Week 13: Middle Tennessee at Troy

Troy spoiled MTSU’s New Orleans Bowl parade a year ago. The Blue Raiders would at least like to spike the punch at the Trojans’ party this time around.

The Trojans are the undisputed Sun Belt champions thus far this season, but some work remains to confirm that title. Specifically, Troy (5-0 in Sun Belt) must dispatch of leading contender Florida Atlantic (4-1) in the regular-season finale on Dec. 1.

But before that, the Trojans can at least clinch a share of the conference crown with a victory over MTSU this week. With its FAU game likely serving as the conference championship game of sorts, Troy’s meeting with MTSU has lost much of its bite.

The Blue Raiders were upset by Louisiana-Lafayette in their previous game, taking the Sun Belt championship off the table in the MTSU-Troy game unless a highly improbable series of events occur.

Under all reasonable scenarios, Troy will be buying some insurance toward a bowl bid, as the outright Sun Belt champion or at-large postseason pick, with a victory over MTSU.

The Blue Raiders, meanwhile, could snap the Trojans’ momentum with a mild upset as a little payback for the same deed that Troy inflicted on them last season.

MTSU went 6-0 in Sun Belt play last season before losing 21-20 to Troy in November, eventually allowing the Trojans to grab the New Orleans Bowl bid. Even worse, Troy rallied from a 20-7 deficit to score two touchdowns in the final 2:19 of the game. After likely falling out of the conference race with its latest loss to ULL, MTSU can hope for a similar spoiling of Troy’s title hopes.

“The way those guys beat us hurt more than anything,” MTSU cornerback Bradley Robinson said. “We can only hope to do the same thing to them.”

Injured quarterbacks could factor into the game’s outcome.

MTSU junior Joe Craddock and freshman Dwight Dasher have both missed games due to injury this season. Either could start, as Dasher has recently been slowed by knee and ankle injuries. Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook has been limited by multiple injuries, but he is probable to play.

Both offenses have opened up a bit this year, but could also become more conservative in this game. Troy likes to pass, but running back Kenny Cattouse could get increased carries against an MTSU defense that has allowed 736 rushing yards in the last two games. Likewise, Troy ranks eighth nationally in pass defense, but only 107th in rush defense.

Another key matchup will come between Haugabook, the Sun Belt’s reigning Player of the Year, and MTSU’s pass rush, which leads the Sun Belt in sacks.

“(Haugabook) has such a quick release that it’s difficult to get to him,” MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. “We have to put pressure on him, though, and tackle well to give ourselves a chance.”

MTSU is vying for its second non-losing season in Stockstill’s two-year tenure. And though little in the Sun Belt standings could change based on this game’s outcome, bragging rights tout most of the motivation.

MTSU and Troy have become rivals in a short time since the Trojans joined the Sun Belt in 2004. The meeting even has a name, ‘The Battle for the Palladium,” named after the trophy given to the winner.

“I had always heard that this was a rivalry, but I think the way we beat (MTSU) last year only turned up the heat on the whole thing,” Troy linebacker Boris Lee said. “We helped take their New Orleans Bowl hopes away, and they’ll want to do the same thing to us.”

The game will be televised nationally, perhaps giving Troy an edge. The Trojans have played lights out in national TV home games — with wins over Oklahoma State, then-No. 17 Missouri and Marshall in Movie Gallery Stadium. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders have lost three consecutive national TV games.

Troy by 8