UAB vs Middle Tennessee State: Conference USA championship preview

Date/Time: Saturday, December 1st, 1:30ET/12:30CT

TV: CBS Sports Network

Streaming: CBS Sports Live (Aaron Taylor and Carter Blackburn in the booth)

Radio: WGNS 1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM (Murfreesboro); WDUC 93.9 FM (Lynchburg); THE GAME 102.5 FM/97.5 FM (Nashville).

Location: Johnny Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, TN

Betting Line: MTSU -2.5

O/U: 45

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These two teams are familiar foes... really familiar as in they just played each other last week. A game that the Blue Raiders won 27-3 and took place in Murfreesboro just like this year’s Conference USA Championship game will. Will the outcome be different this time?

UAB Preview

The Blazers finished the season on a bit of a down note by losing their last two games but that doesn’t take away from what the team and coach Bill Clark have accomplished this season.

After losing to Coastal Carolina in week two they rattled off 8 wins in a row to lock up the West division. Through that run their defense was the story.

They rank nationally in the top 25 in most of the important statistical categories including points per game allowed and yards allowed. They also rank number four nationally in something that could help them win this game and that is sacks. The Blazers have a combined twelve sacks.

The offense sputtered last week only scoring three points but quarterback A.J. Erdely was returning from injury and workhorse running back Spencer Brown left the game after only one carry and he remains questionable for this game.

Middle Tennessee preview

The Blue Raiders have had roller coaster season to say the least. They started out 2-2 but that second win was over division favorite FAU and became something to build on.

Their only conference loss would be on the road to an improving FIU team and that was after their star quarterback Brent Stockstill left the game due to injury.

After that they ran the table in conference including the win over UAB and locked up the East after FIU lost to Marshall in the final Saturday of the season. Winning last week has allowed them to host their first ever conference championship game.

The offense has been what has carried them to this point and Stockstill has almost 3,000 yards passing and 26 touchdowns. He will look to spread the ball around but mostly to his main target Ty Lee who has over 800 yards receiving this season.

Summary and prediction

Both of these teams have really cool stories. You have UAB who rose from the ashes (literally) to win nine games this year and you have Middle Tennessee who has a father/son duo at coach and quarterback trying to cap their last ride together as champions.

The story last week was the Blue Raiders defense which held the Blazers offense to 89 yards of total offense. The UAB defense will get some of it’s players back from injury and it’s much needed after the last two weeks.

Both quarterbacks are healthy and both teams are looking for a major win to cap off incredible seasons. It’s hard to beat a team twice so I expect UAB to bounce back and look different. Give me the Blazers to win a close and low scoring game.