Game 12 Preview: Old Dominion at Middle Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Old Dominion University Football travels to Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 25 to complete the 2017 regular season.

> Old Dominion travels to Middle Tennessee for the first time in school history to close out the 2017 regular season. A matchup that features a pair of 5-6 teams, the winner will be bowl eligibility.

> ODU won its home finale last Saturday in the 68th Oyster Bowl, defeating Rice, 24-21. Middle Tennessee fell at WKU, 41-38 in triple overtime.

> Old Dominion Head Coach Bobby Wilder is 72-36 all-time.

> True freshman quarterback Steven Williams engineered the game-winning drive with 2:05 left in the fourth quarter, completing 4-of-4 passing with 15 rushing yards, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown run. He accounted for 70 of the 75 yards on the drive.

> Ray Lawry carried 19 times for 110-yards and a touchdown. His 21st career 100-yard game.

> Marques Little had five catches for 53-yards. His most receptions since 2015 at UTSA.

> Jordan Young recorded a career-best 15 tackles, a tackle for loss and pass breakup.

Protect the Ball
For the second-straight game, ODU was a +2 in the turnover battle and for the third-straight game the Monarchs did not turn the ball over. ODU turned the ball over every game during the six game losing streak, and in the three game win streak have zero turnovers.

ODU Turnover Margin
First Eight Games: -11
Last Two Games: +5

Taking it Away
Junior defensive end Oshane Ximines not only has been getting to the quarterback, he knocks the ball away when he gets there. Ximines leads Conference USA with four forced fumbles this year. He also tied TJ Ricks’ school record for forced fumbles in a season, and tied Ricks’ career mark with seven forced fumbles. He is tied for fourth in FBS in forced fumbles.

C-USA Forced Fumbles

Two to Tango
While Ximines is knocking the ball out, Pat Toal is picking it up. Toal leads C-USA with three fumble recoveries. His three recoveries is second in school history only to Craig WIlkins’ five recoveries in 2010.

Getting Comfortable
Despite the 35-31 loss to WKU, you could start to see Steven Williams getting comfortable. In his last five games, Williams has completed 65 percent of his passes, and in his last three games has not turned the ball over.

First 3 Starts

Last 3 Games (Did not play first series vs. Charlotte)

Ray Lawry 100-Yard Game Rankings
Ray Lawry’s 21 100-yard rushing games are sixth in the country.

FBS Leaders in 100-Yard Rushing Games