Two teams that like to run the football, Head Coach Butch Davis and the FIU Panthers (+8) are gearing up to face off against their conference nemesis Marshall Thundering Herd (-8) at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the action and the pivotal afternoon game is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. ET.

FIU vs. Marshall Betting Odds 11/30/2019

Marshall is favored by 8 points in this CUSA matchup. The Panthers are currently getting +250 moneyline odds while the Thundering Herd are -330. This CUSA matchup will likely present multiple live betting opportunities. The over/under has been set at 49.5 points.

The Panthers are 6-5 straight up (SU), including 3-4 SU against CUSA opponents. The Thundering Herd are 7-4 SU overall and 5-2 SU in conference play. The disappointing Panthers are down 4.7 units so far and 3-8 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 5-6.

The Thundering Herd have lost 0.1 units this season. They’re 4-7 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-5.

The Panthers just got a 30-24 win over Miami (FL) last weekTheir defense allowed the Hurricanes to rush for 164 yards on 31 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Cam’Ron Harris had a productive day for the Hurricanes in that one with 86 rushing yards and a score on 11 attempts. On the offensive side, James Morgan completed just 16 passes on 30 attempts for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Anthony Jones (112 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack in the win while Tony Gaiter IV (six receptions, 82 yards, one TD) and Shemar Thornton (six catches, 70 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.

Marshall just fell 24-13 to Charlotte. The defensive unit allowed the 49ers to kill the clock by rushing for 256 yards on 51 attempts, including two rush TDs. Chris Reynolds put up a solid showing for Charlotte, posting 145 rushing yards and a score on 25 attempts. For Marshall, Isaiah Green completed six-of-17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Brenden Knox (92 yards on 22 rush attempts) mounted the ground attack in the defeat while Armani Levias (two receptions, 17 yards) and Sheldon Evans (one catch, four yards) led the pass-catching attack.

When looking at offensive play selection, each of these teams has a nearly identical (58-42) run-pass ratio on the season. The Panthers have produced 176 rush yards per game (including 164 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 20 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Thundering Herd are totaling 195 rushing yards per contest (189 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.

It seems like the Thundering Herd may hold an advantage when it comes to RB efficiency. Their backfield has generated 5.0 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents. The Panthers have rushed for 4.6 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.3 to opponents.

The Panthers have tallied 202 yards/game through the air overall (206 per game against conference opposition) and have 12 passing scores so far. The Thundering Herd have recorded 211 pass yards per game (226.9 against CUSA competition) and have 14 total pass TDs.

Defensively, FIU seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 201 yards and pass for 187 yards per game. Marshall has allowed 139.3 yards per game on the ground and 226.7 to opposing teams in the air. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.09 to opposing QBs, while the Thundering Herd have given up a 5.85 ANY/A.

Morgan is up to 1,845 passing yards this year, and has completed 144-of-245 attempts with 12 passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. Morgan’s got a 7.54 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 5.85 over the last two games.

The Panthers will probably try to control the clock by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to receiver Tony Gaiter IV (431 receiving yards and three touchdowns), Napoleon Maxwell (494 rush yards, six rush TDs) and Anthony Jones (750 rush yards, eight rush TDs, two receiving TDs) have really been focal points in the FIU offense.

For the home team, Isaiah Green has recorded 1,962 yards, 12 TDs and eight INTs. Green’s ANY/A stands at 6.12 for the season and 3.26 over his last two outings.

The Thundering Herd also like to keep their RBs featured. Along with Obi Obialo (22 receiving yards), Brenden Knox (1,025 rush yards, eight rush TDs, 120 receiving yards) and Sheldon Evans (311 rush yards, one rush TD) have gotten a lot of touches lately.

These two programs met last year with the final outcome being a 28-25 victory for Marshall.

FIU Panthers vs. Marshall Thundering Herd Free Pick

SU Winner – Marshall, ATS Winner – Marshall, O/U – Over

Notes

Betting Trends

The Panthers offense has created six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Thundering Herd have put up 12 such plays.

The FIU defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Marshall has given up nine such plays.

The FIU offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Marshall has created 18 such runs.

The Panthers defense has allowed 19 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Thundering Herd have given up 11 such runs.

The Marshall defensive unit has registered more than twice the sack total of FIU this year (33 to 15).

FIU has averaged 3.8 yards per rush attempt across its last three outings and 4.3 over its last two.

Marshall has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.3 over its last two.

Over its last three contests, Marshall is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.

The O/U for FIU’s last game going into it was 52.5. The over cashed in the team’s 30-24 victory over Miami (FL).

In its last three matches, FIU is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.

The O/U for Marshall’s last game was set at 56.5. The under cashed in that 24-13 defeat to Charlotte.