Middle Tennessee State (1-5) travels north to Delaware Stadium in Newark, Del., on Wednesday night for a Conference USA matchup against Delaware (3-3).
Both teams are looking to bounce back after conference losses — MTSU fell 22-20 at home to Missouri State, while Delaware dropped a 38-25 decision on the road at Jacksonville State.
Below, we’ll break down our Middle Tennessee St. vs. Delaware prediction and the top PrizePicks player picks for this midweek CUSA showdown set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
MTSU continues to search for its first conference win under head coach Derek Mason, while the Blue Hens have been competitive in nearly every outing this season in Ryan Carty’s first campaign.
With every college football game this season, you can get in on the real-money action on PrizePicks — pick your players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if your calls are right.
Middle Tennessee vs. Delaware Prediction, Preview: Wednesday, Oct. 22
Here’s a closer look at our Middle Tennessee vs. Delaware prediction and breakdown for Wednesday night college football maatchup.
Middle Tennessee State Preview
The Blue Raiders have been knocking on the door in recent weeks — but can’t quite finish. Each of their last two losses have been one-possession games, including last week’s 22-20 heartbreaker to Missouri State and a 24-16 loss to Kennesaw State on Sept. 27.
Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato continues to do what he can behind a shaky offensive line. He’s thrown for 1,392 yards and 8 touchdowns, completing 61.1% of his passes, but MTSU still struggles to find consistency. The offense averages just 17.6 points per game (116th nationally) and has converted 43.7% of third downs (83rd), per Game On Paper.
The ground game remains a concern. The Blue Raiders are averaging 3.4 yards per carry (116th) and just 90.6 rushing yards per contest (130th), putting too much on Vattiato’s arm each week.
However, the return of senior linebacker Alex Mitchell — who recorded 6 tackles last week against Missouri State — has helped steady the defense. The unit has held consecutive opponents under 350 total yards and ranks 4th in CUSA in yards allowed per play (6.2).
To pull off the road win, MTSU must finish drives — the Blue Raiders have the 99th-ranked offensive success rate (39.7%). With Delaware’s offense capable of quick strikes, any empty possession could be costly.
Delaware Preview
In its first FBS season, Delaware has proven it belongs. The Blue Hens are 3-3 overall but have been competitive in every CUSA game so far — including a 27-24 loss to Western Kentucky where they missed a late field goal to tie.
Quarterback Nick Minicucci has been the story. The junior ranks second in CUSA in passing yards (1,801) and has a 9-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s completing 64.4% of his throws and has shown poise against top-tier defenses. The offense averages 431.4 total yards per game (29th in FBS) and has scored 29.0 points per game in its last three contests.
Defensively, Delaware has been hit-or-miss. The Blue Hens allow 401.6 yards per game and 30.6 points per contest, but they’ve held opponents under 100 rushing yards twice this season. Their front seven is aggressive but can be susceptible to chunk plays through the air — something MTSU may try to exploit if Vattiato gets time to throw. Carty’s team is 2-1 at home, with its only loss coming by a field goal to WKU. The Blue Hens’ explosive pace may be enough to grab another CUSA win — especially against a struggling Blue Raiders offense.
Middle Tennessee vs. Delaware Best Picks for Wednesday NCAAF
Here are the PrizePicks plays to target for this midweek Conference USA matchup.
MTSU QB Nicholas Vattiato Projection: 253.5 Passing Yards
- Vattiato has quietly been one of Conference USA’s most productive passers despite MTSU’s 1-5 record.
- He’s cleared 240+ yards in four of his last five games, averaging 257.6 passing yards per game over that stretch.
- Delaware’s secondary has been vulnerable, giving up 235.6 passing yards per game and a 69.4% opponent completion rate (12th-highest in the country).
- With the Blue Raiders averaging just 98.6 rushing yards per game, MTSU might be expected to lean on Vattiato’s short-to-intermediate passing rhythm once again to sustain drives.
- If the game script turns negative in the second half, the volume could increase — he’s averaging the conference’s second most pass attempts per game (37.7).
Delaware QB Nick Minicucci Projection: 289.5 Passing Yards
- Minicucci has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in FBS action, topping 250 passing yards in four straight games.
- He ranks 15th in pass attempts with 237, per PFF.
- He’s completed 64.4% of his passes on the year and owns a 9-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, showing poise against both pressure and disguised coverages.
- MTSU’s defense has improved in recent weeks, but still allows 9.3 yards per pass attempt (7th-highest in FBS).
MTSU RB Jekail Middlebrook Projection: 78.5 Rushing Yards
- Middlebrook remains the Blue Raiders’ primary workhorse, appearing on 322 of the team’s offensive staps and logging double-digit carries in five of six games this season.
- He’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry, but the underlying advanced metrics suggest improvement — Middlebrook is tied for 30th in forced missed tackles (24), per PFF.
- Delaware’s defense is coming off a performance where it allowed Jacksonville State RB Cam Cook to rack up 117 yards and 3 TDs on 18 attempts.
- Middlebrook’s volume alone might pay off against a Delaware defense that ranks 128th nationally in defensive net EPA per drive (0.92).
Make MTSU vs. Delaware Picks on PrizePicks
This feels like another tight midweek Conference USA matchup — one that may come down to the final drive.
Middle Tennessee’s defense has kept it in games, but its inability to close has been the story of the season. Delaware, meanwhile, has found an identity under Minicucci and should have enough offensive rhythm on the home field.
With PrizePicks, you can cash in on Wednesday night college football by targeting key players like Vattiato, Minicucci, and Middlebrook.
Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stat projections like passing yards, and win real money when you’re right.
