Marshall at Miami College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Yager Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Marshall Thundering Herd travel to Yager Stadium to take on the Miami RedHawks on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Marshall as 2.5 point favorites. The Thundering Herd had an ATS record of 9-4-0 last season while their over/under record was 6-7-0. The RedHawks had an over/under record of 4-7-1 and they were 3-9-0 against the spread.

Valuable Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Trends

The Marshall Thundering Herd were 6-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Marshall Thundering Herd were 9-4-0 against the spread last year

Important Miami RedHawks Betting Trends

The Miami RedHawks were 4-7-1 against the over/under last season

The Miami RedHawks were 3-9-0 against the spread last year

Key Marshall Thundering Herd Injuries

08/20/18 QB Alex Thomson Shoulder is upgraded to probable Saturday vs Miami Ohio
08/20/18 OL Nathaniel Devers Leg is questionable Saturday vs Miami Ohio

Key Miami RedHawks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Marshall Thundering Herd were 68th in Division 1 in points scored with 347 last year. They ran 896 plays last season for 4,943 yards, which ranked them 55th in the nation in total offense. The Thundering Herd averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 82nd in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 265 1st downs last year, placing them 61st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Marshall ran for 1,827 yards as a team, which ranked 88th in the country. They ran 452 times, averaging 4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Thundering Herd were penalized on offense 85 times for 777 yards last season, which had them 34th in the nation in penalties.

Defensive Statistics

Marshall was 15th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 259 last season. They surrendered a total of 4,442 yards on D, which was 30th in Division 1. The Thundering Herd were ranked 21st in yards per play allowed with 5. Opposing offenses completed 241 passes on 432 attempts against the Marshall Thundering Herd defense last season, placing them 78th and 91st in the country. The Marshall pass defense also gave up a total of 2,867 yards through the air, which was 69th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 465 attempts for 1,576 yards last year, putting them in 18th place in D-1 against the run. The Thundering Herd committed 72 penalties for 729 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 90th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Marshall was ranked 35th in the nation in punt returns with 22 last year. They accumulated 42 punt return yards and averaged 1.9 yards per return, which was 128th in college football. They returned 39 kicks for 862 yards on special teams, ranking 46th in kick return yardage. The Thundering Herd averaged 22 yards per kick return and they were 72nd in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,846. The Marshall Thundering Herd attempted 16 field goals last season and made 10, which was 97th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 63%. Marshall Thundering Herd kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 42 for 42 last year. Their punters totaled 2,597 yards on 59 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That placed them 21st in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The RedHawks ran for 1,768 yards as a team last year, which ranked 94th in the nation. They ran 438 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Miami RedHawks were penalized on offense 88 times for 757 yards last year, which had them 29th in the country in penalties. They were 100th in Division 1 in points scored with 293. They ran 826 plays last year for 4,619 yards, which ranked them 68th in the nation in total offense. The RedHawks averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 68th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 248 1st downs last season, ranking them 81st overall as an offensive unit. Gus Ragland completed 152 throws while attempting 270 passes for a completion percentage of 56.3% last year. He passed for 2,032 yards. He averaged 7.8 adjusted yards per throw and 7.5 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 137.6.

Defensive Statistics

The Miami RedHawks rush defense gave up 446 attempts for 2,012 yards last season, putting them in 58th place in the country against the run. They had 68 penalties for 662 yards on defense last year. That placed them 70th in Division 1. Miami was 38th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 289. They gave up a total of 4,422 yards on D, which was 28th in the nation. The RedHawks were 56th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Opponent offenses completed 192 throws on 365 attempts against the Miami defense last season, ranking them 21st and 47th in the country. The Miami RedHawks pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,410 yards in the air, which was 24th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Miami RedHawks tried 16 field goals last year and made 12, which was 87th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75%. RedHawks kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 35 for 36 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,596 yards on 64 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 89th in the NCAA in punting average. Miami was 126th in the country in punt returns with 6 last season. They totaled 37 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 87th in D-1. They returned 40 kicks for 708 yards on special teams, which put them 78th in kick return yardage. The Miami RedHawks averaged 18 yards per kick return and they were 99th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,364.

Who will win tonight's Thundering Herd/RedHawks college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Thundering Herd -2.5

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