Louisville at Marshall – Preview and Prediction
LOUSIVILLE 27.5 MARSHALL (74.5)
Implied Projected Score: Louisville 10,000 Marshall 0 (51.0 to 23.5 really I think)
MEGALOCKS LINE – Louisville 18
The Game
Louisville takes their red-hot show on the road to face Marshall on Saturday night. The Cardinals are the hottest team in college football and look to make it four straight blowout wins before their big date with Clemson next week. Marshall is coming off a brutal home loss at the hands of the wacky Akron Zips and will look to get that taste out of their mouths this weekend. Tough sledding ahead, yo.
The Match-Up
Louisville offense vs Marshall defense
Louisville is averaging over 679 yards per game with Heisman favorite (!?) QB Lamar Jackson playing at an almost surreal level. The offense has put up 70,62,63 in three weeks. The run and the pass are both shredding opposing defenses. What could possibly go wrong ? We can’t sugarcoat it. The only thing that we can say is that they have taken too many penalties (#91 in penalty yards….some of this came on defense) and they are (-2) in turnover margin. That is more than offset by Jackson’s 18 TDs (10 rush, 8 pass)
Marshall gave up 65 points to Akron in what might have been their most embarrassing home loss in school history. Let’s get this out of the way. Akron deserved to win and moved the ball very well. The Marshall D looked bad. Ok. Now keep in mind Akron outscored Marshall 34-0 in the 2nd quarter thanks to all kinds of wacky plays. In fact, Akron scored three defensive / special teams TDs on the day. Marshall’s defense is only returning four starters from last season’s unit, but keep in mind, they are still experienced and only gave up 18 points per game last season. Prognosis: Giving up points but not like Charlotte or Syracuse. Or even Florida St.
Marshall offense vs Louisville defense
The Herd have a fine QB in Chase Litton who is picking up right where he left off in 2015. Litton has 10 TDs vs 3 INTs after games vs Morgan St and Akron. The Louisville defense has been excellent so far (#24 FBS) and did not give Florida St much room for 60 minutes last week at home. Marshall had trouble running on Akron last season, but do not forget, that Akron run D was outstanding last season (#3 FBS – 93 yards per game). Marshall has a couple of decent backs but will need Litton to do work in the passing game if the Herd is to have a shot of keeping this close. Maybe the defense can set them up with a short field or two ?
MEGA Minutia
SANDWICH GUY will note that Louisville has their biggest game in …..well a long time next week vs Clemson…..this comes after a blowout feel great win over Florida St…..This week it is just itty bitty Marshall on the road.
Summary
Louisville is pretty much a 4 TD fav on the road at Marshall. Just as a guess, that would make the Cards about a 33-34 point favorite at home to the Herd. Bama is a 44 point fav at home to Kent St.
Marshall is a proud team that just got humiliated. They are also good. You do not win 33 games over the last three seasons and forget how to play football. Or forget how to coach. We like the value in the line and the situation for the Thundering Herd. And yes, they could lose 67-3.
Gonna take a shot at the first half line. We think the longer this game goes the more evident it will become that Louisville is much the better team. At +17, the Cards essentially have to score at least 20 to cover even if they shut Marshall out in the first half.
Conclusion
Official play: Marshall first half +17 -110