rams by a score of 23-31 while failing to cover the 3.5-point spread as a home favorite in week 4 of the college football season. Middle Tennessee State scored 23 points while compiling 430 total yards offensively which included 279 passing yards and 151 rushing yards while allowing 31 points and 378 total yards defensively which included 345 passing yards and 33 rushing yards. Nicholas Vattiato led the team in passing, completing 30 of 41 attempts for 279 yards and two touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 47 yards and a touchdown. Holden Willis led the team in receiving, catching nine of ten targets for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Western Kentucky enters this game with a record of 2-2 following a 24-27 loss on the road against the Troy Trojans while covering the 3.5-point spread as a road underdog in week 4 of the college football season. The Hilltoppers scored 24 points while compiling a total of 288 total yards offensively which included 268 passing yards and 20 rushing yards while allowing 27 points and 521 total yards defensively which included 349 passing yards and 172 rushing yards. Austin Reed led the team in passing, completing 23 of 39 attempts for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Young led the team in rushing with five carries for ten yards. Malachi Corley led the team in receiving, catching nine of 15 targets for 112 yards and a touchdown.

BookMaker has the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers listed as 7.5-point favorites at home against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Thursday in week 5 of the college football season. Western Kentucky has won seven of the last ten including the previous four matchups in a row while going 3-0 ATS in the last three games in the series. Middle Tennessee State is 1-3 ATS overall, 1-1 ATS on the road, and 1-1 ATS as an underdog this season while the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 2-2 ATS overall, 1-1 ATS at home, and 1-1 ATS as a favorite on the year.

Western Kentucky enters this game with a better record and has been the better team in the series, winning seven of the last ten including the previous four matchups in a row. The Hilltoppers have also been the better team at covering the spread this season going 2-2 ATS overall while the Blue Raiders are 1-3 ATS overall. As a result, I am buying the .5 point and taking the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -7 at home against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Thursday in week 5 of the college football season on BookMaker.