Marshall (8-4) vs. South Florida (7-5)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 65,890

7 PM CT

ESPN

Clay Matvick, Dan Orlovsky, Paul Carcaterra

Stripes: Mountain West, Steve Baron, lead whistle

Marshall by 4

Under ninth year coach, Doc Holliday, Marshall is 5-0 in bowls. Marshall has won this bowl twice, in 2011 when it was called the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl, and in 2014 when it was the St. Petersburg Bowl. South Florida has played in this bowl once, the inaugural one in 2006, defeating Memphis, 41-14.

Marshall quarterback Isaiah Green, a 6’2”, 202 redshirt freshman, has completed 155 of 280 passes, 55%, for 2,060 yards, 15 TDs against 10 ints. Tyler King (5’11”, 190 soph) leads the team in rushing with 655 yards on 108 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per pop and 4 TDs. South Florida has the 9th worst rushing defense in FBS allowing 245 yards on the ground per game. 6’3”, 206 pound senior Tyre Brady leads the team in receiving with 60 receptions for 819 yards and 9 TDs. Wide receiver Obi Obialo (6’3”, 213, Jr.) is next with 37 receptions for 463 yards and 4 TDs. On defense, senior outside linebacker Chase Hancock (5’11”, 223) leads the Thundering Herd with 98 tackles including 6 for loss and 3 sacks. Safety Malik Gant (JR. 6’2”, 194) is next with 90 tackles and has added 9 TFLs. Nose tackle Channing Harnes (6’5”, 252) leads the team in tackles for loss with 10 1/2 and sacks with 5 1/2. The Herd has posted 12 interceptions on the season. Gant leads the team with 2. Linebacker Omari Cobb has taken 1 back to the house for 25 yards.

For South Florida, former Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett (6’5”, 217, JR) has had his ups and downs this season. He’s completed 203 of 327, 62%, for 2,477 yards, 11 TDs and 11 ints. South Florida started the season 7-0, but lost their last 5 including a 38-10 loss to UCF at home the final game of the season. Running back Jordan Cronkrite (5’11”, 207, JR) is a nice back. He’s run for 1,095 yards and 9 TDs. Johnny Ford (5’5”, 168, FR) added 737 yards and 8 TDs and Barnett rushed for 313 yards and 8 TDs as well. So there is some potency with this offense. Slot receiver Tyree McCants, a big guy at 5”10”, 240, leads the team in receiving with 58 receptions for 607 yards and 3 TDs. Wide out Darnell Solomon registered 25 receptions for 424 yards and 4 TDs, but he’s questionable for the game with an injury. Mitchell Wilcox, also questionable for the game, has 40 receptions for 506 yards and 2 TDs. On defense, outside linebacker Khalid McGee (5’10”, 213) leads the team in tackles with 104. He also posted 6 1/2 tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks. Defensive end Josh Black (6’2”, 252) leads the team in tackles for loss (11) and sacks (5). The Bulls have 11 ints on the season, and are led in that department by strong safety Nick Roberts (5’10”, 183) who has 3 for 91 yards. He’s averaging 30 yards per interception return.

Final Decision

The Bulls are playing on their home turf which is certainly an asset, but they lost 5 in a row to conclude the season. Marshall did lose their last game, 41-20 to VA. Tech, which allowed the Hokies to get into a bowl game (the Military Bowl vs Cincy, Monday, Dec. 31st, 11 AM CT ESPN), but they did win 4 of 5 before that. The momentum looks to be on the Thundering Herd’s side somewhat and I like Holliday’s bowl record, which includes a 31-28 victory over Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl last season, though South Florida is going for their 3rd straight bowl victory also. Even though the Bulls have the home field advantage, I like the Herd to capture the Gaspirilla Bowl tonight, but in a highly competitive game.

Marshall 34, South Florida 28