This could be a winner-take-all type game. The winner likely lands an at-large bowl invitation, while the loser misses bowl eligibility by one game in the Sun Belt’s best year for postseason opportunities. With a sixth win, MTSU or Louisiana-Lafayette would join a pool of as many as three Sun Belt teams vying for probably two at-large bowl spots, likely in the PapaJohns.com Bowl and Independence Bowl. The loser of this game will be eliminated from those bowl chances.

“The winner of our game is most likely going to a bowl, but we can’t think about that,” ULL running back Tyrell Fenroy said. “If we plan to keep playing, we have to win.”

Fenroy and ULL quarterback Michael Desormeaux are key for ULL’s chances. They are both 1,000-yard rushers this season, but they’ve also played through injuries the last month. ULL averages 275 rushing yards per game, but Fenroy managed only 24 yards on 11 carries in a 48-3 debacle against Troy last week, which determined the late-season lead in the Sun Belt standings. “We just got behind so fast, we couldn’t get Tyrell any carries,” said Desormeaux, who had 128 rushing yards in the loss to Troy. The Ragin’ Cajuns can still earn a share of the Sun Belt title if they win and Troy loses to Arkansas State on Dec. 6, but their most realistic goal is winning a sixth game and waiting for a bowl bid.

After a four-game winning streak put ULL in the Sun Belt driver’s seat, it has lost three in a row (two in conference play). MTSU has done quite the opposite. The Blue Raiders started the season 2-6, but have won their last three games to move within one victory of bowl eligibility. Last week, running back Phillip Tanner scored a Sun Belt record six touchdowns and became the first MTSU running back in 21 games to top the 100-yard mark in a game. The Blue Raiders’ ground game won’t stack up to ULL’s rushing offense, but it must compliment a good passing attack to beat the Cajuns on their home field.

Notes:

MTSU committed three turnovers last week in a win over North Texas after posting only one turnover on offense in the previous four games.

MTSU running back Phillip Tanner has scored all 13 of his team’s rushing touchdowns this season.

MTSU freshman kicker Alan Gendreau has made his last eight field-goal attempts, tied for the longest such streak in school history.

This could be running back Tyrell Fenroy’s final game. Fenroy, the nation’s leading active rusher, has four straight 1,000-yard seasons and 47 touchdowns.

The Cajuns aren’t built to rally from large deficits like it fell into last week versus Troy. ULL’s opponent has scored first in nine of 11 games this season.

Key Player (Blue Raiders) — Danny Carmichael, LB

MTSU’s middle linebacker and best tackler must absorb the physical running styles of both QB Michael Desormeaux and RB Tyrell Fenroy. His defensive line is undersized, so Carmichael must play big in the middle.

Key Player (Ragin’ Cajuns) — Michael Desormeaux, QB

He has owned MTSU since beating the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro as a freshman filling in for the injured starter in 2005. Last season, Desormeaux regained the starting job and racked up a career-high 175 rushing yards in a win at MTSU.

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