SATURDAY (All Times CST)
WKU at Indiana (Big Ten Network) - 11:00 a.m. WKU comes close, but falls. Indiana 34-28

Arkansas State at Texas A&M - 6:00 p.m. - Arkansas State covers the spread, but is worn out at the end. Texas A&M 24, ASU 17

Louisiana-Lafayette at Southern Mississippi - 6:00 p.m. - I’d really like to pick ULL, but for some reason I can’t. Southern Miss 31, ULL 27

Louisiana-Monroe at Auburn (CSS/PPV) - 6:00 p.m. - Should be high-scoring, but I can’t see ULL sweeping through the SEC Alabama teams. Auburn 38-21

Florida Atlantic at Texas (FSN PPV) - 6:00 p.m. - FAU can score, but they’ll have a hard time stopping Texas. Longhorns 44-24

Florida International at Kansas - 6:00 p.m. - Now, we get to the ugly. Kansas 56-7

North Texas at Kansas State - 6:05 p.m. - People keep talking about how UNT will surprise. I’m not buying it. Kansas State 48-17

Would love to hear your picks.

EDIT TO ADD - If you think that’s good, check out the link below from Trojan2003 in the comments section

Here is my extended notebook, leading with Bear Woods’ night.

And here is my game story.

For all Middle Tennessee coverage, go to blueraiders.com from the Daily News Journal.

OFFENSE
****I thought DuJuan Harris was outstanding, save one fumble. I was impressed with how he ran through people and not just around them. Maurice Greer ran it just twice, so I couldn’t get a feel for him.
****Jamie Hampton was OK in his first start, but I guess that’s to be expected. He’s still got potential to be better and never did I feel he’d lose the game for them. He had one interception, but was solid enough on three good drives to lead them to win. It’s 100 times tougher next week. Kennard Burton was pretty good. Hampton made two great passes - one a 30-yard floater to Burton that was right on the money that set up a score, and one a missle to Jernigan between two defenders. I still think he’s a guy that will be much better at the end of the year.
****Didn’t see many breakdowns in the OL. Steven Adams earned the start at RG but offensive coordinator Neal Brown said that situation with him and Wes Potter would be week-to-week and they’ll both play.
****Brown said he did handcuff Hampton a little bit because he knew Troy’s defense would shut down MTSU’s offense, which it did for the most part.

DEFENSE
****Boris Lee and Bear Woods could be the best linebacking duo in the Sun Belt. Boris Lee is probably the best defensive player in the Sun Belt.
****Good to see Steve McClendon have that long fumble return. He’s battled injuries his whole career but is healthy.
****Chris Bowens got picked on a lot at cornerback. I didn’t see the 46-yard touchdown pass as I was walking to the elevator, but the replay looked like he beat Terence Moore. I might be wrong.
****The starters are very good, but there’s no depth in the secondary or at linebacker. The defensive line played well all night and there’s a little depth there. That unit should be fine.

SPECIAL TEAMS
****Michael Taylor was very good on kickoffs. Sam Glusman was very good on XPs and FGs. Will Goggans was OK, had some good kicks, but had a rugby kick that hit a Troy player in the back, giving MTSU about 30 extra yards. I hate the rugby kick. Hate it, hate it, hate it.
****Aside from Taylor and Glusman, there’s no way to sugar coat this, but special teams stunk. Well, the holding of Austin Silvoy looked to be pretty good. Derick Thomas had two bad snaps to Goggans, but was fine in the second half. Must have been nerves, because he’s been solid his career until this point. There’s no punt returner that can cleanly catch a ball, as Jerrel Jernigan fumbled one to MTSU and dropped a kickoff. Jorrick Calvin muffed a punt too, but didn’t give it away. Jernigan looks very smooth as a receiver and offensive player, but not so much as a punt returner.

First career start, and through three quarters, he’s got 14 total tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss. Boris Lee has 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an INT.

He’s the guy that just stuffed MTSU QB Joe Craddock on 4th and goal from the 1.

DuJuan Harris has 10 carries for 91 yards. Well, now 11 carries for 103.

Troy’s up 24-3.

The following newcomers didn’t make the trip to MTSU, meaning they could be on the redshirt list. They are quarterback Dan Parker, quarterback Corey Wilkes, running back T.J. Mitchell, cornerback Bryan Willis, linebacker Jacoby Thomas, offensive tackles Kyle Wilborn and Jacob Creech, wideout Tebiarus Gill, defensive ends Mario Addison and Tony Davis and defensive tackles Tim Lamb and Chigozie Nwankwo. Pending eligibility issues, wideout Josh Jarboe and running back Chris Anderson didn’t travel either. Other older scholarship guys not here are wideout Gerald Tate (I think he’s still hurt), DL Josh Henderson, OL Emeka Okosa, OL Windham Rotunda, OL Tyrell Curtis. Xavier Moreland is injured and not here.

6:29 p.m. CST - For MTSU, Joe Craddock has been announced as the starting quarterback. Mark Fisher, who to my knowledge hasn’t practiced all fall because of a shoulder injury, is starting at right tackle. Troy game captains were Bear Woods, Chris Jamison, Dion Small, Sherrod Martin. MTSU won the toss and elected to receive.

6:38 p.m. - Cameron Sheffield and Kenny Mainor started at defensive end. No. 13 is Chris Bowens at corner, not Josh Jarboe.

I’ll update this thread with other info. Let’s do a HALFTIME LIVE CHAT for those interested or with questions. That’s about the best I can do in that regard, but I’ll post news updates about the game here.

What to watch for: Troy brings a new QB, new offensive coordinator against Middle Tennessee’s young team hampered by injuries. Could the Blue Raiders play over their heads at home and pull off the upset? Or will Troy’s experience and edge in talent prevail?

