Events
NCAAF
UAB
Blazers
5 - 3
Marshall
Thundering Herd
7 - 1
December 18, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
 | Joan C. Edwards Stadium

Game Preview

UAB
Blazers
5 - 3
Marshall
Thundering Herd
7 - 1
December 18, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
 | Joan C. Edwards Stadium

  • Marshall (7-1 SU, 5-3 ATS) allowed the fewest points and yards per game in the nation this year, while UAB (5-3, 2-6) has held four of its last six opponents to 16 points or less. Marshall opened as a 5.5-point favorite in the first meeting between the teams since 2014.

    C-USA Championship Game: UAB vs Marshall
    • Date/Time: December 18, 7 p.m. ET
    • Stadium: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
    • TV Coverage: CBS Sports Network
    • Sportsbook Odds: Marshall -5.5 | O/U 42 (Line History)
    • UAB vs Marshall Matchup Report

    Sportsbook Odds Analysis

    Marshall has laid more than a touchdown in seven of its eight games this year and more than two touchdowns in six of those contests. However, UAB has been an underdog in just one of its last eight games against Conference USA opponents.

    UAB News & Notes

    To say the Blazers have had to overcome a lot to get here would be an understatement. Playing its first game in 42 days due to a multitude of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracings, UAB rallied from a 13-7 halftime deficit to beat Rice 21-16 last week and clinch its third straight C-USA division title.

    Walk-on receiver Samario Rudolph’s first career catch gave UAB an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter and quarterback Tyler Johnston III made the most of his nine completions, throwing touchdown passes of 63 and 42 yards.

    Despite playing without three safeties and three outside linebackers, UAB’s defense allowed just 232 total yards against Rice, limiting the Owls to 66 yards on the ground. The Blazers defense was 14th in the nation this year against the pass, allowing an average of just 180 yards per game.

    UAB shouldn’t be intimidated by having to go into enemy territory for a conference championship game. The Blazers became the first road team in C-USA history to claim the title, winning 27-25 at Middle Tennessee State in 2018.

    Marshall News & Notes

    The Thundering Herd will be well-rested after having their regular-season finale canceled last week against Charlotte. Marshall players probably wanted to suit up in that game to wash the bad taste out of their mouths from their previous outing, a 20-0 loss as 24-point home favorites against Rice.

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    Quarterback Grant Wells was intercepted five times in the defeat, which marked the first time Marshall had been shut out since 2000 and the first time at home since 1982.

    The 20 points allowed was no fault of the Herd’s defense, however, as turnovers set up 14 of the Owls’ points. Prior to that, Marshall had allowed just 53 points in its previous four games and didn’t give up more than 17 points in any of its first seven.

    The Thundering Herd lead the nation in total defense (253.9 yards allowed per game) and points allowed (11.4) while ranking second in rush defense (73.0). Defensive lineman Darius Hodge led Marshall’s stop unit with six sacks in eight games.

    Marshall is hosting a C-USA title game for the first time since 2014, when it won its first and only conference title with a 26-23 victory over Louisiana Tech.

    Betting Pick: UAB +5.5

    Considering everything UAB has had to overcome to get to this point, I’ll gladly take the points with the underdog Blazers. Don’t be surprised if this low-scoring battle comes down to the final possession.

    Shark Bites
    • UAB is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 road games.
    • The OVER is 10-4 in Marshall’s last 14 home games.
    • Marshall is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 home games vs UAB.
Back to Matchup

Odds

Friday, December 18 Fri Dec 18

Opening
Current
UAB
vsFinal
Marshall
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+5.5
-110
+200
o42
-110
-5.5
-110
-240
u42
-110
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+4
-110
+172
o44
-110
-4
-110
-197
u44
-110
Line History
Final

