Will Homecoming prove to be a distraction for Florida Atlantic University?

FAU, on a four-game winning streak, entertains always-dangerous Marshall at 6:30 p.m. Friday night on Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium.

A 5.5-point favorite, Florida Atlantic needs to keep rolling if it is to win the East Division of Conference USA. The Owls, 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference, trail Western Kentucky (4-2, 3-0) in the standings.

FAU plays at Western Kentucky on Nov. 2.

Florida Atlantic is coming off a 28-13 win over Middle Tennessee State Univeristy last Saturday, as the Owls overcame a 13-12 halftime deficit and scored the game’s final 16 points in the second half. Marshall lost at MTSU, 24-13, on Oct. 5.

FAU coach Lane Kiffin said his team’s latest victory, “wasn’t pretty.”

“It wasn’t real clean, a lot of penalties (9-74 yards), but at the end of the day if you go plus three – you get three turnovers and you don’t give up any – and don’t even put any balls on the ground all day, you are going to have a good chance to win,” Kiffin said of his team’s effort against Middle Tennessee.

“Defense did a really good job of bending, but not breaking, especially in the second half with the shutout.”

That said, Kiffin knows all about Doc Holliday’s Marshall program and looks past the Thundering Herd’s .500 (3-3) record.

“I have always said and thought in our two years playing here that (Marshall) looks as good or better than anybody in the conference from a players’ standpoint,” Kiffin said of Friday’s opponent. “I know (Marshall) started off a little slow on offense, but they really did move the ball lately and have a lot of really good players.”

Marshall, a 31-17 winner at home last week over Old Dominion, is led offensively by quarterback Isaiah Green. On the season, Green has completed 99 of 173 passes (57.2 percent) for eight touchdowns against five interceptions. Brenden Knox has rushed 95 times for 505 yards for Marshall, scoring five touchdowns.

FAU quarterback Chris Robison continues to lead the Owls, but Kiffin said his play against Middle Tennessee, “definitely was not his best game.”

Robison hit on 15 of 30 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown vs. MTSU. For the season, Robison is 133-208 (63.9 percent) throwing the football for 13 touchdowns. He has thrown only two interceptions.

“He had been playing great,” Kiffin said of Robison, “so, kind of came back down to earth and missed some throws.”

Robison got plenty of help against Middle Tennessee from freshman running back Malcom Davidson, who ran for 149 yards on 21 attempts – including a 57-yard touchdown run.

And, FAU’s receivers continue to come up with big catches. Led by tight ends Harrison Bryant (25 catches overall) and John Raine (22 catches), along with wide receiver John Mithcell (6-4, 220 pounds), FAU’s crew has caught the eye of Marshall’s coach.

“FAU is a little similar to us in that they’ll play three tight ends,” Holliday said, “One guy (Harrison Bryant) is first-team all-conference and a good player.

“They have talented tight ends.”

FAU defense continues to be led by senior linebacker Rashad Smith. He has 42 total tackles (22 solo, 20 assits) with 1.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Friday’s game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

If You Go

Who: Marshall (3-3 overall, 1-1 conference) at Florida Atlantic (4-2, 2-0).

What: Conference USA game – the third for both teams. Marshall leads the series, 5-1, including a 31-7 win last year in Huntington, W.V. The only Florida Atlantic victory came in 2017, 30-25, at FAU Stadium

Where: Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium (Capacity 29,419), Boca Raton

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/Fox Sports 640 AM

Line: Florida Atlantic is a 5.5-point favorite

Did you Know: Florida Atlantic’s tight end combination of Harrison Byrant and John Raine have caught 47 passes between them in the first six games – the top FBS tight end duo. Raine and wide receiver John Mitchell lead the team with four touchdown passes each.

Photos contributed by: Bob Markey / Courtesy of www.FAUOwlsNest.com