Players to watch, Troy: Jamie Hampton (Soph., QB). For obvious reasons, people need to see if he can do it in game situations. The long ball will be the key as I expect MTSU to come out in man defense, giving Troy’s speedy receivers a chance to beat the Blue Raiders deep. But, the pass has to be there. Chris Bowens (Jr. CB). Bowens came out of camp as Troy’s top cornerback, but this is a position to watch for as two very good cornerbacks aren’t there any more. Sam Glusman (Jr., K) Troy doesn’t have a kicker with game experience, except for Glusman’s one kickoff last year against MTSU. It went out of bounds. He’ll be handling XPs and FGs tonight. Jorrick Calvin (Jr., CB) Calvin, who almost went to MTSU, is Troy’s third cornerback but could move up with a good performance. He’ll also be returning punts.

Players to watch, MTSU: Dwight Dasher (Soph., QB). I’m betting Joe Craddock starts, but the younger guy is always the fan favorite. He can run, but Troy will try to make him beat them with his arm. Both QBs are expected to play. Desmond Gee (Jr., RB). The little guy could line up anywhere and is as dangerous of a player in the Sun Belt as there is.

What happens: MTSU strikes first early, igniting a huge crowd. Troy slowly but surely takes control and holds off MTSU at the end. Troy 30, MTSU 21.

FROM THE GAME: I’ll provide some commentary, but it might be in just regular blog posts. The idea is to hopefully host a HALFTIME CHAT, but we’ll see how my internet connection is. Check out blueraiders.com, the Daily News Journal site, as I’m sure they’ll have some cool updates as well. If big-time stuff happens, you’ll read it here.

Hard to link everything, but for complete Middle Tennessee coverage, the best you’ll find anywhere, go to their new blueraiders.com site.

Can’t promise anything, because I’d hate to do that and have bad internet connections, but I might try a pregame or halftime live blog chat. Just check back. I’d love to do it during the game, but I’ve got to write a lot of stuff from the game and I wouldn’t be able to fully concentrate.

First, a blogger from Buckeye Commentary e-mailed me a month ago asking for some comments. He also talked to play-by-play guy Barry McKnight. Quotes from me came about a month ago, so I’m not real sure what all has happened since then. Here is that link.

Here is Middle Tennessee’s injury report, thanks to Adam Sparks from the DNJ. As far as I know, the only Troy guy injured and out is RB Xavier Moreland.

LB Danny Carmichael — forearm strain (probable)
DL Immanuel Chu — shoulder (out)
LB Lonnie Clemons — ankle (out)
OT Mark Fisher — shoulder (doubtful)
OT Rogeric Govan — knee (out)
OL Chris Hawkins — knee (out)
DL Antonio Hill — appendix (out)
CB Rod Issac — hip (probable)
DE Jamari Lattimore — leg strain (questionable)
OG Evon Lettsome — ankle (out)
LB Gorby Loreus — leg (questionable)
C Jake Padrick — knee (out)
CB Alex Suber — toe (questionable)
DE Andre Wicker — knee (out)

Also, for some VIDEO, go to the Dothan Eagle main Troy page here and you can see myself and Jon Johnson talk about the game.

From the DNJ in Murfreesboro, Larry Blakeney is concerned about one of MTSU’s quarterbacks more so than the other. For complete MTSU coverage by the DNJ, go here. On the right side of the page of that last article, two DNJ sports writers break down the game in some VIDEO.

Headed to Tennessee in the late afternoon. It’s been a whirlwind week, and a very busy one. Hard because I couldn’t write all what I had planned. I also spent some time with high school stories this week. I talked to Scott Horne, who lost his brother Todd in an auto accident July 29 in Ozark. If you don’t know the story, Todd was a longtime coach at G.W. Long but took over as head football coach at Dale County two years ago. Scott and Todd were very close, but Scott decided not to follow Todd to Dale County - yet. Strange enough, Dale County and G.W. Long play Friday to open the season, and there will be tributes.

1. What do you expect to see with the QB situation, and would playing two QBs help or hurt Middle Tennessee?
— Both will play. Joe Craddock has a better rhythm with the offense, especially for timing in the passing game. Dwight Dasher is a home run threat running the ball. He has a strong arm, but his accuracy slips at time. I think playing both QBs is the only sensible way to go. If you ranked MTSU’s best players, Craddock and Dasher would probably both be in the top-5. You can’t keep either on the sideline the entire game.

2. Where could MTSU exploit Troy?
— With MTSU on offense, there are few holes that I can see on Troy’s offense. Maybe get a good catch-and-run on Troy’s new cornerbacks. MTSU has more play-makers at WR than it has the last two seasons combined.
On the other side, MTSU is at its best on defense when it forces turnovers. But I don’t think MTSU is dominant personnel-wise at any defensive position.

3. Where could Troy exploit MTSU?
— MTSU’s offensive line is inexperienced. At some point in the game, there will probably be two freshmen at offensive tackle. I think MTSU could be good in the secondary, but I think there could still be a tendency to give up a deep ball. Safety is still a question mark for MTSU, I think.

4. Make a prediction on the crowd.
— About 24,000

5. Make a prediction on the score
— Troy 28, MTSU 20

1. In the 2005 game, with Troy down 17-7, two Trojans were stuffed on third and fourth and goal from the 1 late in the game. Both players said they got in, as did other teammates. Who were the players?

2. In the 2006 Miracle at Murfreesboro, which player forced the fumble on the onside kick, and which player recovered it? A bonus point if you can name the school that the player who recovered the kick transferred to.

3. In the 2007 game, which player blocked a first-half MTSU punt?

ANSWERS are in the comments section