Marshall Thundering Herd vs East Carolina Pirates Prediction, 9/9/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Marshall Thundering Herd vs East Carolina Pirates

Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023

Location: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, NC

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Pirates (+1)

Total/Over-Under: 47

Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is the location where the East Carolina Pirates (0-1) will try to beat the Marshall Thundering Herd (1-0) on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Marshall opens this matchup as 1-point favorites. The total is 47.

The Marshall Thundering Herd come into this game with a record of 1-0 for this year. In their last matchup, the Thundering Herd went up against the Albany Great Danes and walked away with a win by a score of 21-17. Cam Fancher connected on 28/35 with 268 yards through the air and 1 TD. He had a QB rating of 148 and walked away from the contest with 1 interception. Rasheen Ali led the offense in rushing for the Thundering Herd with 18 totes for 137 yards (7.6 yds per attempt). The Marshall Thundering Herd ended up running the ball 26 different times and totaled 145 yds, which had them averaging 5.6 yds per attempt. On the day, they ran 61 plays which gave them a total of 413 yards. Marshall conceded 22 completions on 38 attempts for 194 yards, and a completion percentage of 57.9%. In the running game, the Thundering Herd conceded 106 yds on 36 tries, which calculates to 2.9 yards per run allowed.

The Thundering Herd currently have 413 total yards for the year. In terms of scoring, Marshall has compiled 1 touchdown through the air and 2 touchdowns on the ground. They have given the ball to the opposition 1 time. Marshall has amassed 21 1st downs as a unit, and they have committed 5 penalties for 54 yds. As a team they are averaging 145.0 yards in the run game which is 70th in Division 1. When talking about getting in the endzone, the Marshall Thundering Herd hold an average of 21.0 points per contest.

The Thundering Herd are sitting in 57th in Division 1 concerning team defense, conceding 17.0 points per game. They are allowing an average of 2.9 yards per rush and 106.0 rushing yards per contest on the season. In total, they have allowed 106 running yards through 1 game. In terms of passing yardage, the Thundering Herd have conceded 194 yards which puts them in 58th in the nation. They are conceding 194.0 yards per outing through the air and allowed a completion percentage of 57.9%. Over the course of this season, they have relinquished 300.0 yards per contest which ranks them 59th in the country. They have yielded 1 touchdown through the air and 1 touchdown pounding the rock.

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The Pirates head into this matchup 0-1 this year. The last time they took the field, the Pirates walked away with a loss by a score of 30-3 against the Michigan Wolverines. Mason Garcia finished the contest with 80 yards on 11/17 through the air while his QB rate was 104.2. He didn't throw any picks and his Y/A was 4.7. Mason Garcia carried the ball 8 times for 36 yds, finishing the game with 4.5 yards per carry for East Carolina. East Carolina rushed for 4.0 yards per attempt, finishing the contest with 103 yards on 26 carries. The Pirates finished the contest with a total of 235 yds and they ran 54 plays (4.4 yards per play). The Pirates secondary conceded a completion rate of 83.9%, surrendering 280 yds on 26 for 31 through the air. East Carolina conceded 31 rush attempts for 122 yds (3.9 yds per rush).

The East Carolina Pirates average 235.0 yards per contest, which ranks them 119th in Division 1. The East Carolina offense has totaled 118 yds of penalties on 12 infractions, which ranks 8th in the nation in terms of giving up free yards. They have thrown no interceptions while losing no fumbles and they have been able to earn 12 first downs. When discussing their scoring prowess, the Pirates rank 126th in D-1 by tallying 3.0 PPG.

East Carolina has given up a total of 122 yards on the ground and 1 touchdown via the rush on the year. They have surrendered 3 touchdowns via the pass in addition to 280.0 yards per outing, which has them ranked 104th in college football. Their defense has compiled no fumbles recovered and no picks over the course of the season. The Pirates defense has taken the field for 62 plays, which is 47th in the country. The Pirates are giving up 30.0 points per contest, which has them sitting 92nd in Division 1. Overall, they have conceded 30 total points.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Thundering Herd -1

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