C-USA: FAU-marshall
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Spread: MAR -28
Total: 69
Betting odds courtesy of Bookmaker
No. 23 Marshall is a perfect 7-0 on the season and has won all three of its MAC games. The Thundering Herd have been obliterating opponents in their soft schedule, scoring 47.4 points per game while also strutting out a defense that allows only 26.6 points per game.
Over the last three weeks, Marshall has outscored its opponents by a score of 150 to 51, including a 45-13 drubbing of FIU last week. As such, college football oddsmakers are giving a huge edge to Marshall, setting the line 28-points in favor of the home team.
QB Rakeem Cato has been very good. He’s thrown for over 1,900 yards with a 58 percent completion ratio and his impressive TD/INT ratio sits at 19:6 this season. What more could be asked of a QB with a 161.9 rating? It seems rushing wouldn’t hurt, and Cato has done plenty of that, too, scoring five TDs, including a 61 harder. He’s averaging six yards per carry, and still ranks No. 4 on the team in total rushing yardage.
Devon Jackson has been nearly unstoppable with 931 yards on 8.2 yards per carry, while also having accounted for 11 TDs on the season. No. 2 back Remi Watson has also rushed for 411 yards on 6.4 yards per carry.
Cato has three receivers with 300-plus yards on the season, paced by Tommy Shulers 413 yards on 31 catches. He’s averaging 13.3 yards per reception and is tied for the team lead in reception TDs (4). Angelo Jean-Louis has been the most impressive for long yardage, averaging 27.5 yards per reception his season, the highest on the team.
Florida Atlantic has a passably good offense, but the D has been just flat out bad. FAU is surrendering 35.7 points per game to opponents, and has allowed 38 points or more in its last three contests to UTSA, FIU and Western Kentucky. Nonetheless, the Owls are 2-1 in C-USA matchups.
QB Jacquez Johnson has been the driving force behind a mediocre offense. He’s thrown for over 1,300 yards with a 59 percent completion ratio, while racking up 10 TDs with just one interception. He’s also rushed for 277 yards and a team-leading five rushing TDs. He’ll need more help, and Jay Warren (435 yards and a TD) needs to provide that as the No. 1 back.
Johnson’s top two receiving targets have been solid. Lucky Whitehead and Jenson Stoshak have combined for nearly 800 yards and six TDs, but the depth behind them is questionable at best.
