Originally Posted by
Vinnybagadonuts
This game is all about focus. If UCF is focused, then they should cover. Marshall's offense is below average, even when you consider who they've played against. Marshall will be focused tonight, if for no other reason than they play better at home than they do on the road, and it's a televised event.
If UCF comes out flat, then this could be an interesting game. If they go up early (10 points plus), then UCF covers easily; Marshall doesn't have the capability to do well in a shootout.
That's pretty much what it comes down to. Everything else is really just over-analysis.
Marshall always plays tough against big brother WVU, so you can toss that one out. The only other game that was close was against Ohio. Hardly on par with the athletic ability that UCF can bring (I say "can" bring, because I have no idea if they'll be focused for the game or not.)
UCF has made it a habit of beating up on teams they're supposed to:
38-7 over S. Dakota
24-10 over Buffalo
42-7 over UAB
It lost two games, both against better opponents:
21-28 vs. NC State (5 turnovers really did them in)
13-17 at Kansas St. (K. St. scored at TD with :27 left to win)
If you look at Marshall, you could easily throw out the Ohio State game, and even the WVU game (WVU isn't very good this year BTW).
Marshall lost 28-44 to Bowling Green (who is 1-5 by the way, getting their only win against Marshall)
Marshall won 24-23 against Ohio (but do you even know why? Ohio scored a TD with no time left on the clock, and went for the 2-point conversion for the win, instead of going to OT!! They didn't get it, and lost.)
Finally...
Marshall lost 41-16 at Southern Miss. (It was 31-0 in the third, when Marshall ran back a kickoff for a TD. After that, So. Miss didn't try very hard, but still outscored them 10-9 for the remainder of the game.)
So, you asked why everyone is high on UCF tonight, and not Marshall. This is why.
I hope this helps.