WKU Football: Staff Predictions Week Thirteen - Marshall
The Thanksgiving turkey has been eaten and the Black Friday shopping is over so you know what that means: it’s Moonshine Throwdown time.
Both teams enter 7-4 and only one will be able to leave with a win and a C-USA title game berth. So how does our staff see the game going?
Matt McCay (9- 2)
I broke down my logic in my Keys article, but I still stand by what I said in that. Marshall could win, but WKU is a team of destiny. As WKU fans, and really as Conference USA fans, we have all known Bailey Zappe is a generational type of C-USA talent. Is he going to do something in the league? That remains to be seen, but the man is ridiculous, and his season will go down forever as the best in C-USA history. We have also known once the defense got itself remotely together, the formula to beat WKU would be difficult to calculate. Now that WKU’s defense is forcing turnovers, it makes it even harder to imagine paths to victory for opponents.
I’ll make this clear: Marshall can win, but they need their very best, they need to hope the WKU defense doesn’t create chaos, and they need the WKU offense or special teams to hand them a couple of opportunities. If all of that happens, advantage Marshall. Marshall is really good. Marshall’s defense as a whole is a master of sacks, sixth in the country in per game. The offense gets nearly 500 a game themselves. However, talent comes forth in big games. The only person I see capable of blowing up the game on his own on either side of the ball is freshman running back Rasheen Ali, who has 23 total touchdowns on the season and nearly 1500 yards. And it’s not all on the ground. So I believe it’s on him to be the guy. That being said, I think it’s a good, competitive game, but WKU controls the entire time, or they explode later and win fairly easily.
I’ve got Western Kentucky: 41, Marshall: 24.
Alex Sherfield (7–4)
It all comes down to this. After an inspiring turnaround from Early October, the Tops are playing for a conference championship appearance. Marshall is not going to be an easy opponent for this Thanksgiving weekend season finale.
Grant Wells is a gunslinger who will do everything to hang with Bailey Zappe. With an average of 8.3 yards passing, he is challenging most of the CUSA defenses. Through the number of weeks, the WKU secondary has averaged at least two takeaways per game. I don’t expect that to slow down anytime soon.
However, the run defense will have to find some answers for the CUSA leading rusher Rasheen Ali. With having 20 touchdowns in tow, he’s been hard to keep grounded. I do have the confidence in the WKU run defense is now allowing 3.9 yards per carry from opposing offenses.
The Battle of Zappe vs Wells will be the top story of the afternoon. Regardless of how the rushing game does, at least the passing will be on full display.
Let’s take this one home and prepare for a C-USA title berth. Give me WKU: 44, Marshall: 41.
Devin Stewart (8–3)
Short and sweet. Give me the Tops overwhelming Thundering Herd 56-35.
Sam Gormley (10–1)
For only the second time this season, I really don’t know what to pick. The last time? The UTSA game which as my record shows is my only missed pick all season.
Am I the kind of fan that is superstitious with even the smallest things? Well, as a famous paper company boss said, “I am not superstitious, but I'm a little 'stitious.”
Give me Marshall 45-42 for that reason alone. I am willing to break my streak if it means picking up a win. Go Tops.
Jared Rosdeutscher (10–1)
As much as I love WKU’s chances of winning by a lot, they haven’t played a good team since UTSA where they barely lost. I think this game will be closer than everyone else is really predicting on here
Thankfully the Tops’ defense has gotten better so I think they’ll make a big play or stop that will decide the game. Don’t see a 67-66 finish but I will take the Tops 49-45.