College Football Predictions – Marshall Thundering Herd 2019 College Football Preview
2018 Recap
Record – 9-4
ATS – 5-8
ARGH.
The Thundering Herd were a solid squad but the mid-season loss to the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee St was an absolute killer. The only bone to pick with their performance is that, for the most part, they beat who they should have beaten and lost the games they should have lost. HC Doc Holliday moved to an impossible 6-0 (!) in bowl games by guiding the Herd to a 38-20 victory over USF in the world-famous Gasparilla Bowl.
Let’s kick back and take a look at the prospects for Marshall heading into this season.
2019 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #3
Conference USA – #7
Marshall Thundering Herd 2019 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Herd were decent enough on offense last season (28.2 PPG, #6 C-USA) but probably need to KICK IT UP A NOTCH if they want to make a serious run for the C-USA title. All the ingredients seem to be in place for that to happen this year. Sophomore QB Isaiah Green had a fine first season (57%, 15-10 TD to INT) and is more than capable of taking a step forward this year. We aren’t yuuuuge Alex Thomson guys, but then again, we aren’t talent evaluation experts. At a minimum, the Herd have a somewhat capable back-up.
Marshall should have one of the most effective rushing attacks in the conference. They return their top-two running backs (Tyler King, Brenden Knox) who combined for over 1,200 yards rushing and 8 TDs on the ground a season ago. Those men will be running behind a quality offensive line that returns four starters including all-world center Levi Brown. The THROW GAME will certainly miss star WR Tyre Brady (1,002, 14.1, 9 TD LY) and it remains to be seen if a #1 option will emerge during the course of the season. Maybe Kentucky transfer Tavin Richardson can make an impact? It will certainly help to have TE Armani Levias back for his senior campaign (25-327, 13.1, 3 TD LY).
We project the Herd to get close to the 30 PPG mark and potentially exceed it for the first time since 2015 (31.3).
DEFENSE
Death, taxes, Marshall playing great defense. Three certainties. AMIRITE?
Marshall has allowed fewer than 23 PPG in five of the last six years and were solid again in 2018 (21.8 PPG, #3 C-USA). They return six starters and a handful of talented players but will be without their top-three tacklers from a season ago, and will be working in a pair of new co-DCs. Marshall bagged an impressive 42 sacks LY (#8 FBS) but took a hit in the PENETRATION department when star DE Ty Tyler decided to transfer to Louisville (9 sacks, 21 QBH LY). The DL should still be decent and the hope is that Virginia Tech transfer Tavante Beckett will be able to help fill in for the departure stars at LB. The best news on defense relates to a secondary that returns three starters including 2nd Team C-USA CB Chris Jackson (15 PBU LY). Marshall ranked #5 in the conference in pass efficiency defense a season ago and should be really good vs the pass once again, even when accounting for the anticipated decline in QB pressures.
The Herd still have one of the better defenses in the conference but will likely take a small drop in the C-USA pecking order in terms of scoring defense, run defense, and sacks.
Special Teams
Marshall needs to find new primary return men but have continuity at P and PK. Robert LeFevre had a decent 35.7 yard net in 2018 and Justin Rohrwasser connected on 15/21 three-pointers (1/5 from 40+ yards).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference schedule is not going be easy to navigate as they face three stern challenges (at Boise St, Ohio, Cincinnati). Their conference road games are well spread out and they finish with a home date vs FIU. Could that game determine the C-USA East champion?
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Charlotte (November 23)
This game falls between big games with Louisiana Tech and FIU. Charlotte could be quite a bit better this year and two of the last three meetings with the 49ers have been competitive.
Season Win Total
Over 7.5 -145
Under 7.5 +125
MEGALOCKS says:
Argh. This is a tough one. Marshall wins seven games a year in their sleep but they could get off to a slow start with a tough-looking September docket. But then again, their talent? Pass for now.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Joan C. Edwards Stadium is one of two FBS stadiums named solely for a woman with South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium being the other. Marshall has an impressive 148–26 overall record at this venue for a winning percentage of .851.
Boyd Chambers was Marshall’s head football coach from 1909–1916. Chambers is best known for calling the “Tower Play”, where one receiver lifted another up on his shoulders to complete a pass. Impress the RANDOM HOTTIE at the gym with that trivia nugget.
MEGALOCKS ATS Outlook: Positive
We like the overall feel of this team. The offense might be the most potent they have had in a number of years and the defense looks decent. The Herd are 40-15 at home under HC Doc Holliday and if they can hold serve in Huntington, there’s no reason why they can’t be off to their first C-USA Championship Game since 2014.
Marshall has been a slightly-above .500 ATS proposition during the nine-year run of HC Holliday. They underperformed market expectations last year but might fly under the radar this season compared to other teams in their division (FAU, FIU, MTSU). They should be a money-maker when all things are said and done.
Want more Marshall Football ?
WEBSITE
http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/mars-m-footbl-body.html
FORUM
http://www.herdfans.com/12thman/index.php?PHPSESSID=f7ac6336bce5d240993ec44026a9a20c&board=1.0
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https://247sports.com/college/marshall/Board/HH-Online-104036/
NEWS
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/276/marshall-thundering-herd
http://bleacherreport.com/marshall-football
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/marshall-thundering-herd
TWITTER
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