Marshall Thundering Herd at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Chapman Stadium – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thursday, November 14, 2013, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: Fox Sports 1
Opening Line: Marshall -12 1/2
Current Line: Marshall -13 1/2
Opening Total: 61
Current Total: 61
Opening Money Line: Marshall -450 / Tulsa +355
Current Money Line: Marshall -500 / Tulsa +410
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane won the Conference USA championship last year and were expected to compete again for the title this season in their last year before departing for the American Athletic Conference next season. However, it has been a a very difficult season for Tulsa as they are 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Conference USA West. Tulsa hosts the 6-3 Marshall Thundering Herd Thursday night. Marshall is 4-1 in the East Division of Conference USA, a half game behind 5-1 East Carolina. Tulsa leads the series 4-0 and won the last meeting 45-38 in Huntington in 2010.
Marshall is coached by Doc Holliday. The Thundering Herd have home wins over Miami-(OH) 52-14, Gardner-Webb 55-0, Texas-San Antonio 34-10, Southern Miss 61-13 and last week against UAB 56-14, along with a road win at Florida Atlantic 24-23. Marshall has road losses at Ohio 34-31, Virginia Tech 29-21 in triple overtime and Middle Tennessee 51-49. The Thundering Herd are 6-3 ATS and the total is 4-5 this season. Marshall was a 24 point favorite against UAB and the total was 68.
Marshall took a 21-7 lead at the end of the first against UAB and expanded the lead to 35-14 by halftime. The Thundering Herd scored 21 second half points to win 56-14. Marshall had 657 total yards including 381 rushing yards. The Blazers had 464 total yards including 288 rushing yards. Marshall had 8 penalties for 50 yards. The Blazers had the only two turnovers of the game.
Marshall is outscoring teams 43-21 this season. The Thundering Herd are #10 in scoring and #24 in points allowed nationally. Marshall is averaging 493.7 yards per game including 278.2 passing and 215.4 rushing yards. The Herd are #28 or better in all three categories nationally. On defense, Marshall is allowing 359.4 yards per game, including 206.4 passing and 153 rushing yards. The Thundering Herd are #27 nationally in total offense and #20 in passing defense. Marshall is +4 in turnovers with 19 takeaways. The Thundering Herd are averaging 51 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 48. Marshall is 74/145 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 62/162. The Herd have forced 20 sacks and allowed 16 this season. Marshall is 41/44 scoring in the red zone with 35 touchdowns and opponents are 26/34 with 19 touchdowns. Marshall has a punt return for a touchdown and 2 pick sixes this season and has allowed a fumble return and 2 punt returns for touchdowns.
Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato has completed 60.9% of his passes for 2,345 yards with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions along with 65 carries, 225 yards and 4 touchdowns. Back-up Blake Frohnapfel has thrown for 159 yards with 2 touchdowns and a pick.
Running back Essray Taliaferro has 132 carries, for 728 yards and 8 touchdowns, along with 5 catches. Steward Butler has 52 carries, 510 yards and 6 touchdowns, plus a catch. Kevin Grooms has 79 carries for 442 yards and 6 touchdowns, along with 7 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Tommy Shuler has 65 catches for 693 yards and 6 touchdowns. Devon Smith has 22 catches, 433 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with a punt return for a touchdown. Gator Hoskins has 23 catches for 400 yards and 7 touchdowns. Craig Wilkins and Demetrius Evans will both get significant catches as well. Three defensive players and two offensive linemen are listed as questionable or out Thursday.
Tulsa is coached by Bill Blankenship. The Golden Hurricane have a home win over Colorado State 30-27 and a road win at UTEP 34-20. Tulsa has road losses at Bowling Green 34-7, Oklahoma 51-20, Tulane 14-7, and last week at East Carolina 58-24, along with home losses to Iowa State 38-21, Rice 30-27 in overtime, and UTSA 34-15. The Golden Hurricane are 1-8 ATS and the total is 5-4 this season. Tulsa was a 16 point underdog at East Carolina and the total was 53.5.
Tulsa and East Carolina were tied at 7 at the end of the first quarter. East Carolina took a 21-10 lead into halftime. The Pirates expanded the lead to 35-17 at the end of the third. East Carolina outscored Tulsa 23-7 in the fourth quarter including two defensive touchdowns to win 58-24. Tulsa had 363 total yards including 188 rushing yards. ECU had 505 total yards including 384 passing yards. Tulsa had four turnovers and East Carolina had one.
Tulsa is being outscored 34-21 this season. The Golden Hurricane are #107 in scoring and #102 in points allowed nationally out of 125 FBS teams. Tulsa is averaging 369.4 yards per game on offense including 211.3 passing and 158.1 rushing yards. The Golden Hurricane are 77th or worse in all three categories. On defense, Tulsa is allowing 405.6 yards per game including 216 passing and 189.6 rushing yards. Tulsa is #36 in pass defense and #90 in rush defense. The Golden Hurricane are -13 in turnovers with 26 giveaways. Tulsa is averaging 28 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 41. The Golden Hurricane are 68/173 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 62/144. Tulsa has forced 21 sacks and allowed 7 this season. The Golden Hurricane are 27/34 scoring in the red zone with 16 touchdowns and opponents are 36/39 with 25 touchdowns. Tulsa has one fumble return for a touchdown and has allowed 5 defensive/special touchdowns.
Tulsa quarterback Cody Green has completed 56.2% of his passes for 1,312 yards with 7 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, along with 73 rushing yards and a touchdown. He has missed 2 of the last 3 games with a knee injury and is doubtful Thursday night. Dane Evans will start if Green can’t go. Evans has completed 45.5% of his passes for 541 yards with 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, along with 55 rushing yards.
Running back Trey Watts has 178 carries for 857 yards and 6 touchdowns along with 41 catches, 370 yards and a touchdown. Ja’Terian Douglas has 85 carries, 284 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 10 catches, 102 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Jordan James has 31 catches, 390 yards and 2 touchdowns. Keevan Lucas has 26 catches, 373 yards and a touchdown, along with 11 carries for 75 yards. Thomas Roberson 21 catches, 269 yards and 3 touchdowns. Derek Patterson has 12 catches, 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. Five defensive players are out for the season for Tulsa.
Marshall is 5-1 ATS after scoring 40 points or more, after rushing for 200 yards or more, and on fieldturf, 7-3 overall, 18-37-3 in road games, 4-10 after a straight up win of more than 20 points, 2-5 after allowing 20 points or less, 2-6 after gaining 450 yards or more, 2-9-2 against teams with losing home records, and 0-6 in Thursday games.
Tulsa is 16-5 against teams with winning road records, 2-6 against teams with winning records, 1-4 in Conference USA games, 1-5 after a straight up loss, 1-6 after failing to cover, 1-7 after allowing more than 450 total yards, 1-8 after a straight up loss of 20 points or more, and overall, 0-4 at home, and 0-5 on fieldturf.
Tulsa can’t score and can’t stop anyone either. That is a bad combination when you are playing an explosive offense like Marshall. The Golden Hurricane also turn the ball over a lot, and the Thundering Herd can force turnovers. Tulsa looks like they are playing out the string on a bad season, and Marshall needs this win to stay within striking distance of East Carolina in the C-USA East Division. The Thundering Herd should roll in this game.
