Every Herd and Pirate fan has secretly (OK, maybe not so secretly) been shooting for this game the entire season. This match-up is shaping up to be an exciting game with much on the line. I don't think anyone can reasonably predict the outcome as both ECU and Marshall are good teams who will bring their A games to Huntington on Friday. Quality athletes are plentiful on both sides, and these two teams respect each others talent. Wish I could be there. (I did make the trek down to Miami for the FIU game, and it was great to see so many Herd faithful in the stands. My guess, around 1500 or so.)

Here's to a great game by both teams...and, I hope, a Herd victory!

I don't know if we will be able to run on ECU or not, but we will be the highest ranked run offense they have faced. I do think the way for us to win is to be a little more pass heavy than we have been this year. ECU is 88th in the country in passing yards allowed, which is statistically their biggest defensive weakness and that's without playing a passing offense ranked as high as ours all season.

I agree with that, Banker.

(11-24-2013 03:58 PM)fedale Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 03:40 PM)Greg H Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 12:59 PM)PurpleReigns2012 Wrote:  Only thing I know for sure:

ECU will start with the ball
ECU will score on first offensive series

Outside of that, it should be a hell of a game!

Huh??

Anyway, great game. Anyone that stakes themselves out on this game is delusional. And no offense, West, the conference champion is playing in THIS game.

ECU has some crazy streak on winning coin tosses. And I imagine with their offense they will want the ball first.

It's not the coin toss, but when we win the toss the staff always takes the ball instead of doing like nearly everyone else who defers and kicks. I think ECU has taken something like 22 straight opening kickoffs and have scored on the first drive 9 of 11 this season with 7 TDs I think.

(11-24-2013 08:33 PM)banker Wrote:  I don't know if we will be able to run on ECU or not, but we will be the highest ranked run offense they have faced. I do think the way for us to win is to be a little more pass heavy than we have been this year. ECU is 88th in the country in passing yards allowed, which is statistically their biggest defensive weakness and that's without playing a passing offense ranked as high as ours all season.

Normally it is difficult to be ranked high in both rushing defense and pass defense…If you are pretty good at one teams will try the other against you. Also our defensive philosophy lends itself to giving up some passing yards as we play a bend but do not break approach…So we give up a decent amount of yards between the 20's from time to time but our defense is pretty good in the red zone.

There are a lot of defensive statistical rankings that will be put to the test for both defenses. I think by far we will both be facing the best offensive team we have seen all season. That is what makes it so hard to get a true read on this game.

I think the team that ends up running the ball better will probably win the game as they will be able to keep the opposing defense off balance a little more. While both teams have excellent players at the skill spots this game will hinge on who gets the best play in the trenches.

Also it is amazing how cordial things have become between ECU and Marshall fans on this board now that it is game week…I think both sides are really concerned about the outcome of this game. I certainly am not confident of an ECU win….One thing that may help us is the fact that we have already played a couple of big emotional games on the road and the team has responded pretty well so that should give them some confidence heading into Marshall.

(11-24-2013 03:58 PM)fedale Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 03:40 PM)Greg H Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 12:59 PM)PurpleReigns2012 Wrote:  Only thing I know for sure:

ECU will start with the ball
ECU will score on first offensive series

Outside of that, it should be a hell of a game!

Huh??

Anyway, great game. Anyone that stakes themselves out on this game is delusional. And no offense, West, the conference champion is playing in THIS game.

ECU has some crazy streak on winning coin tosses. And I imagine with their offense they will want the ball first.

We havent won the coin tosses we have received the ball 20 some straight games. The comment about scoring is that we have gotten off to fast starts in every game this season. There has only been one game that we didnt score a TD on the opening possession and we scored a FG.

(11-24-2013 10:00 PM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  [quote='banker' pid='10067132' dateline='1385343200']
Also it is amazing how cordial things have become between ECU and Marshall fans on this board now that it is game week…I think both sides are really concerned about the outcome of this game. I certainly am not confident of an ECU win….One thing that may help us is the fact that we have already played a couple of big emotional games on the road and the team has responded pretty well so that should give them some confidence heading into Marshall.

Like I've said, there aren't very many people stupid enough to start staking themselves out and getting cocky, on either side. Any fan, of either school, who isn't worried sick about losing this game is probably delusional.

(11-24-2013 08:33 PM)banker Wrote:  I don't know if we will be able to run on ECU or not, but we will be the highest ranked run offense they have faced. I do think the way for us to win is to be a little more pass heavy than we have been this year. ECU is 88th in the country in passing yards allowed, which is statistically their biggest defensive weakness and that's without playing a passing offense ranked as high as ours all season.

I'm not so sure. ECU hasn't really faced a good rushing attack. Plus, the fact that they play good rush D might actually work to our benefit. SUpposed Legg commits to getting Butler 25 carriers (I know). Now, instead of hitting a homerun every 5th carry, like he has all season, Butler just gets a 15-20 yard carry every 5th time. All of the sudden, Marshall is playing ball control. I've got to think that you beat ECU by playing ball control and great D.

(11-24-2013 07:08 AM)ShoreBuc Wrote:  Basically this is the CUSA Championship game.

