Do the Fightin' Blue Hens have any fight left in them, or will they be chicken dinner on Tuesday night? After a 2-1 start, Delaware has dropped three straight, falling to an abysmal 2-4 record. On Tuesday, they'll welcome the Missouri State Bears to Delaware Stadium, a team that has had struggles of its own and also sits at 2-4. Both teams have shown resilience while facing their fair share of difficult competition, but I believe the Fightin' Blue Hens still have some fight left in them. Playing this game on their home field should provide the boost they need to put Missouri State away and get back in the win column.
I posted a win with Delaware at home in Week 3 when the Blue Hens covered a 4.5-point spread against Coastal Carolina, earning a hard-fought 22-14 victory. That game was closely contested throughout, but Coastal Carolina's fourth-quarter turnovers ultimately helped Delaware secure the win. My reasoning then was rooted in Delaware's proven success at home, and when two teams are relatively similar in talent, home-field advantage can often be the deciding factor. In 2025, Delaware's first season at the FBS level, the Blue Hens went 5-1 at home. Even the jump from FCS to FBS competition wasn't enough to slow them down in Newark. It's true that much of the roster has changed since last season, but I believe that same energy and confidence will return Tuesday night when Delaware takes the field at home.
Missouri State has lost all three of its road games this season, while both of Delaware's victories have come at home. That's already a compelling argument for the Blue Hens on Tuesday night, but I believe pride and morale will ultimately be the deciding factors. Delaware has been searching for its first Conference USA victory, and a return to the friendly confines of Delaware Stadium could be exactly what the Fightin' Blue Hens need. Look for Delaware to earn its first conference win of the season and cover the spread in the process.
Delaware vs Missouri State prediction: Delaware -2.5 -120 available at time of publishing. Playable to -3 -115.
