Winner takes the East.

Huge game! WKU has played well on the road but Marshall seems to be playing better of late.

3:30 EST

Huntington is in the EST

Western keys to the game:
- Quick release, accurate passes from Zappe
- OLine hold up against the Marshall pass rush
- Control the damage of Rasheen Ali
- Confuse Grant Wells, and force the Marshall QB to take chance throws into coverage

Marshall keys to the game:
- Make Grant Wells stay in controll, give him routes that allow him to make quick, easy decisions
- Establish the run game, controll the clock
- Keep the Western passing game in front of you, they will get their passes in, so tackling will be key
- Force Zappe into bad throws

These two teams are about as even of a matchup as one can find.

My guess is the opening like will have Marshall as a 1.5 favorite.

According to the data, we should come in at a 1 point home favorite.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm

I think WKU wins by 17 or so. Marshall is good, but WKU would probably have only 1 or 2 losses if they could go back and replay the season. It's scary how quickly WKU and ODU have improved.

This is a great matchup on paper.

NCAA passing leader vs #16 pass D in the NCAA.

Will the cold weather impact either side? Will Marshall slow down Zappe? Will Western control Ali?

Both teams have suffered close losses. Marshall's four losses were by an average of 4.5 points. Westerns four losses were by an average of 7 points.

(11-21-2021 10:44 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  I think WKU wins by 17 or so. Marshall is good, but WKU would probably have only 1 or 2 losses if they could go back and replay the season. It's scary how quickly WKU and ODU have improved.

Marshall has more close losses than Western. In fact, it can be argued Marshall could be 10-1 right now, with only the Middle loss as our sure fire loss.

ECU game was a meltdown, as Marshall held a large lead until about a minute left.

App State was a back and forth affair. Marshall missed a last second field goal to win.

MTSU was a game Marshall never really had a chance in.

UAB was a back and forth affair.

I think you are completely taking Marshall for granted.

(11-21-2021 10:44 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  I think WKU wins by 17 or so. Marshall is good, but WKU would probably have only 1 or 2 losses if they could go back and replay the season. It's scary how quickly WKU and ODU have improved.

Yeah, 3 of our 4 losses could’ve easily been wins. The only game we were never in a position to win was the Michigan State game. Marshall might beat us (don’t think they will), but they’d better be prepared to score 35 or more to do it. Can they? We’ll see.

(11-21-2021 01:34 PM)rileylives Wrote:  

(11-21-2021 10:44 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  I think WKU wins by 17 or so. Marshall is good, but WKU would probably have only 1 or 2 losses if they could go back and replay the season. It's scary how quickly WKU and ODU have improved.

Marshall has more close losses than Western. In fact, it can be argued Marshall could be 10-1 right now, with only the Middle loss as our sure fire loss.

ECU game was a meltdown, as Marshall held a large lead until about a minute left.

App State was a back and forth affair. Marshall missed a last second field goal to win.

MTSU was a game Marshall never really had a chance in.

UAB was a back and forth affair.

I think you are completely taking Marshall for granted.

You might want to go back and check that. Three of our losses were by a total of 11 points and we could’ve and probably should’ve won at least two of those. The Mich. St. loss skews our average loss points.

Any other Hilltoppers making the trip? Making my first trip to Huntington for the game.

Should be a great game and the way the East Division should be decided.

Marshall and WKU should always be in the same conference. It’s a shame ESPN was determined to break up CUSA. In my opinion, Marshall and ODU panicked and took the SBC.

Marshal, ODU, WKU, MT, LT as a core was a better option than SBC. ODU fans will not be happy in a non-hoops conference. Marshall I guess became enamored with App St. The TV contract is supposedly way better, but when I look, most of their games are on ESPN+.

I get it, but it’s still a shame Marshall - WKU rivalry broken up by ESPN.

(11-21-2021 02:24 PM)galojah Wrote:  Any other Hilltoppers making the trip? Making my first trip to Huntington for the game.

I’d love to make the trip but I’m going through chemo right now so it’s obviously out.

There seem to be a lot of overconfident Western fans. I think we need to remind them how difficult it is to win in Huntington



Marshall is on a four game win streak against Western.

(11-21-2021 02:20 PM)Red Death Wrote:  

(11-21-2021 10:44 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  I think WKU wins by 17 or so. Marshall is good, but WKU would probably have only 1 or 2 losses if they could go back and replay the season. It's scary how quickly WKU and ODU have improved.

Yeah, 3 of our 4 losses could’ve easily been wins. The only game we were never in a position to win was the Michigan State game. Marshall might beat us (don’t think they will), but they’d better be prepared to score 35 or more to do it. Can they? We’ll see.

So could have ours. ECU, App, and UAB... There is no overcoming 6 TO's against MTSU. I hope its gonna be a good game. Marshall's keys to victory are:

Defense
1: Get pressure and force Zappe to throw before he wants to
2: MUST MUST MUST limit YAC
3: Make sure tackles in the open field
4: Get off the field on 3rd down

Offense
1: DONT FORCE THROWS
2: Take what they give you
3: Ball security
4: Dont get greedy

We have also played a much tougher OOC schedule with Mich. St., Indiana (2 point loss), and Army (3 point loss). We’ve scored over 30 points in all 11 games and over 40 in 7 of them. Regardless it should be a great game.

(11-21-2021 02:23 PM)Red Death Wrote:  

(11-21-2021 01:34 PM)rileylives Wrote:  

(11-21-2021 10:44 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  I think WKU wins by 17 or so. Marshall is good, but WKU would probably have only 1 or 2 losses if they could go back and replay the season. It's scary how quickly WKU and ODU have improved.

Marshall has more close losses than Western. In fact, it can be argued Marshall could be 10-1 right now, with only the Middle loss as our sure fire loss.

ECU game was a meltdown, as Marshall held a large lead until about a minute left.

App State was a back and forth affair. Marshall missed a last second field goal to win.

MTSU was a game Marshall never really had a chance in.

UAB was a back and forth affair.

I think you are completely taking Marshall for granted.

You might want to go back and check that. Three of our losses were by a total of 11 points and we could’ve and probably should’ve won at least two of those. The Mich. St. loss skews our average loss points.

I addressed this earlier.

Marshall's four losses were by an average of 4.5 points. Westerns four losses were by an average of 7 points.

Marshall at home:
30.8 Offensive points per game
17.2 Defensive points per game

Western on the road:
37 Offensive points per game
29.2 Defensive points per game

(11-21-2021 03:01 PM)rileylives Wrote:  Marshall at home:
30.8 Offensive points per game
17.2 Defensive points per game

Western on the road:
37 Offensive points per game
29.2 Defensive points per game

Our defense was not very good at the start of the year. In fact it was bad. It has gotten a lot better throughout the season. We also played two of our toughest games on the road (Mich. St. and Army).

(11-21-2021 03:04 PM)Red Death Wrote:  

(11-21-2021 03:01 PM)rileylives Wrote:  Marshall at home:
30.8 Offensive points per game
17.2 Defensive points per game

Western on the road:
37 Offensive points per game
29.2 Defensive points per game

Our defense was not very good at the start of the year. In fact it was bad. It has gotten a lot better throughout the season. We also played two of our toughest games on the road (Mich. St. and Army).

Right, which is why those stats are valuable, because this will be a tougher match-up on the road than many Topps faithful are claiming it to be.