Edge Finder

30.08
 Total Score
24.17
199.54
 Passing Yards
194.83
235.08
 Rushing Yards
205.58
31:55
 Time on Field
32:11
65.31
 Number of Plays
74.92
6.71
 Yards Per Play
5.42
30.08
 Total Score
24.17
8.85
 First Quarter
3.83
8.54
 Second Quarter
9.67
6.15
 Third Quarter
5.58
6.00
 Fourth Quarter
4.83
199.54
 Passing Yards
194.83
24.69
 Pass Attempts
28.92
14.92
 Pass Completions
17.92
1.54
 Sacks
2.75
9.85
 Sack Yards
17.58
13.37
 Yards Per Pass
10.87
235.08
 Rushing Yards
205.58
40.62
 Rush Attempts
46.00
5.79
 Yards Per Rush
4.47
0.54
 Interceptions
0.75
1.38
 Fumbles
1.25
0.85
 Fumbles Lost
0.67
1.38
 Total Turnovers
1.42
7.00
 Penalties
6.92
60.54
 Penalty Yards
62.25
31:55
 Time on Field
32:11
65.31
 Number of Plays
74.92
6.71
 Yards Per Play
5.42
3.38
 Punts
6.17
45.27
 Punt Average
38.98
67.85
 Return Yards
50.58

Head To Head

UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
2-8
 Record
8-2
4-6
 ATS
6-4
4-6
 O/U
4-6
21.30
 Score
34.50
173.00
 Rush Yds
183.00
33.70
 Pass Attempts
30.60
54.30
 Completion %
64.05
224.80
 Passing Yds
253.50
397.8
 Total Yds
436.5
1.90
 Turnovers
1.10
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
1-2
 Record
2-1
2-1
 ATS
1-2
1-2
 O/U
1-2
23.33
 Score
36.67
234.00
 Rush Yds
244.33
25.67
 Pass Attempts
31.00
58.44
 Completion %
63.44
171.33
 Passing Yds
258.67
405.33
 Total Yds
503
2.33
 Turnovers
1.00
Nov 22/14 (1 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Home
Away
18
 Score
23
+17.5
 ATS
-17.5
69.5 o
 O/U
69.5 u
205
 Rush Yds
231
26
 Pass Attempts
39
57.69
 Completion %
51.28
141
 Passing Yds
284
346
 Total Yds
515
1
 Turnovers
2
Nov 9/13 (2 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Away
Home
14
 Score
56
+24.5
 ATS
-24.5
68 o
 O/U
68 u
288
 Rush Yds
381
17
 Pass Attempts
20
58.82
 Completion %
70.00
176
 Passing Yds
276
464
 Total Yds
657
2
 Turnovers
0
Nov 10/12 (3 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Home
Away
38
 Score
31
+3
 ATS
-3
75.5 o
 O/U
75.5 u
209
 Rush Yds
121
34
 Pass Attempts
34
58.82
 Completion %
73.53
197
 Passing Yds
216
406
 Total Yds
337
4
 Turnovers
1
Oct 29/11 (4 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Away
Home
14
 Score
59
+5
 ATS
-5
52 o
 O/U
52 u
70
 Rush Yds
138
43
 Pass Attempts
30
48.84
 Completion %
70.00
240
 Passing Yds
291
310
 Total Yds
429
5
 Turnovers
1
Nov 6/10 (5 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Home
Away
17
 Score
31
-10.5
 ATS
+10.5
53.5 o
 O/U
53.5 u
80
 Rush Yds
96
47
 Pass Attempts
41
44.68
 Completion %
60.98
238
 Passing Yds
304
318
 Total Yds
400
1
 Turnovers
1
Oct 24/09 (6 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Away
Home
7
 Score
27
+7
 ATS
-7
52.5 o
 O/U
52.5 u
232
 Rush Yds
135
27
 Pass Attempts
38
59.26
 Completion %
65.79
200
 Passing Yds
315
432
 Total Yds
450
0
 Turnovers
1
Oct 18/08 (7 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Home
Away
23
 Score
21
+2.5
 ATS
-2.5
56 o
 O/U
56 u
215
 Rush Yds
82
28
 Pass Attempts
28
53.57
 Completion %
60.71
217
 Passing Yds
285
432
 Total Yds
367
3
 Turnovers
2
Nov 24/07 (8 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Away
Home
39
 Score
46
+14.5
 ATS
-14.5
58.5 o
 O/U
58.5 u
107
 Rush Yds
177
50
 Pass Attempts
36
54.00
 Completion %
72.22
389
 Passing Yds
309
496
 Total Yds
486
0
 Turnovers
0
Oct 21/06 (9 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Home
Away
24
 Score
31
-6
 ATS
+6
45.5 o
 O/U
45.5 u
137
 Rush Yds
317
30
 Pass Attempts
12
60.00
 Completion %
75.00
205
 Passing Yds
156
342
 Total Yds
473
2
 Turnovers
2
Oct 15/05 (10 of 10)
UAB
 Stat Type MARSH
Away
Home
19
 Score
20
-2.5
 ATS
+2.5
48 o
 O/U
48 u
187
 Rush Yds
152
35
 Pass Attempts
28
57.14
 Completion %
50.00
245
 Passing Yds
99
432
 Total Yds
251
1
 Turnovers
1

