Marshall at USF Gasparilla Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/20/2018

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Raymond James Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Marshall Thundering Herd travel to Raymond James Stadium to take on the USF Bulls on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has USF as 2 point favorites. The Thundering Herd have an ATS record of 4-8-0 while their over/under record is 8-4-0. The Bulls have an over/under record of 5-7-0 and they are 4-8-0 against the spread.

Valuable Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Trends

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 8-4-0 against the over/under

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 4-8-0 against the spread

Important USF Bulls Betting Trends

The USF Bulls are 5-7-0 against the over/under

The USF Bulls are 4-8-0 against the spread

Key Marshall Thundering Herd Injuries

10/10/18 OL Alex Mollette Leg is out for season

Key USF Bulls Injuries

12/02/18 DB Bentlee Sanders Undisclosed is questionable Thursday vs Marshall
12/02/18 QB Blake Barnett Ankle missed last game, is probable Thursday vs Marshall
12/02/18 DE Kevin Bronson Undisclosed is questionable Thursday vs Marshall
12/02/18 DB Mekhi Lapointe Undisclosed is questionable Thursday vs Marshall
12/02/18 TE Mitchell Wilcox Ankle is questionable Thursday vs Marshall
12/02/18 RB Trevon Sands Undisclosed is questionable Thursday vs Marshall
11/13/18 LB Nico Sawtelle Shoulder is out indefinitely
09/23/18 WR Terrence Horne ACL is out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 78th in Division 1 in points scored with 329. They have run 838 plays this season for 4,614 yards, which ranks them 66th in the nation in total offense. The Thundering Herd average 5.5 yards per play, which is 82nd in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 236 1st downs this year, placing them 93rd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Marshall has run for 1,870 yards as a team, which ranks 87th in the country. They've run 431 times, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Thundering Herd have been penalized on offense 77 times for 712 yards so far this season, which has them 51st in the nation in penalties. Isaiah Green has thrown for 1,840 yards this season. He has completed 136 passes on 246 attempts for a completion percentage of 55.3%. His quarterback rating this year is 129.6. He averages 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 7 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Marshall is 32nd in the nation in points allowed on defense with 264. They have surrendered a total of 4,027 yards on D, which is 20th in Division 1. The Thundering Herd are ranked 16th in yards per play allowed with 4.7. Opposing offenses have completed 241 passes on 424 attempts against the Marshall Thundering Herd defense this season, placing them 100th and 106th in the country. The Marshall pass defense has also given up a total of 2,780 yards through the air, which is 67th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 425 attempts for 1,247 yards this year, putting them in 7th place in D-1 against the run. The Thundering Herd have committed 80 penalties for 682 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 74th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Marshall is ranked 22nd in the nation in punt returns with 25. They've accumulated 241 punt return yards and average 9.6 yards per return, which is 56th in college football. They have returned 38 kicks for 712 yards on special teams, ranking 36th in kick return yardage. The Thundering Herd average 19 yards per kick return and they are 71st in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,567. The Marshall Thundering Herd have attempted 20 field goals this season and made 14, which is 53rd in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 70%. Marshall Thundering Herd kickers have made 95% of their extra points, going 40 for 41 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,548 yards on 65 punts, averaging 39 yards per punt. That places them 108th in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Bulls have run for 2,455 yards as a team, which ranks 37th in the nation. They've run 481 times, averaging 5.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Bulls have been penalized on offense 94 times for 853 yards so far this year, which has them 19th in the country in penalties. They are 64th in Division 1 in points scored with 350. They have run 882 plays this year for 5,339 yards, which ranks them 57th in the nation in total offense. The USF Bulls average 6.1 yards per play, which is 46th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 264 1st downs this season, ranking them 52nd overall as an offensive unit. Blake Barnett has completed 203 throws while attempting 327 passes for a completion percentage of 62.1%. He has passed for 2,477 yards this year. He averages 6.7 adjusted yards per throw and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 130.1.

Defensive Statistics

The USF Bulls rush defense has given up 584 attempts for 2,945 yards this season, putting them in 121st place in the country against the run. They have had 73 penalties for 600 yards on defense this year. That places them 38th in Division 1. USF is 92nd in college football in points surrendered on defense with 378. They have given up a total of 5,312 yards on D, which is 101st in the nation. The Bulls are 75th in yards per play allowed with 5.8. Opponent offenses have completed 185 throws on 340 attempts against the USF defense this season, ranking them 17th and 28th in the country. The USF Bulls pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,368 yards in the air, which is 31st overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The USF Bulls have tried 18 field goals this year and made 16, which is 41st in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 83%. USF kickers have made 90% of their extra points, going 37 for 41 this season. Their punters have accumulated 3,064 yards on 72 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That ranks them 43rd in the NCAA in punting average. USF is 37th in the country in punt returns with 22. They've totaled 82 punt return yards and average 3.9 yards per return, which is 121st in D-1. They have returned 46 kicks for 1,092 yards on special teams, which puts them 3rd in kick return yardage. The Bulls average 24 yards per kick return and they are 19th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 6,512.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Thundering Herd +2

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