A couple of schools meeting for the first time on the gridiron square off in Huntington this Tuesday, as the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles take on the Marshall Thundering Herd in Conference USA action. The Eagles enter the contest on a down note, as they suffered a 21-17 setback to North Carolina State in non-conference action on October 29th. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for USM, which is in the midst of a four- game road swing that will conclude against Houston this coming Sunday. Despite the loss, the Eagles are still a decent 4-3 overall, including a solid 3-1 in league play. As for Marshall, it was also last in action on October 29th when it pulled out a thrilling 27-26 victory over Tulane. The win was the team's second in three games, improving it to an even 4-4 overall and 3-2 in league play. The Herd now return home where they are 3-1 this season, including two straight wins.
USM has had no trouble putting points (32.1 ppg) on the board this season, although the team could use an improvement in the modest 334.0 total ypg it is averaging. The biggest struggle for the club thus far has been a lack of a ground game, rushing for an average of just 104.4 ypg. In the team's last game, the Eagles' offense managed just 246 total yards, including a mere 69 on the ground in a 21-17 loss to NC State. Dustin Almond put forth a sub par effort under center, as he completed just 15-of-35 pass attempts for 177 yards and a touchdown. Despite the mediocre outing, Almond has been rather productive this year and has completed 54.5 percent of his throws, for 1,529 yards with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Almond has done a decent job in spreading the ball around, with six players having caught at least 13 passes thus far. As for the ground game, it is paced by Larry Thomas and Cody Hull, who are the only two players to have rushed for over 100 yards this season. Thomas heads the club with 466 yards and three touchdowns, while Hull checks in with 236 yards.
Defensively, the Eagles have lacked consistency and that explains why they are giving up 24.4 ppg and 404.6 total ypg. The unit however, has been able to make big plays consistently, as it has forced an impressive 23 turnovers in just seven games. Getting pressure on opposing QBs hasn't been a problem for USM either, as it has 21 sacks so far. In the team's previous game, the Eagles' defense yielded a disturbing 425 total yards of offense to NC State, including a whopping 297 yards on the ground. Still, the unit allowed just three touchdowns, while forcing four turnovers. Kevis Coley put forth his best effort of the year, as he racked up 19 tackles and one sack in the losing cause. Coley is certainly one of the premier LBs in the league and currently leads the Eagles with 81 tackles, with three sacks.
The Herd have had trouble converting yards into points this season and that is evident in the fact that they are averaging 337.8 total ypg, but just 18.5 ppg. The main reason for this is costly mistakes, as Marshall has committed 19 turnovers, including 12 interceptions thus far. In the team's last contest, the Herd gained just 286 total yards and even turned the ball over three times, but were still able to escape with a one-point win over Tulane thanks to a strong effort by their defense. Ahmad Bradshaw led the way by rushing for 91 yards and a score on 24 carries. He has put together a solid year and leads the team with 571 rushing yards and six scores. He also leads the squad with 42 receptions that have led to 293 yards and another touchdown. Jimmy Skinner and Bernie Morris have split time under center this season, but neither has been very effective. Skinner saw a majority of the snaps against Tulane, but finished with just 117 passing yards and one touchdown against three interceptions. On the year, Skinner has thrown for 700 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions, while Morris has passed for 1,050 yards with five touchdowns and the same amount of picks.
On the defensive side of the ball is where Marshall has made a name for itself this season, allowing 24.8 ppg and 332.0 total ypg. The unit has done a solid job against the pass (190.4 ypg), while also recording 18 sacks and 15 turnovers. In the team's previous game, the Herd put forth a tremendous defensive effort, limiting Tulane to a mere 186 total yards, including just 40 on the ground. The unit yielded just nine first downs in the game, while posting three sacks. Dennis Thornton led the charge with nine stops and 1.5 sacks. He has clearly been the team's most productive player on this side of the ball and heads the club in tackles (80), TFLs (seven) and sacks (3.5).
Taking a shot with the under 47.5...
BET ID=34548535
Straight Wager 11/08/05 13:55 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
SMississippi
Marshall 11/08/05 (19:35 ET)
Under 47.5
USM has had no trouble putting points (32.1 ppg) on the board this season, although the team could use an improvement in the modest 334.0 total ypg it is averaging. The biggest struggle for the club thus far has been a lack of a ground game, rushing for an average of just 104.4 ypg. In the team's last game, the Eagles' offense managed just 246 total yards, including a mere 69 on the ground in a 21-17 loss to NC State. Dustin Almond put forth a sub par effort under center, as he completed just 15-of-35 pass attempts for 177 yards and a touchdown. Despite the mediocre outing, Almond has been rather productive this year and has completed 54.5 percent of his throws, for 1,529 yards with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Almond has done a decent job in spreading the ball around, with six players having caught at least 13 passes thus far. As for the ground game, it is paced by Larry Thomas and Cody Hull, who are the only two players to have rushed for over 100 yards this season. Thomas heads the club with 466 yards and three touchdowns, while Hull checks in with 236 yards.
Defensively, the Eagles have lacked consistency and that explains why they are giving up 24.4 ppg and 404.6 total ypg. The unit however, has been able to make big plays consistently, as it has forced an impressive 23 turnovers in just seven games. Getting pressure on opposing QBs hasn't been a problem for USM either, as it has 21 sacks so far. In the team's previous game, the Eagles' defense yielded a disturbing 425 total yards of offense to NC State, including a whopping 297 yards on the ground. Still, the unit allowed just three touchdowns, while forcing four turnovers. Kevis Coley put forth his best effort of the year, as he racked up 19 tackles and one sack in the losing cause. Coley is certainly one of the premier LBs in the league and currently leads the Eagles with 81 tackles, with three sacks.
The Herd have had trouble converting yards into points this season and that is evident in the fact that they are averaging 337.8 total ypg, but just 18.5 ppg. The main reason for this is costly mistakes, as Marshall has committed 19 turnovers, including 12 interceptions thus far. In the team's last contest, the Herd gained just 286 total yards and even turned the ball over three times, but were still able to escape with a one-point win over Tulane thanks to a strong effort by their defense. Ahmad Bradshaw led the way by rushing for 91 yards and a score on 24 carries. He has put together a solid year and leads the team with 571 rushing yards and six scores. He also leads the squad with 42 receptions that have led to 293 yards and another touchdown. Jimmy Skinner and Bernie Morris have split time under center this season, but neither has been very effective. Skinner saw a majority of the snaps against Tulane, but finished with just 117 passing yards and one touchdown against three interceptions. On the year, Skinner has thrown for 700 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions, while Morris has passed for 1,050 yards with five touchdowns and the same amount of picks.
On the defensive side of the ball is where Marshall has made a name for itself this season, allowing 24.8 ppg and 332.0 total ypg. The unit has done a solid job against the pass (190.4 ypg), while also recording 18 sacks and 15 turnovers. In the team's previous game, the Herd put forth a tremendous defensive effort, limiting Tulane to a mere 186 total yards, including just 40 on the ground. The unit yielded just nine first downs in the game, while posting three sacks. Dennis Thornton led the charge with nine stops and 1.5 sacks. He has clearly been the team's most productive player on this side of the ball and heads the club in tackles (80), TFLs (seven) and sacks (3.5).
Taking a shot with the under 47.5...
BET ID=34548535
Straight Wager 11/08/05 13:55 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
SMississippi
Marshall 11/08/05 (19:35 ET)
Under 47.5
