[yisman]

Larry Ness' 20* SBC Game of the Month (72.7% CFB run s/Sep 26)-Tue
My 20* SBC Game of the Month is on Troy at 8:00 ET. Tony Franklin was a highly respected assistant at Troy in 2006 and 2007 under Larry Blakeney and then last year was fired as Auburn's offensive coordinator after the Tigers struggled to score points in the early going of what turned out to be a 'nightmare' season for the Tigers. Franklin was happily "scooped up" by Troy's Sun Belt rival MTSU and Franklin's spread offense has got the Blue Raiders believing they can end a three-year losing streak to the Trojans and take the early lead in the SBC race (no one is taking Louisiana-Monroe's 2-0 conference start too seriously). MTSU opened by losing at Clemson 37-14 but Franklin's offense is clicking behind QB Dwight Dasher these last three games. The Blue Raiders beat Memphis 31-14 in Murfreesboro plus then won at Maryland (32-31) and at Nothe Texas (37-21). That's three straight games over 30 points (an even 100 in all) for a team which has averaged just 19.1, 22.8, 25.7 and 22.8 PPG over the last four seasons. I guess Franklins IS doing his job. Dasher is averaging 257 YPG through the air but is completing a modest 55.5 percent with seven TDs and five INTs (nothing special about that ratio). Dasher is also the team's leading rusher 251 yards / 3.5 YPC), as RB Phillip Tanner (714 YR / 15 TDs in 2008) has been lost to a knee injury. Without Tanner the last two games, sophomore DD Kyles has totaled a modest 96 yards (3.4 YPC). Troy opened the 2009 season with an 'ugly' 31-14 loss at Bowling Green (led 14-0!) and then lost at "The Swamp" to the Gators, 56-6 (that game is irrelevant). The Trojans rebounded with a 27-14 home win over UAB and then on September 26, got an impressive 30-27 road win vs a solid Arkansas St team (just lost 24-21 at Iowa last Saturday!). After rolling up 551 yards vs UAB, Troy outgained Ark St 507 to 305, holding the Red Wolves to 13 FDs and just 70 yards rushing on 25 carries. QB Levi Brown didn't win the starting job until mid-season last year but owns a firm hold on it in 2009 and his 355-yard two TD performance at Ark St followed his 24-of-32 for 413-yard effort vs Memphis. Brown will face a MTSU pass D which has allowed its last two opponents to complete 64.3 percent for 288 and 301 yards. The last time out at North Texas, QB Dodge threw 54 times and NEVER got sacked by MTSU's pass rush (excuse the pun!). Expect Brown to have a "field day!" As for the Troy D, it is well-familiar with Franklin's offense from his days with the Trojans and if one were to ignore the Florida game (why not?), the Trojans are allowing 98.7 YPG on the ground (3.4 YPC) plus as mentioned, will be well-prepared for QB Dasher. Troy won at MTSU last year 31-17 and two years ago at this venue, won 45-7. MTSU will be playing its THIRD straight road game (in 18 days) and takes on a team which has gone 37-5 SU at home this decade. Troy has gone 6-1 SU in each of the last three years in Sun Belt play (beaten MTSU each year)- and has opened 2009 with that win at Ark St. SBC Game of the Month 20* Troy.
Good luck...Larry