Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Below are my thoughts on the big Conference USA game between Marshall and ECU. I will have more plays up tomorrow, but I wanted to get this one out there with the early kickoff at noon on Friday. Good luck!

ECU +3.5 @ Marshall

On Friday at noon, we get the game Conference USA has been waiting for, when East Carolina heads into West Virginia to take on Marshall. ECU is 9-2, and Marshall is 8-3, and both teams are sporting a 6-1 C-USA record. There is a lot on the line, as the winner will get to represent the East division in the conference championship game. When I take a look at each team’s resume, ECU’s is more impressive and I think they have been tested more than Marshall. ECU has played three ACC teams this year in Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and NC State. The ACC isn’t exactly a juggernaut this year and those teams have been unimpressive, but the thing I’m taking away from it is that ECU was able to go toe-to-toe with teams major teams, beating NC State and North Carolina comfortably, and only losing by 5 to Virginia Tech. I have been on Marshall multiple times this year, and they are a great team to play when facing inferior opponents, but I’m just not sure they stack up against similarly talented teams. Marshall has played 5 teams with a winning record this year and went 2-3 against those teams. Marshall’s defense is ranked 25^th nationally in points allowed per game, but I think that is more of a product of who they have played and not what they have done. ECU’s offense will be by far the most explosive and talented offensive unit they have played all year and I just don’t know that they are going to be able to get enough stops. I actually have ECU a slight favorite in this game, and I will take the points in a game I think ECU wins outright.

I’ve been fighting the flu all week and my mind hasn’t been as good as I would like, but here are some quick hitters on some games I like on Friday as well.

Bowling Green @ Buffalo +2.5

I think Buffalo has the better defense, boosted by one of the nation’s best in Khalil Mack. Buffalo has had almost two weeks to prep for this game, and I think their defense is good enough to get some stops and come away with an outright win as home dogs.

UMass @ Ohio -19

UMass has absolutely packed it in for the season, has a miserable offense, and has little chance in keeping this game within 3 TD’s against an Ohio team sitting at 6-5 with a Senior QB in Tettleton looking to improve their bowl standing.