The Thundering Herd (-25) are set to host their CUSA counterpart UTSA Roadrunners in Marshall. The Saturday afternoon game will start at 2:30 p.m. ET and STAD,FCBK will broadcast the action.
UTSA Roadrunners at Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Preview
UTSA is a big road underdog here and is currently getting 25 points by bookmakers. If the Thundering Herd get behind in the early stages it will produce a decent betting scenario in-game. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 44.5 points.
The game’s over/under has yet to change after being initially set at 44.5. Having said that, the opening line was -23 and has recently moved down to -25.
The Roadrunners are down 3.0 units so far and 2-8 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 7-3. The Thundering Herd have gained 1.1 units this season. The team is 4-5 ATS and the over has hit in six of its games.
The Roadrunners have gone 3-7 straight up (SU), including 2-4 SU against conference opponents. The Thundering Herd are 6-3 SU overall and 4-2 SU in conference play.
The Roadrunners are hoping to bounce back after a 45-7 loss to FIU last week in which D.J. Gillins completed just 17 passes on 31 attempts for 107 yards and four interceptions. Marquez McNair (five receptions, 48 yards) and Greg Campbell Jr. (three catches, 13 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Marshall is coming off of a 30-13 win over Charlotte. The defense allowed the 49ers to run for 113 yards on 41 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Benny LeMay had a productive showing in the loss for Charlotte, accounting for 70 rushing yards on 13 attempts. For Marshall, Isaiah Green completed 15-of-25 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown. Brenden Knox (116 rushing yards on 22 attempts, one TD) and Anthony Anderson (29 yards on 12 carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Tyre Brady (six receptions, 95 yards) and Artie Henry (three catches, 43 yards) led the receiving corps.
UTSA has run the ball on 47.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Marshall has an overall rush percentage of 51.3 percent. The Roadrunners have run for 95 yards per game (including 93 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have five scores via handoffs this year. The Thundering Herd are averaging 152 rushing yards per game (175 in conference) and have 15 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then the Thundering Herd may own an advantage when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their backfield has produced 4.2 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.9 to opponents. The Roadrunners have recorded 3.1 yards per carry while allowing 4.1 YPC to opponents.
The Roadrunners offensive scheme has logged 149 yards/contest through the air overall (138 per game against conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Thundering Herd have produced 218 pass yards per game (190.2 in the CUSA) and have 15 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, UTSA has allowed 161 rush yards and 260 pass yards per game. The Marshall defense has allowed 233.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 104.6 yards per game on the ground. The Thundering Herd are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.89 to opposing QBs, while the Roadrunners have given up an 8.46 ANY/A.
Offensively, Gillins has put up 197 passing yards this season. He’s completed 48 percent of his 56 attempts with one scores through the air and four interceptions. He has a -0.05 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at -2.59 over the last two games.
Isaiah Green has completed 102-of-183 passes for 1,286 yards, nine TDs and six INTs for Marshall. His ANY/A stands at 6.28 for the season and 6.25 over his last two outings.
When these two teams faced one another a year ago, UTSA emerged victorious by a final score of 9-7.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: UTSA Roadrunners at Marshall Thundering Herd
SU Winner – Marshall, ATS Winner – UTSA, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Marshall offense has lost 10 fumbles this season while UTSA has let seven get away.
The Marshall defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 30 times this season. UTSA has produced just 21 sacks.
UTSA has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its past three contests and 3.6 over its last two.
Marshall has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.0 over its last two.
Over its last three games, Marshall is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for UTSA’s last game was 48. The over cashed in the team’s 45-7 loss to FIU.
In its last three matchups, UTSA is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Marshall’s previous game was set at 42. The over cashed in the 30-13 victory over Charlotte.
Marshall has won four of its last five games SU, with a -2-point defeat to Southern Miss on November 3rd accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
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