WHAT: UAB vs. Middle Tennessee State

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8 — 2:30 p.m. CT

WHERE: Protective Stadium — Birmingham, Alabama

SERIES: Tied, 4-4

TV: Stadium

LINE: UAB at -9.5

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE

If UAB can clean up its mistakes following a disastrous result at Rice and get the first conference victory of the season against a surging Middle Tennessee State team.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Hold On. The Blazers are playing for more than themselves this week as the program honors 92 current and former patients of Children’s Harbor. The tradition of wearing alternative grey and lime uniforms, with patients’ names in place of their own, enters its sixth year as a foundational component of the program’s selfless service.

2. Flying High in a Friendly Sky. UAB’s running game is yet to be stopped this season, or even knocked down a gear, and the passing game is the unfortunate bystander. The Blazers have run twice as many times as they’ve thrown it but facing a stout rush defense could be the spark that opens up the passing game. MTSU has one of the worst pass defenses in the nation, ranked 121st in the nation (284.4 ypg), but has collected nine interceptions this season.

3. Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting. Despite two losses on the record, the Blazers have dominated opposing offenses with a suffocating defense. The Blazers rank 26th in total defense (313.0 ypg), second in pass efficiency defense (90.36), and face an MTSU offense that relies heavily on its passing attack to move the chains. The Blue Raiders are 40th in passing (272.2 ypg), 113th in the running game (107.0 ypg), and will be hard-pressed to establish an offensive rhythm against the Blazers.

KEY MATCHUP

UAB’s rushing attack vs MSTU’s defensive front: The Blazers have the best rushing offense (220.5 ypg) in C-USA, ranked 16th in the nation, but face the league’s top rushing defense (107.5 ypg) in Middle Tennessee State. If UAB can break through the Blue Raider defense at the initial level, DeWayne McBride and company can control the flow of the game and keep MTSU opportunities at a minimum.