Big CUSA Games Today
It is time to bust out the grill and the cooler of beer it is Saturday and there is a slew of college football action all day today. We will focus in on the often forgotten CUSA and highlight a few of the big games that we are looking forward to from this conference today.
UCF @ Marshall
UCF has the best defense in the CUSA. They have lead the conference in defense for the last two years and are on their way to doing so again this season. UCF will have their work cut out for them though as Marshall’s offense if red hot as they lead the CUSA in overall scoring and averaging just over 568 yards a game. It will be interesting to see if the UCF defense can stifle Marshall’s killer offense.
UCF is not under performing in terms of offense either, though. Blake Bortles, UCF’s quarterback, has not thrown an interception in four games  exhibiting great ball control. The great part about that stat is Bortles hasn’t just been running the ball to four games without a pick. He has thrown 147 passes without a turnover.
Rakeem Cato, Marshall’s QB, has the highest completion rating in the nation. He is averaging about about 379 yards per game.
This game may rest on the shoulders of Marshall’s defense who are going to have to step it up against UCF. An alternative strategy for victory for Marshall would be to shoot it outwith UCF. If Cato and simply keep up with Bortles he can hope that the ball is in his hand last and drive his team to victory. Marshall will also have a home field advantage in this game.
The odds for this game are incredibly close. The point spread only favor UCF by -2 points. The monyline for UCF is at -130 to Marshall’s +110. The over/under for this game is at 67 points, among the highest for the week.
Navy @ East Carolina
Another CUSA game that is going to be close that I am looking forward to is East Carolina hosting the Navy.
Both these teams have a ton of momentum coming into this game. East Carolina has won four straight games at home and are coming off an impressive clutch victory 42-35 against UAB. Navy, on the other hand, have won their last three in a row and will be looking to move to four as they attempt to stifle ECU’s winning streak.
All eyes will honestly be on ECU wide receiver Justin Hardy who has eight touchdown receptions this season and has had a touchdown catch in 11 of his last 12 games.
It is Hardy’s impressive performances as of late that put East Carolina as the 3.5 favorites to cover the spread. The moneyline for the game is at -170 for ECU to the Navy’s +150. The over/under is 48 points.
