— By Bill Cornwell
Twenty-eight Marshall players who hail from Florida hope to ruin the championship hopes of Florida International as the Herd wraps up the regular season with a Conference USA East Division road game.
Kickoff is set for noon and video will be streamed by Stadium Facebook Live.
Marshall (7-3, 5-2) comes into the game after a 23-0 win last Saturday over UTSA, while FIU beat Charlotte 42-32.
An FIU (8-3, 6-1) win would give the Panthers the C-USA East Division title and set up a December 1st matchup with UAB in the conference championship game.
Marshall leads the all-time series with the Panthers, winning the first four contests, but FIU has won the last two meetings, including a 41-30 win last season in Panthers’ coach Butch Davis’ first visit to Huntington.
Here are three things to watch for in Saturday’s game.
How do the Herd’s Sunshine State natives handle the trip home?
Marshall has been successful in many trips to Florida for both conference games and bowls, but that hasn’t been the case in the most recent encounters as the Herd lost at FIU in 2016 and at FAU last year.
Coach Doc Holliday tries to give the Sunshine State natives time with family and friends the night before each Florida contest, but he then reminds his entire team that the trip south is for business. If Floridians like wide receivers Tyre Brady and Marcel Williams, defensive end Ty Tyler, cornerback Chris Jackson and even long snapper Matt Beardall can play well, Marshall could be in for a big day against the Panthers.
Can FIU quarterback James Morgan deal with the Herd defense?
Marshall’s defense has been on fire in recent weeks with shutdown performances against the running games of FAU, Southern Miss, Charlotte and UTSA. The Herd has delivered with an intense pass rush led by Ryan Bee, Tyler, Juwon Young and Channing Hames.
Improved coverage work by Marshall’s defensive backs has aided that improvement in the rush.
Morgan, a transfer from Bowling Green, has been outstanding this season, as his touchdown pass to interceptions ratio is better than 5-to-1. The Panthers look for balance from their pro-set offense, but Morgan has developed a strong rapport with his receivers and they’ve hit big plays in recent weeks while staying on top in the C-USA East Division race, losing only to FAU in the annual “Shula Bowl.”
The battle between Morgan and MU’s attacking defense will go a long way toward deciding Saturday’s game.
Weather a factor?
Saturday’s forecast for Miami is a high of 84 degrees with some possible showers. Marshall has not played in 80 degree temperatures in any game this season and the last two games at home were played with temperatures in the 30s and 50s.
Can Marshall literally handle the heat?
FIU is obviously used to Miami’s tropical climate, but it will be a new experience for the Herd, putting pressure on MU’s training staff to keep players cool and hydrated in order to avoid cramps.
Marshall will at least have a relatively healthy team, with running back Tyler King and defensive back Artis Johnson still questionable. Herd coaches and team staff members have plenty of experience in dealing with warm weather, so the Herd should be well prepared to handle the change in climate.
NOTES: Marshall is one of six Conference USA teams that’s bowl eligible (FIU, Middle Tennessee, UAB, North Texas and Louisiana Tech are the others), but two more could join the group this weekend as FAU and Southern Miss would reach the six-win mark with victories … FAU is home against Charlotte (led by lame-duck head coach Brad Lambert), while the Golden Eagles make the long trip to face UTEP. C-USA has six guaranteed bowl tie-ins and possibilities for filling in spots in other bowls when a lack of bowl-eligible teams from other leagues cannot fill the slots.