Marshall Thundering Herd - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

We Are Marshall was a fun flick last summer. We Are the Marshall Thundering Herd and We Give Up 29 Points Per Game, on the other hand, didn’t play to great reviews on the gridiron. Marshall was 5-7 overall, but 4-4 within Conference USA, led by quarterback Bernard Morris. His 61.7-per-cent completion rate masked a problem with interceptions (he threw eight TD passes and 12 picks). He leads seven other returning starters on an offensive unit that was 49th in the nation in total offense. Morris shared the starting quarterback role with Jimmy Skinner in 2006, and could flourish this season with more confidence. 

The Thundering Herd will need Morris to settle quickly after the loss of running back Ahmad Bradshaw, whose 1,523 yards and 19 TDs will be sorely missed.  Morris was the team’s second-highest rusher with 324 yards, so coach Mark Snyder will probably go with a platoon back system to begin the season.  Cody Slate (43 receptions, 684 yards, 6 TD) and Emmanuel Spann (38 receptions, 383 yards, 3 TD) are also back to give Morris plenty of targets.  Marshall will also have to be much better defensively, coming in at 101st in the country in total defense, and 102nd in scoring defense. 

Seven starters return, but safety Curtis Keyes and linebacker Matt Couch graduated, leaving 200 tackles to be made by someone else this season.  Defensive end Albert McClellan (11.5 sacks) will be hoping to emulate a sparkling freshman campaign in 2006, but Byron Tinker (4.5 sacks) will need to step up his game so McClellan can avoid the inevitable double-teams that are awaiting him. The Herd begins the season at Miami before hosting West Virginia.  The defense will be the key to Marshall’s hopes in 2007, as they will not go very far by allowing 29 PPG again.

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