The Florida Atlantic Owls (-3) are heading north to take on their CUSA counterpart Marshall Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. This crucial afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action on FCBK.
Betting Preview: Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall is the home underdog in this CUSA game and is currently getting 3 points. The Owls are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Thundering Herd are +135. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 59.5 points. There should be some decent live betting scenarios in the game.
The sharp action has been siding with the Owls, as the line opened at -1. The game’s O/U has not changed after it was set initially at 59.5.
The Owls have lost 1.6 units this season and are 1-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 4-1.
The Thundering Herd have gained 0.5 units for moneyline bettors in 2018. They’re 2-4 ATS and four of their games have gone over the total.
The Owls have gone 3-3 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Thundering Herd are 4-2 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Owls want to make it two in a row 52-33 win over Old Dominion on October 6. Chris Robison completed 21 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Devin Singletary (168 rushing yards on 19 attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Robison (34 yards on 11 carries, one TD) led the running attack in the win. Jovon Durante (seven receptions, 111 yards) and Harrison Bryant (six catches, 133 yards, two TDs) handled the receiving duties.
The Marshall Thundering Herd are coming off of a 42-20 win over Old Dominion. The defensive unit let the Monarchs run for 106 yards on 31 rush attempts. Kesean Strong was a bright spot in the loss, recording 52 rushing yards on 15 attempts, along with 47 yards and a score on four catches for Old Dominion. For Marshall, Alex Thomson completed 18-of-29 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tyler King (195 rushing yards on 22 attempts, two TDs) and Anthony Anderson (91 yards on 14 carries, three TDs) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Tyre Brady (nine receptions, 103 yards, one TD) and Marcel Williams (two catches, 21 yards) led the receiving attack.
Florida Atlantic has run the ball on 59.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Marshall has a rush percentage of 49.7 percent. The Owls have produced 236.7 rush yards per game (including 269.0 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 21 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Thundering Herd are putting up 159.2 rush yards per game (213.7 in conference) and have 10 total rushing TDs.
The Owls offensive scheme has tallied 244.3 yards per contest in the air overall (246.5 per game against conference opposition) and has seven passing TDs so far. The Thundering Herd have recorded 243.8 pass yards per contest (214 in the CUSA) and have 11 total pass scores.
Defensively, Florida Atlantic has let opponents run for an average of 189.7 yards and pass for 277.7 yards per game. The Marshall defense has allowed 276.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 103.5 yards per game on the ground. The Thundering Herd are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.83 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have given up an 8.35 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Robison is up to 1,262 yards this year, and has completed 65 percent of his 151 attempts with seven scores through the air and five interceptions. Robison’s got a 7.37 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.97 over the last two games.
In the host locker room, Alex Thomson has completed 18-of-29 passes for 182 yards, one TD and one INT. Thomson’s ANY/A sits at 5.07 for the season and 3.91 over his past two games.
When these two schools met a year ago, Florida Atlantic emerged victorious by a final score of 30-25.
Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Marshall Thundering Herd Free Prediction
SU Winner: Marshall, ATS Winner: Marshall, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Florida Atlantic’s previous game was set at 63.5. The over cashed in the team’s 52-33 victory over Old Dominion.
- As a team, Florida Atlantic has produced 5.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.7 over its last two.
- Marshall has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.4 over its last two.
- Marshall has lost seven fumbles this season while Florida Atlantic has let two get away.
- Over its last three matches, Florida Atlantic is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Marshall’s last game was set at 56.5. The over cashed in that 42-20 victory over Old Dominion.
- Over its last three matches, Marshall is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Owls offense has tallied six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Thundering Herd have accounted for three such plays.
- The Florida Atlantic defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Marshall has given up four such plays.
- The Florida Atlantic offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Marshall has created eight such runs.
- The Owls defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Thundering Herd have given up zero such runs.
- The Marshall defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season. Florida Atlantic has registered just seven sacks.
