Our Missouri State vs Delaware prediction lands on a Tuesday night Conference USA matchup in Newark, where two 2-4 teams meet for the first time. Delaware is a 3-point home favorite with the total at 53, and both programs arrive with questions under center. Missouri State is riding a walk-off win, while Delaware has dropped three straight. Below, we break down the quarterback picture, the scoring profiles and how the number has moved since it opened, then walk through two plays.
Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Missouri State vs. Delaware — Game Info
| Where | Delaware Stadium, Newark Delaware |
| When | October 20 – 7:00 PM ET |
| TV | ESPNU |
Missouri State vs. Delaware Betting Preview
The quarterback position shapes this game more than anything else. Missouri State turned to Duke transfer Henry Belin IV for his first start with the program last week. He responded by completing 28 of 39 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 walk-off win over Kennesaw State. Skyler Locklear had opened the season as the starter. Belin also threw one interception, so the sample is promising but still only one game.
Delaware’s situation is murkier. Senior Nick Minicucci, a three-year starter, hurt his knee at Virginia and has missed two straight games. Head coach Ryan Carty has called his status week to week. In his place, freshman Tyler Bell threw for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 33-30 loss at Middle Tennessee. That yardage set a Delaware freshman record. However, Bell also absorbed six sacks, and his final pass was intercepted on the last possession.
The supporting casts are fairly even. Missouri State wide receiver Isaiah Myers leads Conference USA with 554 receiving yards, and linebacker Jared Lloyd leads the nation with 70 tackles. Meanwhile, Missouri State is 1-1 in league play and 0-3 on the road, losing those games by a combined 118-37. Delaware is 0-2 in the conference but 2-1 at home, with wins over Merrimack and Coastal Carolina. Neither offense has been explosive. Delaware averages 22.8 points per game, and Missouri State averages 22.2.
Remarkably, this is the first meeting between the schools. Both programs moved up from the FCS to Conference USA last season, yet the league schedule kept them apart. That means there is no head-to-head history to lean on. Instead, the read has to come from this season’s form, the quarterback picture and the schedule spot. For Delaware, a loss here would drop it to 0-3 in league play with three road games in its next four.
The market has leaned in one direction since the open. Delaware opened -3 at standard juice, and the price on the home side is now heavier. Its moneyline has also shortened from -150 to -160. The total, meanwhile, opened at 52 and climbed a full point. No public betting splits are posted for this game yet, so those moves are the clearest market read available.
Missouri State vs. Delaware Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State | +3.0 (-105) | +135 | O 53.0 (-105) |
| Delaware | -3.0 (-115) | -160 | U 53.0 (-115) |
Odds accurate as of October 20, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Missouri State vs. Delaware Prediction — Who Wins the Battle of New Quarterbacks?
Start with the scoring profiles. Delaware’s six games have averaged 49.7 combined points, and Missouri State’s have averaged 52.7. Both teams have gone over the posted total in only two of six games this season. Delaware’s three home games produced 49, 36 and 44 total points. Neither offense averages more than 23 points per game, and both have been held to 14 points or fewer at least once.
The quarterback situations reinforce that profile. Belin has one start with his new receivers, and Bell has one start of any kind. Young or new passers tend to produce stalled drives and conservative play-calling rather than track meets. Delaware’s protection problems matter here as well. Six sacks against Middle Tennessee killed drives, and Missouri State’s defense is built around a linebacker who leads the country in tackles. The market adds a useful wrinkle, too. The early move pushed the number higher. Since then, the juice has shifted back, which hints that some money waited for the higher number.
Still, there is a real case against this read. Missouri State’s defense has allowed 30.5 points per game, and Bell’s 306-yard debut shows Delaware can move the ball through the air. A Minicucci return would also raise Delaware’s ceiling, since he is the more experienced passer. Turnovers and short fields can turn a slow game into a high-scoring one in a hurry. Even so, two offenses averaging around 22 points apiece make the scoring projection the clearest edge on the board.
The Pick: Under 53.0 (-115)
Missouri State vs. Delaware Prediction — Does a Third League Game in 12 Days Catch Up With the Visitors?
The schedule spot matters here. Missouri State is playing its third conference game in 12 days, and this one requires a trip from Springfield to Newark on six days’ rest. Delaware had a full week since its Tuesday loss and stays home. Missouri State has struggled away from Springfield this season, while Delaware has held serve at home against everyone except Liberty. The market movement from the open points the same way as the situational read.
On the other hand, Delaware has lost three straight and has real protection issues. Its quarterback status is also unsettled, so this read depends on Bell or a healthy Minicucci playing at a functional level. Missouri State also showed resilience with a game-winning drive last week. Three is a key number in football, so a one-score finish on that exact margin is a live outcome. The edge is modest, but the rest and travel gap is a concrete factor rather than a narrative one.
The Pick: Delaware -3.0 (-115)
Our Final Word on Missouri State vs. Delaware
Two 2-4 teams with unsettled quarterback play make for a game where expectations should stay measured. Both plays rest partly on the same input, which is Delaware’s quarterback. If Minicucci is cleared and sharp, the home side gains strength, though scoring could also rise. Missouri State’s form under Belin is the main threat to the home side. For context on how each team looked last week, see our Kennesaw State vs Missouri State prediction and our Delaware vs Middle Tennessee State prediction.
Our top play is Under 53.0 (-115), because two offenses averaging about 22 points face a number that climbed from the open. Our second play is Delaware -3.0 (-115), because Missouri State travels on six days’ rest for its third league game in 12 days.
NCAAF Missouri State vs. Delaware FAQ: October 20, 2026
What time does the Missouri State vs. Delaware game start?
Missouri State and Delaware kick off at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. That is 6:00 PM Central for fans following Missouri State from Springfield. The game is a weeknight Conference USA matchup, and it is the first meeting between the two schools.
What channel is the Missouri State vs. Delaware game on?
The Missouri State vs. Delaware game airs nationally on ESPNU on Tuesday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM ET from Newark, so viewers should tune in to ESPNU at that time. The game is a Conference USA matchup between two 2-4 teams meeting for the first time.
Where are Missouri State and Delaware playing?
Missouri State and Delaware play at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware, the home field of the University of Delaware. Delaware is the host team for this Tuesday night game. After this one, Delaware heads out on road trips to Western Kentucky and Kennesaw State.
What conference are Missouri State and Delaware in?
Missouri State and Delaware both play in Conference USA, which makes this a league game for both teams. Missouri State enters 1-1 in conference play, while Delaware is 0-2. Both schools moved up from the FCS level to the FBS and joined Conference USA last season.
Have Missouri State and Delaware played before?
No, Missouri State and Delaware have never played each other in football. Tuesday’s game in Newark is the first meeting between the schools. The two programs both joined Conference USA last season, but they were not scheduled against each other during that first year in the league.
What is Delaware’s record this season?
Delaware is 2-4 overall and 0-2 in Conference USA heading into Tuesday’s game. Delaware beat Merrimack and Coastal Carolina, then lost at Virginia, at home to Liberty and at Middle Tennessee. That 33-30 loss to Middle Tennessee extended Delaware’s losing streak to three games.