New QB Debuts For Marshall in Home Opener vs. Purdue
By Charles Jay
It is a very hard act to follow when you are replacing a legend, and that is just what Rakeem Cato was for the Marshall Thundering Herd. So that represents the kind of pressure Michael Birdsong feels as he steps into the breech as the news starting quarterback. On Sunday, Marshall takes on the Purdue Boilermakers in the only major college game of the day, beginning at 3 PM ET at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, WV. Vietbet customers can make their wagers prior to the game, of course, but they can also challenge the football odds while the contest is in progress, with the amazing feature of Live Betting Extra.
Marshall was a sizzling 13-1 last year, and the only thing that got between them and a New Year’s Day bowl game was a 67-66 overtime loss to Western Kentucky in the regular season finale. They recovered to win the Conference USA championship over Louisiana Tech, and proceeded to the Boca Raton Bowl (yes, that’s no typo), where they thumped Northern Illinois by a 52-23 score.
Purdue has gone dry when it comes to bowl appearances the last couple of seasons. So Darrell Hazell, entering his third year as head coach, has to be feeling the pressure. His team was 3-9 last season, losing its last six games. Austin Appleby, who was only so-so in 2014 (53%, ten TD’s) has been named the starting quarterback.
College Football Betting Preview – Marshall vs Purdue
In the football odds posted on this game by the people at Vietbet, Marshall is a favorite:
- Marshall Thundering Herd -7.5
- Purdue Boilermakers +7.5
- Over 61.5 points -110
- Under 61.5 points -110
If you are going to lay the points with Marshall in this game, that means you probably have some confidence that Birdsong can make the transition from the FCS level. He is known to have a very strong arm, but he last played with James Madison in the 2013 season. In two seasons, he threw for 3206 yards. Offensive coordinator Bill Legg says that he has not shortened the playbook for Birdsong, even though the offense developed over the course of four years under Cato. Yes, these are some big shoes to fill, as Cato threw for 14,079 yards and 131 touchdowns in a Marshall uniform before joining up with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Birdsong won the job in the spring, and many Vietbet customers know that when that issue is settled, it gives a quarterback more time to develop chemistry with his receivers. Even through the Herd lost Tommy Shuler, who caught 92 passes for 1138 yards from Cato, they return a couple of genuine downfield threats in Devonte Allen (24.7 yards a catch) and Angelo Jean-Louis (23.3). Whether Birdsong can connect on some long gains with them frankly remains to be seen. But one vital offensive cog that can’t be ignored is running back Devon “Rockhead” Johnson, who averaged an incredible 8.6 yards a carry on his way to 1767 yards on the ground. With three offensive line starters returning (albeit minus all-conference center Chris Jasperse), they should be in pretty decent shape along those lines.
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