A beautiful location for a Monday afternoon bowl matchup in Myrtle Beach. We have a fun one with C-USA’s Marshall Thundering Herd taking on FBS Independent UConn Huskies. UConn is bowl eligible for the first time since 2015 when they took on Marshall at the St. Petersburg Bowl. Marshall makes a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season. They are also looking to turn around their fortunes in bowl games, as they have lost their last three. The line for this one has Marshall as an 11.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 40.5. Here is my betting preview for the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Marshall Thundering Herd
The Marshall Thundering Herd is looking to win their fifth straight game and six out of their last seven. This team has been great offensively this season. They average 205.6 rushing yards per game (36th in the country) to go along with 424 total yards of offense (80th in the country). Starting quarterback Henry Colombi got hurt and lost his starting job to freshman quarterback Cam Fancher. Fancher has thrown for 1,465 passing yards to go along with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added 456 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry.
The offense has been very much so a time-managing offense, which has been led by running back Khalan Laborn rushing for 1,423 rushing yards (12th in the nation) to go along with 5.1 yard per carry and 16 rushing touchdowns (t-8th in the nation). They take on a average run defense when it comes to rushing yards per game. I think Marshall will have no issues offensively in this one.
Defensively, the Thundering Herd has been tough to go up against. They rank 17th in total yards allowed per game (311.8), t-5th in rushing yards allowed per game (88.8) and only allowed 16.2 points per game this season. Opposing teams only convert 23.4 percent on third down (31st in the country). I think Marshall’s defense will continue to be exceptional in this one.
UConn Huskies
Jim Mora did what Jim Mora does best in his first season at UConn, and that is to send his team to a bowl game. The Huskies took a big step forward in 2022 and not everybody can say that they saw UConn making a bowl game this season. UConn’s offense is a good mix, but I think their x-factor is running back Victor Rosa (9 rushing touchdowns). The Huskies rank 58th in the country in rushing yards per game (194.8). They do struggle throwing the football, averaging just 107 passing yards per game. UConn will need that good running game to do wonders against a top-five rushing defense.
Defensively, the Huskies give up 26.1 points per game and allow just under 400 yards of total offense. When UConn gives up more than 20 points in a game this season, they are 1-6 in those games. UConn is 5-0 in games in which they keep opponents under 20 points. If the Huskies want to win this matchup, they need to keep Marshall under 20 points.
Betting Trends
-Marshall is 7-3 ATS in their last ten bowl games.
-In Marshall’s last five bowl games the over is 4-1.
-UConn is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
-UConn unders are 4-0 in their last four non-conference games.
The Don’s Myrtle Beach Bowl Best Bet
My official play in this one is over 40.5. I think Marshall will control the game offensively and will put up some serious numbers against UConn’s defense. My lean is Marshall -11.5 because I do think that they can cover this, but I am scared that UConn’s defense comes to play in this bowl game. Ride the over in this one.