Written By: Evan PerkinsThe Marshall Thundering Herd (1-1) have a big task when they battle against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) on Saturday, September 21 at noon ET at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes are easily favored here, with a point spread at -39.5 (-110).
The Thundering Herd just had their first loss of the season. This was a 31-14 defeat to the Virginia Tech Hokies on the road, where the Hokies broke away with a surge in the second half to push the lead further.
Stone Earle completed just 13 of his 36 passes for 131 yards. He struggled to find the end zone just once and also had an interception. A.J. Turner helped spread the offense with six carries for 103 yards, but it was not enough to keep up with the Hokies.
The Thundering Herd had 278 yards, 12 first downs, and an interception. On defense, they allowed the Hokies to get 338 yards and 19 first downs, and they let them have possession of the ball for a little over 36 minutes of action.
The offense has put up 29.5 points per game and allowed 17.0. However, these averages will go out the window against one of the top teams in the country since they struggled against a solid team like the Hokies.
The Buckeyes have glided through their first two games, scoring over 50 points each time. Their latest win was a 56-0 shutout over the Western Michigan Broncos, with a 21-0 first-quarter run to start.
Will Howard found his receivers quickly, with 18 of his 26 passes completed for 292 yards with a touchdown. The run game was also strong, with Quinshon Judkins rushing nine times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. If both aspects of the offense click again, this could be another double-digit burst each quarter when they face the Thundering Herd.
The Buckeyes had a massive 682 yards with 30 first downs while holding the Broncos to 99 yards and six first downs. If their defense stays this aggressive, the spread will easily be covered.
MyBookie sets you for the Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Ohio State Buckeyes college football betting odds. Current market odds have the Buckeyes as 39.5-point favorites. Market trends show the Buckeyes having a 96.9 percent chance of winning.
The Buckeyes have been dominant at the start of the season, and this game will be another one of those blowouts. The Thundering Herd struggled against a team not close enough to be in the top 25, which does not bode well for their chances. Look for the Buckeyes to cover the spread.
