The Thundering Herd of Marshall (-6) are gearing up to welcome the Ohio Bobcats to Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET and FCBK will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Ohio Bobcats
In this Saturday game, Marshall is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 6 points. The Bobcats are also receiving +185 moneyline odds while the Thundering Herd are -230. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points, and if one squad can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it would likely produce a worthwhile live betting opportunity.
The sharp action is siding with both the Thundering Herd and the under. The line initially opened at -4 while the game’s O/U was originally 52.5.
The Bobcats are down 1.0 unit so far in 2019 and 0-2 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 0-2.
The Thundering Herd have lost 1.0 unit this season. The team is 1-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-1.
The Bobcats have gone 1-1 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Thundering Herd are also 1-1 SU.
The Bobcats lost to Pittsburgh 20-10 in a matchup where their defense allowed the Panthers to pass for 321 yards while rushing for 160 yards. On the offense, Nathan Rourke completed just 15 passes on 27 attempts for 177 yards. O’Shaan Allison (47 rushing yards on 14 attempts) led the ground attack. Jerome Buckner (four receptions, 60 yards) and Isiah Cox (two catches, 32 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
A week ago, Boise State knocked off this Marshall team by a score of 14-7. Isaiah Green completed 10-of-17 passes for 56 yards and one interception. Brenden Knox (71 yards on 10 rush attempts, one TD) mounted the running game as Xavier Gaines (three receptions, 26 yards) and King (two catches, four yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Each of these teams has a remarkably similar (57-43) run-pass ratio on the season. The Bobcats have produced 156.5 rush yards/game and have four scores on the ground this year. The Thundering Herd are averaging 198 rushing yards per game and have three total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then it appears the Thundering Herd may own an advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has logged 5.6 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.9 to opponents. The Bobcats have rushed for 4.7 yards per carry while allowing 4.1 YPC to opponents.
The Bobcats offense has tallied 182.5 yards/contest through the air overall and has two passing TDs so far. The Thundering Herd have recorded 198 pass yards per game and have five total pass scores.
Defensively, Ohio has allowed 122 rush yards and 306 pass yards per game. The Marshall D has given up 241.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 105.5 yards per game on the ground. The Thundering Herd are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.94 to opponents, while the Bobcats have given up a 7.49 ANY/A.
Green has connected on 10-of-17 passes for 56 yards, zero TDs and one INT for Marshall. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at a very poor -0.15 for the season and 5.63 over his past two outings. In the other locker room, Rourke has amassed 177 passing yards this season, and has connected on 15-of-27 attempts with zero passing touchdowns and has yet to throw an interception. Rourke has a 3.94 ANY/A for the year, although that number is 6.21 over the last two outings.
Ohio Bobcats at Marshall Thundering Herd NCAA Prediction
SU Winner: Marshall, ATS Winner: Marshall, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The Marshall defensive unit has recorded twice the sack total of Ohio this season (six to three).
- Marshall has lost two fumbles this season while Ohio has lost one.
- The Bobcats offense has registered one pass play of 40 or more yards, while the Thundering Herd have put up two such plays.
- The Ohio defense has allowed one pass play of 40 or more yards, while Marshall has given up three such plays.
- The Ohio offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Marshall has created two such runs.
- The Bobcats defense has allowed one rushing play of 20 yards or more, while the Thundering Herd have given up zero such runs.
