MONROE, La. ? MTSU and Louisiana-Monroe caught the same wave for the last month, but only one can ride the tide any further.
Both are among the Sun Belt's hottest teams heading into tonight's conference matchup.
The Blue Raiders have won four of their last five games, and ULM has won three of its last four. Both started the season 0-4.
"Something has to happen for you to start winning like that, and both teams are doing it now," ULM quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster said. "I don't think it matters what you're doing, but how you're doing it. We're playing better now, and a lot of that has to do with confidence.
"Once you get that spark, things start going better for you. We've got our swagger back, and I'm sure Middle Tennessee thinks they got it, too."
Indeed, the Blue Raiders do. They've won three straight games overall and three consecutive conference games to climb back into the Sun Belt title race.
MTSU (4-5, 3-1 in Sun Belt) must win its remaining three games to share the league championship and have a chance at the New Orleans Bowl bid.
ULM (3-5, 3-2) is likely out of the championship chase, but would revel in a spoiler's role.
"Middle Tennessee definitely has a chance at winning the Sun Belt, but we would take pride in knocking them off and putting them out of it," ULM running back Calvin Dawson said. "We'd love to kill their hopes and dreams of winning a conference championship."
ULM beat FAU 33-30 in triple overtime last week, the Owls' only conference loss, but the Warhawks slipped up against North Texas before that.
"Monroe is a very confident team, and they beat FAU. We couldn't do that," MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. "They got beat by North Texas, and we beat North Texas. So it will be two very evenly matched teams. I think we're very comparable. If you look at the statistics across the conference, you'll see that we're very close. It'll come down to who protects the ball better."
A late season surge is nothing new to MTSU or ULM. The Warhawks won three of their last four games after a 1-7 start last season. MTSU won four straight Sun Belt games last season, including a 35-21 victory at ULM, en route to a league co-championship.
"(ULM) won like this at the end of last year, too," Stockstill said. "Because of the teams we play out of conference, most (Sun Belt) teams don't show improvement as much until later in the year. Most teams in our conference get better as the season goes along, if they can stay injury free."
The Blue Raiders hope injuries don't derail their title shot. Starting freshman quarterback Dwight Dasher will likely miss tonight's game with a knee injury. If so, former starter Joe Craddock will be under center. Running back Phillip Tanner and safety Damon Nickson are also questionable with injuries.
The game's key matchup could come between ULM's offensive ground game versus MTSU's rush defense. Led by Sun Belt rushing leader Calvin Dawson, the Warhawks average 202 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, MTSU leads the league in rush defense and total defense.
The Blue Raiders have forced nine turnovers in the last two games and recorded two safeties last week.
"Middle Tennessee has a darn good offense, a darn good defense, and they're well coached," ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie said. "They showed that last year when they came here and beat us in our own backyard."
Both are among the Sun Belt's hottest teams heading into tonight's conference matchup.
The Blue Raiders have won four of their last five games, and ULM has won three of its last four. Both started the season 0-4.
"Something has to happen for you to start winning like that, and both teams are doing it now," ULM quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster said. "I don't think it matters what you're doing, but how you're doing it. We're playing better now, and a lot of that has to do with confidence.
"Once you get that spark, things start going better for you. We've got our swagger back, and I'm sure Middle Tennessee thinks they got it, too."
Indeed, the Blue Raiders do. They've won three straight games overall and three consecutive conference games to climb back into the Sun Belt title race.
MTSU (4-5, 3-1 in Sun Belt) must win its remaining three games to share the league championship and have a chance at the New Orleans Bowl bid.
ULM (3-5, 3-2) is likely out of the championship chase, but would revel in a spoiler's role.
"Middle Tennessee definitely has a chance at winning the Sun Belt, but we would take pride in knocking them off and putting them out of it," ULM running back Calvin Dawson said. "We'd love to kill their hopes and dreams of winning a conference championship."
ULM beat FAU 33-30 in triple overtime last week, the Owls' only conference loss, but the Warhawks slipped up against North Texas before that.
"Monroe is a very confident team, and they beat FAU. We couldn't do that," MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. "They got beat by North Texas, and we beat North Texas. So it will be two very evenly matched teams. I think we're very comparable. If you look at the statistics across the conference, you'll see that we're very close. It'll come down to who protects the ball better."
A late season surge is nothing new to MTSU or ULM. The Warhawks won three of their last four games after a 1-7 start last season. MTSU won four straight Sun Belt games last season, including a 35-21 victory at ULM, en route to a league co-championship.
"(ULM) won like this at the end of last year, too," Stockstill said. "Because of the teams we play out of conference, most (Sun Belt) teams don't show improvement as much until later in the year. Most teams in our conference get better as the season goes along, if they can stay injury free."
The Blue Raiders hope injuries don't derail their title shot. Starting freshman quarterback Dwight Dasher will likely miss tonight's game with a knee injury. If so, former starter Joe Craddock will be under center. Running back Phillip Tanner and safety Damon Nickson are also questionable with injuries.
The game's key matchup could come between ULM's offensive ground game versus MTSU's rush defense. Led by Sun Belt rushing leader Calvin Dawson, the Warhawks average 202 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, MTSU leads the league in rush defense and total defense.
The Blue Raiders have forced nine turnovers in the last two games and recorded two safeties last week.
"Middle Tennessee has a darn good offense, a darn good defense, and they're well coached," ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie said. "They showed that last year when they came here and beat us in our own backyard."
