NCAA Week 8 Football Betting – Marshall Thundering Herd at UAB Blazers
The Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham (1-6 SU, 2-3-1 ATS) will try to end a three-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon when they play host to the Thundering Herd of Marshall (3-3 SU, 1-4 ATS) in NCAA college football action that is scheduled for a 4 PM ET kickoff at Legion Field (artificial turf) in Birmingham, AL.
Saturday, October 18
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: MARSHALL -3.5
Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* MAR has covered one of its last five games
* MAR has lost 13 of its last 19 games SU
* MAR is 5-18-2 ATS in its last 25 road games
* MAR has lost ten of its last 11 road games SU
* MAR has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total
* UAB has lost 12 of its last 13 games SU
* UAB has lost five of its last six home games SU
When you look at UAB’s results, you acknowledge that they are ranked 115th in defense, and have not been able to hold any good team down. But they have also been the victim of circumstance when it comes to scheduling. The Blazers have gone against Tulsa’s David Johnson (ranked 1st in passing efficiency), FAU’s Rusty Smith (way down in the passer ratings but still considered an NFL prospect), highly-touted Stephen Garcia, in his first start for South Carolina, Memphis’ Arkelon Hall, and Houston’s Case Keenum, who leads the nation in total offense. So while we understand that they do not possess a bunch of stoppers, maybe we can excuse them a bit if they have looked like a sieve.
And while we’re at it, let’s acknowledge an advantage of sorts for the Blazers at the quarterback position. Mark Cann (50%, 6 TD, 7 INT’s) has produced very few winning plays for Marshall, and in no way does he possess the elusiveness of the athletic Joe Webb (57%), who may have nine INT’s but adds a very nice dimension with his ability to run the ball (588 yards, on pace for just over a thousand). This is an element that will have Marshall off-balance for much of this contest.
UAB wants some revenge for last year’s 46-39 loss in Huntington, in which its 496 yards went for naught. Webb himself accounted for 252 yards in that game (rushing and passing). Marshall doesn’t defend all that well (ranked 103rd overall). As far as their offense is concerned, they have scored more than 17 points against only one Division I opponent. And they have lost ten of their last 11 as the visitor, not to mention having covered just five of their last 25 road games. So why in the world are they laying points at Legion Field? This game is a toss-up at best, so let’s take the value play with UAB, the 3.5-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.
