Miami (OH)/Marshall

[chiefsc]

What do you guys think about tonight's game? Miami (OH) -1 and O/U 55. Marshall is without Leftwich tonight and Marshall has beaten Miami (OH) 4 straight times. Marshall is also 6-0 at home this season. This game is basically for a trip to the MAC Championship. Sophomore Stan Hill will make his first career start. Hill has completed 16 of 27 passes for 140 yards and no touchdowns with one interception this season. He's appeared in seven games. He hasn't had too much time on the field because Marshall coaches basically have been trying to pad his Byron's stats.

Miami (OH) has their own QB stud in sophomore Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger has followed his MAC freshman of the year campaign by completing a league-best 232 passes in 354 attempts (65.5 percent) for 2,720 yards, 18 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Roethlisberger was held without a touchdown pass for only the second time in 22 career games against Toledo, but was outstanding otherwise completing 22-of-31 passes for 299 yards. Miami has played everybody tough...losing to Northern Illinois by 7 and Iowa by 5. They are also averaging 31 points a game.



Anybody have some insider trends for this game?

My first thought is to pick Miami and the over....but I'm hesitant with the over.

[Jammer]

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Game of the Day Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Miami (Ohio) vs. Marshall
By Dean Myers




For the fourth time in five seasons, these Mid-American Conference East foes will duke it out in a game with divisional title implications.

In 38 games since 1905, Miami (Ohio) has won or tied all but nine tilts with the Marshall Thundering Herd. The Herd has beaten the RedHawks straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in each of the last four clashes.

Miami (7-3 SU, 6-3-1 ATS) holds a slim half-game lead over Marshall in the MAC East standings, and would claim the school's first MAC East title since 1997 with wins over conference rivals Marshall and UCF in its final two regular season games.

The RedHawks come into this game with a three-game SU and ATS winning streak, including a victory over another MAC East rival, Ohio University last week. With the 38-20 win, Miami dropped the Bobcats a full game behind in the division and grabbed sole possession of first place.

Miami boasts the best road record in the nation, with a 5-1 SU and ATS mark away from Yager Stadium. Colorado State is the only other team with five road wins.

The RedHawks have won both of their games under the lights this year, and own a 36-24-3 SU record in night contests overall.

In the past six games, Miami has accumulated 2,720 yards of total offense, while piling up an astounding 39.0 points per game. Pivot Ben Roethlisberger is leading the way, completing 69.4 percent of his passes for 1,780 yards and has thrown 12 touchdowns against just four picks in his last six games.

Miami's defense has had its problems in the fourth quarter, as one-third (83 points) of the 241 points scored against the team has come in the final frame.

Marshall (6-2 SU, 2-5 ATS) boasts the nation's best overall offense, averaging a staggering 533.2 yards per game. The Herd must be raring to run against a RedHawks defense that's allowing a porous 403.2 yards per game.

Marshall can retain their MAC East title with victories over the RedHawks and either Ball State or Ohio, the team’s final two opponents.

However, all is not peachy for the Herd, with Heisman Trophy candidate, quarterback Byron Leftwich, doubtful for tonight's matchup. He injured his shin in a surprising defeat to Akron and still hasn't fully healed.

Sophomore Stan Hill, who has completed 16-of-27 attempts for 140 yards on the season, is Marshall’s No. 2 man.

The Herd’s running backs, Franklin Wallace and Brandon Carey, are also dealing with nagging injuries. And wide receivers Curtis Jones and Brad Bates are both out for the season.

Needless to say, Marshall needs some heroic efforts from their walking wounded to come through on national TV tonight.