The Florida Atlantic University football team faces another tough road assignment Saturday – at Marshall.
FAU, coming off a bye week, is in must-win mode if the Owls are to repeat as Conference USA champions.
Marshall, FAU and the rest of the conference’s eastern division are all chasing Florida International, which is 2-0 in league play. Marshall, Middle Tennessee State and Charlotte are all 2-1 in east division conference play, FAU is 1-1.
The Heard presents a serious challenge, especially playing at home, and FAU has road games at FIU (4-2, 2-0) and North Texas (6-1, 1-2) left on the schedule.
You can expect FAU to score plenty of points on Saturday, but can that Owls’ defense (giving up 38.7 points per game) slow Marshall down enough to pull out the victory?
GAME CAPSULE
When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where/TV/Radio: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,144) – Huntington, W.Va; CBS Sports Network/ESPN 106.3 FM
Line: FAU is a 3-point favorite
Did you Know:
Marshall coach Doc Holliday is 5-0 in bowl games since becoming The Herd’s head coach, including a 52-23 win in the 2014 inaugural Boca Bowl victory vs. Northern Illinois.
About FAU: Florida Atlantic is coming off a 52-33 home win over Old Dominion and have had a extra week to prepare for the Marshall game. FAU will once again rely on the running of
Devin Singletary, who has 131 rushing attempts for 627 yards (4.8 average). Singletary has scored in 19 straight games and has 14 rushing touchdowns this season. He will be going against a Marshall defense which is ranked 10th best in the nation against the run – allowing just over 103 yards per game. F
reshman quarterback Chris Robison faces another big test and has completed 115 of 178 passes for 7 touchdowns – against 6 interceptions. The play of
reserve running back Kerrith Whyte (48 rushes for 333 yards – 6.9 average per carry – with 4 TDs) will be important to the Owls’ cause, as well. Wide receiver Jovan Durante (37 catches for 497 yards and 2 TDs) and tight end Bryant Harrison (20 catches, 300 yards, 2 TDs) have been Robison’s main targets.
Linebacker Rashad Smith (42 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 4 tackles for loss) continues to lead a defense which is ranked 120th out of 130 FBS teams in scoring defense. FAU’s 34.7 points a game on offense is 36th best in the nation.
About Marshall: The Herd’s last game was also against Old Dominion, as Marshall won 42-20.
Marshall’s Alex Thomson (35 of 63 passing with 6 TDs and 2 interceptions) took over for Isiah Green (87 of 158 with 8 TDs and 6 interceptions) in the 34-24 loss to Middle Tennessee State at home on Oct. 5 and is expected to start Saturday. Tyler King (87 rushes for 545 yards, 3 TDs) is the leading rusher for Marshall and
Tyre Brady has caught 41 passes for 530 yards and 6 TDs. Marshall is 34-1 under Holliday when it scores first and The Herd is outscoring opponents 37-9 in the first quarter this season. Marshall is 4-1 against FAU all-time, with the lone loss coming last season in Boca Raton, 30-25. Neither team hesitates to go for it on 4th down this season, as Marshall is 7 of 11 while FAU is 12 of 22.
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