Behind Enemy Lines: Louisiana Tech
With a current record of 1-3, the atmosphere in Ruston feels more like a funeral than a celebration, as noted by Nathan Ruppel from Go Tech Pls Dnt Die and Rivals affiliate Bleed Tech Blue. The fanbase's frustration has been directed towards head coach Sonny Cumbie, who, after two seasons of 3-win seasons, faces increasing pressure to turn things around. Coming off a rough road loss at FIU in Week 5, LA Tech enters the CUSA midweek schedule desperate for some signs of life.
A Stagnant Offense
The offensive struggles have been a key talking point this season. Cumbie's touted offensive mindset, which once sparked hope, has not translated into results on the field. The program's past successes under Skip Holtz, while not without fault, created expectations that seem distant now. Holtz managed a significant turnaround from a 4-8 record to an 8-4 season, whereas Cumbie's tenure has seen the team stagnate at 3-9 for two consecutive seasons.
Cumbie's approach of rotating quarterbacks in search of a spark has yielded little success. Jack Turner, the initial starter, has been hampered by injuries and inconsistent play. Blake Baker stepped in, only to succumb to injury himself, leading to the emergence of redshirt freshman Evan Bullock. Although Bullock has shown promise without throwing interceptions, the team's offensive performance remains lackluster.
It’s not for a lack of trying as their passing game is third best in CUSA in yards per game, yet only averages 18.8 points per game. The passing success contrasts sharply with their dismal rushing performance—just 318 yards collectively for the season, or 79.5 yards per game, just barely losing out to MT’s 80.2 rushing yards per game. The running back duo of Denario Davenport and Marquis Crosby was projected to be the top rushing pair in CUSA, but the duo have only combined for 180 yards thus far.
Defensive Strength Amidst Struggles
Interestingly, while the offense falters, Louisiana Tech's defense has emerged as a strength. Currently leading Conference USA in total yards allowed, the Bulldogs have shown resilience, limiting opponents to an average of just 21.8 points per game. Much of this success can be attributed to the change in coaching staff, as a new defensive coordinator, Jeremiah Johnson has successfully revamped a unit that had struggled in previous seasons.
Defensive players like Zach Zimos and newcomer Colby Fields have been pivotal in maintaining a competitive edge, showcasing the potential for a solid foundation even as the offense sputters. The hope is that the defense can continue to keep games close while the offense finds its footing.
Keys to Victory
As Louisiana Tech gears up to face a struggling Middle Tennessee team, the key to victory will be a change in offensive strategy. Ruppel emphasized the necessity for Cumbie to adapt his play-calling to catch opponents off guard. With rumors swirling about potential shifts in play-calling responsibilities, fans remain cautiously optimistic that a fresh approach could ignite the Bulldogs' season.
The Blue Raiders are 0-4 all-time in Ruston, LA dating back to the late 90s. A seldom seen matchup between these programs despite competing in CUSA for over a decade. MT will need to put points on the board against the stout Bulldog defense while also maintaining their defensive progress from Week 5 against Memphis. I would suspect whichever team gets the ground game going will prevail, which ultimately falls back on the success in the trenches.
Betting Line (2-3 ATS, 3-2 Total)
Vegas is more than likely grasping at straws this week as LA Tech was favored to defeat FIU in Miami last week. Home field advantage could explain LA Tech’s -5 point favorite heading into Thursday although nothing on the scoreboard in recent week’s would indicate confidence in that number. In my best attempt to remain unbiased, I do believe MT will get a road win in Ruston and cover for the first time on Thursday just because a struggling offense is MT’s best friend, despite their own offensive woes at times. I also don’t think this game sniffs the 50.5 total after week 5’s lockdown of a potent Memphis offense on the road, this will more than likely be a slugfest of two good defenses, or two bad offenses, however you see fit.