Author: Zach Davis
Twitter: @ZachDavis30
TV: CBSSN @ 7 pm Friday.
ODDS/Spread:
Marshall: -4.5; O/U 42.5
UAB comes into Marshall to battle it out for the C-USA title. This game will be played at Marshall. Marshall comes into this game 7-1 and 4-1 in conference play. Marshall lone lost is to Rice 20-0 back on December 5th. Two of Marshalls games has been postponed due to COVID issues. Charlotte was postponed then canceled. Which happened twice in the last 3 weeks. UAB on the other hand comes into this game with a 5-3 record and 3-1 in conference. 4 of UAB’s last 5 games were canceled due to COVID issues. UAB is coming off a 21-16 win over Rice last week. UAB is averaging 29.2 points per game. While giving up 22.5 points per game. They average 5.9 yards per play and 393 yards per game. UAB gives up 4.6 yards per play and 316.5 yards per game. Marshall is averaging 32.8 points per game and giving up 11.4 points per game. Marshall averages 6.1 yards per play while giving 4.1 yards per play. Marshall is led by quarterback Grant Wells. Wells has completed 144 of 227 attempts with 16 TDs and 9 picks with 1,839 yards. Grant averages 229.9 yards per game. Grant Wells can’t just throw the ball, but he can also run with the ball very well. Grant has 44 carries for 159 yards and 2 TDs. Wells averages 3.6 yards per carry and 19.9 yards per game. Wells has a ton of weapons on the outside. The two wide receivers that Wells loves throwing to are Corey Gammage and Xavier Gaines. Corey has 27 receptions for 304 yards and 4 TDs. Corey averages 11.3 yards per catch and 38 yards a game. Xavier has 25 receptions for 328 yards and 3 TDs. Xavier averages 13.1 yard per catch and 41 yards per game. Marshall offense is mostly ran through Brenden Knox. Knox is Marshall’s Running back who has 168 carries for 820 yards and 9 TDs. Knox is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 102.5 yards per game. Knox also has 7 receptions for 86 yards and 1 TD. Knox is averaging 12.3 yards per catch and 10.8 yards per game.
UAB is led by Quarterback Bryson Lucero who has replaced Tyler Johnson III. Bryson took over for Tyler because of an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Bryson is 79 for 146 with 7 TDs and 8 picks. Bryson has thrown for 969 yards in 7 games. He averages 138.4 yards per game. Spencer Brown is UAB main back. Brown has 156 carries for 740 yards and 10 TDs. Brown averages 4.7 yards per carry and 105.7 yards per game. The two main wide receivers for UAB are Myron Mitchell and Hayden Pittman. Austin Watkins Jr has decided to opt-out for the rest of this year. Austin was UAB leader in receptions and yards. Now UAB has to look to Myron Mitchell and Hayden Pittman to grab the ball. Myron has 27 receptions for 423 yards and 3 TDs. Myron averages 15.7 yards per catch and 52.9 yards per game. Pittman has 17 receptions for 205 yards and no TDs. He averages 12.1 yards per catch and 25.6 yards per game.
My pick for this game is the over 42.5. I think that Marshall will be able to put up 30 by themselves. UAB should be able to score at least 14 points in this game. If I want to be honest this is one of my least favorite conference championship game being played this weekend.
Zach’s Best Bet: Over 42.5 (Fanduel)