Team Records

UAB
 Record MARSH
5-3
 All
7-1
3-1
 Home
5-1
2-2
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
2-6
 ATS
5-2
1-3
 ATS Home
3-2
1-3
 ATS Away
2-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
4-4
 O/U
5-2
2-2
 O/U Home
3-2
2-2
 O/U Away
2-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
UAB
 Record MARSH
3-1
 All
4-1
2-0
 Home
2-1
1-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
1-3
 ATS
3-1
1-1
 ATS Home
1-1
0-2
 ATS Away
2-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
2-2
 O/U
3-1
1-1
 O/U Home
1-1
1-1
 O/U Away
2-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
UAB
 Record MARSH
5-3
 All
7-1
3-1
 Home
5-1
2-2
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
2-6
 ATS
5-2
1-3
 ATS Home
3-2
1-3
 ATS Away
2-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
4-4
 O/U
5-2
2-2
 O/U Home
3-2
2-2
 O/U Away
2-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0

Gametime Weather

Weather
6:00 pm EST Partly Cloudy
1ºC / 33ºF
72% Humidity
5% Precipitation
57% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Open
Field Image
Arrow Image 2
 mph

Trends

  • Alabama-Birmingham are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against Marshall.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games against Marshall.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games on the road.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Marshall.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 15-5 SU in their last 20 games against an opponent in the Conference USA conference.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Alabama-Birmingham's last 7 games played in December.
  • Alabama-Birmingham are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games played on a Friday.
  • Marshall are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Marshall's last 5 games.
  • Marshall are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Marshall's last 7 games against Alabama-Birmingham.
  • Marshall are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games at home.
  • Marshall are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Alabama-Birmingham.
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Marshall's last 6 games against an opponent in the Conference USA conference.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Marshall's last 6 games played in December.
  • Marshall are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games played on a Friday.
  • Marshall are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing as the favourite.

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
Isaiah JacobsRBIs out for season, ACL
Iverson HooksWRIs out for season, ACL
Name Position Inj Desc
Caleb CoombsWRIs "?" Tuesday vs Tex San Antonio, Undisclosed
Cade ConleyTEIs "?" Tuesday vs Tex San Antonio, Undisclosed

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 12, 2020RICE21-16W-7/42.5L/U13721735466188254-1
Oct 31, 2020LTECH34-37L-13/47.5L/O338147485493323812
Oct 23, 2020ULL20-24L+2.5/50.5L/U1751102851341522862
Oct 17, 2020WKU37-14W-11.5/44W/O21714135888162250-2
Oct 3, 2020UTSA21-13W-21.5/55L/U214195409190902803
Sep 24, 2020SALA42-10W-7.5/47.5W/O190319509147168315-1
Sep 10, 2020MIAMI14-31L+15.5/55L/U80205285337155492-1
Sep 3, 2020CARK45-35W-20.5/50L/O2332264591001932930
Dec 21, 2019APP-ST17-31L+17/47.5W/O402983382611424033
Dec 7, 2019FLAATL6-49L+8/49L/O139842232862995851
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 5, 2020RICE0-20LN/A/N/AN/A/N/A80165245127862134
Nov 14, 2020MTSU42-14W-23.5/55.5W/O18433652056247303-2
Nov 7, 2020UMASS51-10W-44.5/55.5L/O26722849541149190-1
Oct 24, 2020FAU20-9W-19.5/50.5L/U134251385861482341
Oct 17, 2020LTECH35-17W-12/48W/O17522740272602671
Oct 10, 2020WKU38-14W-6.5/43W/O18216234485209294-3
Sep 19, 2020APP17-7W+6/60.5W/U21616337996268364-1
Sep 5, 2020EKU59-0W-25.5/54W/O2823456278680166-1
Dec 23, 2019UCF25-48L+15.5/59.5L/O1671943613102775874
Nov 30, 2019FIU30-27W-10/50L/O20090290822403220
View Game Logs
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