UCF Knights vs Marshall Thundering Herd Pick, Odds, Gasparilla Bowl Prediction 12/23/2019

Game: UCF Knights vs Marshall Thundering Herd

Date: Monday, December 23, 2019

Gasparilla Bowl

Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Marshall +16.5

Total/Over-Under: 59.5

Isaiah Green and the Marshall Thundering Herd play the UCF Knights at Raymond James Stadium on Monday, December 23, 2019. UCF opens this game as 16.5-point favorites. The Knights are 5-7-0 ATS and 6-6-0 when betting on the total. The Thundering Herd are 7-5-0 when wagering on the over/under and 4-8-0 against the spread.

In their last contest, the UCF Knights took on the USF Bulls and earned the win by a score of 34-7. Leading the way at QB for the Knights was Dillon Gabriel who went 23/39 with 270 yards passing and completed 2 TD's. He ended the game with no interceptions. Adrian Killins Jr. paced the team in rushing for the game. He tore off a long run of 35 yards and he tallied 1 TD for the contest. He ran for 115 yards via 14 carries which gave him an average of 8.2 yards per run. Gabriel Davis was the leader in receiving yardage by racking up 106 yards on 8 catches. He averaged 13.3 yards per catch for the game. The Knights ran the ball 42 times and racked up 232 yards which gave them an average of 5.5 yards per rush. On the day, they ran 82 plays which gave them a total of 539 yards. Overall, the Knights racked up a total of 28 first downs and they totaled 11 infractions for 112 yards which shows us that this team didn't have their heads in this game. In terms of defense, UCF allowed 9 completions on 22 tries for a total of 116 yards, and a completion percentage of 40.9%. For this contest, they allowed a total of 250 yards and earned 3 takeaways. In the running game, the Knights allowed 134 yards on 41 tries which means they had an average of 3.3 yards per rushing attempt allowed.

The Knights come into this matchup with a record of 9-3 this year. They are one of the most potent offenses in the country averaging 43 points per game, ranking them 6th in college football. As a team, they are averaging 216.6 yards on the ground per contest which is 3rd in the American Athletic Conference. For total yards, they currently sit at 1st in the American Athletic Conference and 7th in college football with 6,439 yards. The Knights have one of the middle tier defenses in Division 1, allowing 22.8 points per game which has them at 2nd in the conference. When it comes to yards through the air, the Knights have allowed 3,840 yards. Opponents are completing 52.9% of the passes they throw against them and averaging 5.8 yards per try. In regard to yards rushing, UCF is giving up 144.9 yards per contest putting them 3rd in the conference and 52nd in the nation. They are allowing teams to run for an average of 3.5 yards per rush which has them at 2nd in the AAC and 22nd in college football overall. In total, they have allowed 1,739 rushing yards through 12 contests.

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The last time they took the field, the Marshall Thundering Herd took on the FIU Golden Panthers and notched a win by a score of 30-27. Taking the lead at quarterback for the Thundering Herd was Isaiah Green who went 9/20 with 90 yards through the air and tossed 1 touchdown. He walked away from this game with no interceptions. Brenden Knox led the team in rushing for the game. He had a long run of 24 yards and he notched 1 TD in the game. He rushed for a total of 146 yards on 33 carries which meant he was running for 4.4 yards per carry. Obi Obialo led the team in receiving yardage by racking up 31 yards on 5 receptions. He had an average of 6.2 yards per reception for the game. The Thundering Herd rushed the ball a total of 57 times and racked up a total of 200 yards which earned them an average of 3.5 yards per carry. For the contest, the Thundering Herd racked up a total of 23 1st downs and they totaled 4 penalties for 35 yards which tells us their heads weren't always in the game. Overall, they ran 77 plays which added up to 290 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Marshall allowed 22 completions on 38 throws for a total of 240 yards, and a completion percentage of 57.9%. Overall, they gave up a total of 322 yards and forced 1 takeaway. On the ground, the Thundering Herd allowed 82 yards on 30 attempts which is an average of 2.7 yards per run allowed.

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The Thundering Herd head into this matchup 8-4. In terms of offensive proficiency, the Thundering Herd have one of the average offenses in college football. Marshall is making teams consider moving more up into the box by averaging 195.7 yards on the ground per contest, which has them at 36th in Division 1. As a unit, they have compiled a total of 2,348 yards rushing through 12 games, so they'll look to the run game to try to keep the opponents off balance so they'll have open receivers. The Thundering Herd average 396.6 yards per contest overall which has them at 75th in D-1 and 7th in Conference USA. The Thundering Herd are giving up 23.1 points per game ranking them 4th in Conference USA and 40th in Division 1. In regard to points given up, they have given up 277 total points. In terms of rushing yards, they are conceding 134.3 yards per game ranking them 34th in Division 1 and 3rd in C-USA. In 2019, they have conceded 1,612 yards on the ground and 21.6 rushing touchdowns. Their passing defense is one of the middle of the road units in D-1. They are allowing 227.8 passing yards per game. For yards through the air allowed per game, the Thundering Herd currently sit at 8th in C-USA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Thundering Herd +16.5

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