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On Saturday, the Florida Atlantic Owls will return to the field after a three-week hiatus to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd, the No. 22 ranked program in the nation. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET with Stadium broadcasting the proceedings.
The identity of the Florida Atlanta offense remains open to interpretation as quarterback Nick Tronti makes just his second career start. A transfer from Indiana, Tronti brings athleticism and play-making to the position as evidenced by his 49-yard touchdown run against Charlotte in the season opener. While opposing defenses need to account for his legs, Tronti’s inexperience as a passer looks likely to limit the offense. He averaged just 4.5 yards per attempt in his first start and 6.3 for his career.
Conversely, Marshall has looked like a well-oiled machine on offense. Quarterback Grant Wells has lived up to every expectation thus far in his first season as a starter, completing nearly 66% of his passes for 859 yards, six touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Wells has also factored into the running game where he has scored twice.
Wells’ play has meshed well with that of running back Brenden Knox, the reigning Conference USA Most Valuable Player. So far in 2020, Knox has delivered 455 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. When Marshall has a lead late in games, Knox can dependably grind down the clock and seal victories as he has done several times already this year.
Despite Marshall giving 17 points on the spread, 80% of the handle and 77% of the bets have come in on the Thundering Herd. Similarly, Marshall’s -1000 moneyline has received 65% of the handle and 94% of the bets. As for total points, a whopping 92% of the handle and 88% of the bets have gone to over 51.
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