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1 – Offensives Look To Roll

Both Truman and Lincoln are averaging fewer than 20 points offensively per game but the Blue Tiger defense is allowing nearly two touchdowns more (52.6 points/g) than the Truman defense.

The Bulldogs are averaging 323.4 yards in total offense while the Blue Tigers are at 304.7 per game.

 
2 – Focus On The Run, Leery of The Pass

Both defenses have struggled in the run with Truman allowing 224 yards per game on the ground and the Blue Tigers allowing 270 yards per game.

 Offensively, Lincoln averaged 121 per game while Truman is just under 100 yards at 95.6.
 
Lincoln’s defense is ranked third in the MIAA in passing yards allowed per game with 204 while opposing quarterbacks against Truman’s pass defense are completing a league-best 65.4 percent of their pass attempts for 247.3 yards per game.

 
3 –Take Advantage Of Field Position

The Bulldogs are first in the MIAA in punting with a net punting average of 38.4 and an average of 2.5 yards per return while Lincoln is last in net punting at 25.3 yards per punt and an average return of 6.2 yards.
 
Lincoln has also turned the ball over 31 times or nearly 3.5 turnovers per game. They have 12 fumbles lost and 19 interceptions and are a -14 this season.
 
4 – Keep Your Cool

Truman is second in the MIAA in penalties against with 52 for 54.0 yards per game, however, the majority of fouls called against Truman (28%) have been for personal fouls.

On the other end of the spectrum, Lincoln has drawn a league-best 77.7 penalty yards per game with 73 called against Blue Tiger opponents for 699 yards.

 
5 –Time of Possession

Despite the wide point deferential between the Lincoln offense and defense (-35 points), the Blue Tigers have possessed the football an MIAA high 34:57 minutes per game this season, while Truman is last in time of possession at 26:36 per game.
 
The Bulldogs will also need to improve on third down conversion rate as they are sitting at a league-low 28% in third down plays. Lincoln is just above the Bulldogs in the rankings but converting at a nearly 35% clip.

CourtesyTruman State University