We love the arrogance. Would focus on this game before declaring anything.

One team lost to Ohio who has been beaten 129-33 in last three MAC games and other team lost to Tulane and signature wins are against #51 BCS ranked NC and #93 ranked NC St. Both teams lost to Va Tech who is nowhere near same team of years past and is 1-3 over last four weeks losing to powerhouses BC, Maryland, and Duke.

Not any smack about Rice as Owls have no impressive W's either. All three teams have beat-up on a # of cupcakes, had some closer games than thought in C-USA, and losses in C-USA.... just making point that nobody in C-USA should be cocky about anything. My belief is that all three teams would beat the other two at home and lose to the other two on-the-road. Hence, why Marshall is favored by Vegas this week.

Assuming Rice takes care of business, Owl fans cheering for Herd as Rice holds the BCS tiebreaker w/ Marshall to host C-USA championship game in Houston which makes big difference vs. going to Greenville (for no other reason than home field matters to all three teams).

Would be nice someday to have the $$ to play at neutral field to get better feel of who is best without location being a major factor.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rankings/bcs

(11-25-2013 07:43 AM)Greg H Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 10:00 PM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  [quote='banker' pid='10067132' dateline='1385343200']
Also it is amazing how cordial things have become between ECU and Marshall fans on this board now that it is game week…I think both sides are really concerned about the outcome of this game. I certainly am not confident of an ECU win….One thing that may help us is the fact that we have already played a couple of big emotional games on the road and the team has responded pretty well so that should give them some confidence heading into Marshall.

Like I've said, there aren't very many people stupid enough to start staking themselves out and getting cocky, on either side. Any fan, of either school, who isn't worried sick about losing this game is probably delusional.

I am not sure how any honest fan of ECU or Marshall that has watched both of these teams play this year would feel overly confident about a win. Fact is Marshall has the advantage at home and if it is a close game ECU does not have a FG kicker with confidence right now. I think coach Ruff does not feel comfortable right now in the Red Zone going for a FG unless we are inside the 15yd line.

I think anything could happen in this game but I am glad that the two best teams in CUSA East are deciding the CUSA East Title

(11-25-2013 08:18 AM)owl40 Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 07:08 AM)ShoreBuc Wrote:  Basically this is the CUSA Championship game.

We love the arrogance. Would focus on this game before declaring anything.

One team lost to Ohio who has been beaten 129-33 in last three MAC games and other team lost to Tulane and signature wins are against #51 BCS ranked NC and #93 ranked NC St. Both teams lost to Va Tech who is nowhere near same team of years past and is 1-3 over last four weeks losing to powerhouses BC, Maryland, and Duke.

Not any smack about Rice as Owls have no impressive W's either. All three teams have beat-up on a # of cupcakes, had some closer games than thought in C-USA, and losses in C-USA.... just making point that nobody in C-USA should be cocky about anything. My belief is that all three teams would beat the other two at home and lose to the other two on-the-road. Hence, why Marshall is favored by Vegas this week.

Assuming Rice takes care of business, Owl fans cheering for Herd as Rice holds the BCS tiebreaker w/ Marshall to host C-USA championship game in Houston which makes big difference vs. going to Greenville (for no other reason than home field matters to all three teams).

Would be nice someday to have the $$ to play at neutral field to get better feel of who is best without location being a major factor.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rankings/bcs

Did not know Rice holds the BCS tie breaker with Marshall. If Marshall had to go to Rice to play then I in fact would favor Rice. I think if Rice has to travel all the way to Marshall or ECU that the CUSA East teams win.

(11-25-2013 08:23 AM)ShoreBuc Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 08:18 AM)owl40 Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 07:08 AM)ShoreBuc Wrote:  Basically this is the CUSA Championship game.

We love the arrogance. Would focus on this game before declaring anything.

One team lost to Ohio who has been beaten 129-33 in last three MAC games and other team lost to Tulane and signature wins are against #51 BCS ranked NC and #93 ranked NC St. Both teams lost to Va Tech who is nowhere near same team of years past and is 1-3 over last four weeks losing to powerhouses BC, Maryland, and Duke.

Not any smack about Rice as Owls have no impressive W's either. All three teams have beat-up on a # of cupcakes, had some closer games than thought in C-USA, and losses in C-USA.... just making point that nobody in C-USA should be cocky about anything. My belief is that all three teams would beat the other two at home and lose to the other two on-the-road. Hence, why Marshall is favored by Vegas this week.

Assuming Rice takes care of business, Owl fans cheering for Herd as Rice holds the BCS tiebreaker w/ Marshall to host C-USA championship game in Houston which makes big difference vs. going to Greenville (for no other reason than home field matters to all three teams).

Would be nice someday to have the $$ to play at neutral field to get better feel of who is best without location being a major factor.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rankings/bcs

Did not know Rice holds the BCS tie breaker with Marshall. If Marshall had to go to Rice to play then I in fact would favor Rice. I think if Rice has to travel all the way to Marshall or ECU that the CUSA East teams win.

I think it may be possible with a win against ECU for Marshall to jump Rice in the BCS even if Rice wins because of how highly rated ECU is.. I don't know that for sure but I think its possible