October is here, which means the non-conference college football slate is pretty much over and we will start getting into the thick of conference play.
There’s hardly a more entertaining or competitive league than the Sun Belt. The conference provides some of the best football, not just in the Group of Five, but across the entire sport. This week features a few league-wide matchups that will be intriguing, but the Sun Belt Game of the Week takes us to Huntington, West Virginia.
How To Watch App State-Marshall
The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN+.
App State-Marshall Betting Odds
Marshall is currently a three-point favorite.
App State-Marshall Coaches & Records
App State: Shawn Clark (37-20)
Marshall: Charles Huff (24-19)
Last meeting: Nov. 4, 2023; App State won 31-9.
These teams have met five times since 2002, and the home team has won each meeting.
App State Preview
The Mountaineers’ game against Liberty last week was canceled because of the impacts from Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, Boone and the surrounding areas were severely damaged by the storm.
App State was coming off a 48-14 loss to South Alabama, and I think we would have learned a lot about this team. They bounced back from a big loss to Clemson with a win over East Carolina already.
We’ll see how the Mountaineers’ defense performs this week. Through five weeks, they rank last in the league in total defense, giving up 35.8 points per game, and their 453.8 yards per game allowed ranks second to last.
App State has been OK getting to the opposing quarterback (eight sacks), and it has four turnovers on the season. Not great, but it’s one turnover a game. The biggest issue has been giving up the big plays. They should be able to do a better job of that this week, as Marshall’s offense isn’t the most explosive.
Joey Aguilar was tabbed as the league’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year, but the quarterback hasn’t played up to those standards despite leading the league in passing yards per game with 307.5. His completion percentage is 56.7% and he’s tossed six touchdowns to three interceptions.
A big reason for Aguilar’s slow start has been the subpar play from App State’s offensive line, which only brought back one starter and has been struggling this year.
Marshall Preview
Following a pair of Power Four losses to Virginia Tech and Ohio State, the Thundering Herd bounced back last week with a 27-20 win over Western Michigan. The Herd escaped an upset when WMU QB Hayden Wolff overthrew his wide receiver in the end zone on the final play of the game. The Broncos had the ball at Marshall’s 7-yard line.
Marshall’s defense has been strong this season despite playing those two high-powered offenses. The Herd are currently allowing 25.8 points per game, which ranks fourth in the Sun Belt. They are giving up 369 yards per game but only 175 YPG through the air.
The pass defense will be key going up against Aguilar, as the Mountaineers haven’t been much of a threat on the ground this season.
Marshall running back AJ Turner leads the conference in rushing with 95.4 YPG but has only found the end zone once. QB Stone Earle has 537 passing yards on the year to go with seven TDs and one pick. Christian Fitzpatrick and Elijah Metcalf both have double-digit receptions and three TD receptions.
The Herd’s defense is led by linebacker Jaden Yates and defensive back JJ Roberts. Yates leads the team with 36 total tackles and Roberts has 31. Roberts was the HERO Sports Defensive Player of the Week.
App State-Marshall Prediction
I predict that App State will find a way to overcome its struggles and at least cover the spread and might even pick up a win.
Like I mentioned above, there’s plenty of adversity that the Mountaineers will be facing, but I think they have the leadership from both players and coaches to find a way to get it done.
