There is not a lot going on in the world of sports. Baseball is dark. Hockey starts Wednesday. The only thing to whet our appetites is a Marshall-Memphis football game, and the fact that I am interested enough to analyze it is a clear sign that I just might be a degenerate. Nonetheless:

Marshall (+3) at Memphis – This a game between two teams that just aren’t very good – Marshall hasn’t won yet, and Memphis has just one victory. Memphis has a couple of factors going against them this week – this is their third game in 11 days, and they have to deal with the shooting death of a teammate on Sunday. Lineman Taylor Bradford wasn’t a key contributor, but the transfer from Samford was apparently popular among his teammates, so the team will likely be emotionally fragile.

All that aside, this game comes down to one thing in my mind – strength of schedule. Marshall has played Miami, West Virginia and Cincinnati. That’s a rough stretch. Memphis, on the other hand, has only played powerhouses like Mississippi, Central Florida and Arkansas State. Marshall’s passing game has done fairly well against their tougher competition, and should be able to perform against Memphis.

This isn’t a game I would even glance at on a Saturday, but on a boring Tuesday I’ll take Marshall and the points. I’d also take the under 60, because the total seems a bit high. Though neither team has a great defense, they haven’t been scoring a lot recently, either.

Last thing to consider – We Are Marshall! was a way better movie than Memphis Belle. That validates my choice. I guess.

UPDATE: 24-21  Memphis. That’s a push on the score and a win on the total. I feel lucky to have got the push. It’s a testament to how bad Marshall is that Memphis QB Will Hudgens, a junior backup with 100 yards passing this year, threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns.

Post from: Ultra Sports Bet