Cortesy of CFB...................
This is only the second Fort Worth Bowl and if it's anything like last year's 34-31 Boise State win over TCU, it'll be one of the best of the bowl season. Don't count on it.
While this isn't exactly where the two teams were hoping to be, the post-season is still a nice prize considering several rocky moments. Marshall and Cincinnati might not provide the sexiest of bowl matchups, but these are two evenly matched teams that should play a hard-fought, even, competitive game.
Marshall probably shouldn't be in a bowl considering Akron was also 6-5 and beat the Herd, but name recognition and a great defense are enough to get an invite. With the MAC East title within reach, MU lost to the Zips in a stunning comeback and followed it up with a 56-35 loss to Bowling Green. On the plus side, the team overcame an 0-3 starts with the offense coming to life over the final few games after struggling against even the most pedestrian of MAC defenses. The D was tremendous finishing 14th in the nation against the run and tops in the MAC in scoring D.
Cincinnati had a strong first season under new head coach Mark Dantonio highlighted by blowouts over Memphis 49-10 and Southern Miss 52-24. There was the brain cramp 48-29 loss to Army, but the team responded with a four-game winning streak before QB Gino Guidugli broke his hand slipping on some stairs a few days before the 70-7 loss to Louisville. Before moving over to the Big East, the Bearcats are looking for their first bowl win since 1997 and to prove the program is on the verge of big things.
Players to watch: If you like tremendous defensive ends, you'll enjoy this game. The star is Marshall's Jonathan Goddard who cranked out 16 sacks and 28 tackles for loss in an All-America season. Not just a pass rusher, he was stout all year against the run finishing third on the team with 78 tackles. He's too fast for most college linemen and too strong for the lighter ones.
While not the player Goddard is, linebacker-sized Jamus Martin is also a pass rushing freak with eight sacks and 13.5 sacks on the year. He isn't just a product of attention paid to Goddard, he's great all on his own and deserves special attention in blocking schemes.
Cincinnati has a frightening pair of ends as well in seniors Trent Cole and Andre Frazier. Cole has next-level pass rushing skills but is more suited to outside linebacker with his size and quickness. He was fourth on the team with 62 tackles and led the way with 7.5 sacks, 13 hurries and 20.5 tackles for loss. Frazier is only around 215 pounds using his speed to rack up four sacks and seven quarterback hurries.
Offensively, this will be the final game of two great careers. Cincinnati QB Gino Guidugli is fine after getting the cast taken off his broken hand. The senior has thrown for 11,222 yards and 76 touchdowns in his career and is finishing off with his finest season yet completing 61% of his throws for 2,402 yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. Most impressively, he has thrown 12 scoring passes and no interceptions since the loss at Army on October 9th.
Marshall WR Josh Davis has caught 301 career passes and has been the go-to guy all season long. After a rough start, he lit up Buffalo for 132 yards on 12 catches and torched Akron for 15 grabs for 197 yards. Not normally a touchdown maker, he has caught one scoring pass in each of his last three games.
Marshall will win if... it can get up early. The Herd defense isn't so good that it can protect a big lead, but it wouldn't mind giving it a try. MU's offense isn't consistent enough against decent defenses to come back from, so taking the early momentum will be important and force the Bearcats to start bombing away. The secondary isn't bad at picking off passes with 17 on the year, and the ends should be able to wreak havoc in the backfield.
Cincinnati will win if... RB Richard Hall has a big game. The senior rushed for an average of 56 yards in the five losses and 111.5 in the six wins. Cincinnati is a solid running team and Marshall is normally a killer against the run, but it didn't exactly face too many teams that could run. Kyle Takavitz and the UC offensive line is good enough to control the tempo.
What will happen: Marshall has a veteran team with a solid defense, but it hasn't beaten anyone of note since late September and a 33-25 win over Miami University. Cincinnati beat that same RedHawk team 45-26. The Bearcat defense isn't all that bad while Gino Guidugli and the balanced offense will do just enough to get the job done.
Line: Cincinnati -2 ... CFN Prediction: Cincinnati 31 ... Marshall 23
This is only the second Fort Worth Bowl and if it's anything like last year's 34-31 Boise State win over TCU, it'll be one of the best of the bowl season. Don't count on it.
While this isn't exactly where the two teams were hoping to be, the post-season is still a nice prize considering several rocky moments. Marshall and Cincinnati might not provide the sexiest of bowl matchups, but these are two evenly matched teams that should play a hard-fought, even, competitive game.
Marshall probably shouldn't be in a bowl considering Akron was also 6-5 and beat the Herd, but name recognition and a great defense are enough to get an invite. With the MAC East title within reach, MU lost to the Zips in a stunning comeback and followed it up with a 56-35 loss to Bowling Green. On the plus side, the team overcame an 0-3 starts with the offense coming to life over the final few games after struggling against even the most pedestrian of MAC defenses. The D was tremendous finishing 14th in the nation against the run and tops in the MAC in scoring D.
Cincinnati had a strong first season under new head coach Mark Dantonio highlighted by blowouts over Memphis 49-10 and Southern Miss 52-24. There was the brain cramp 48-29 loss to Army, but the team responded with a four-game winning streak before QB Gino Guidugli broke his hand slipping on some stairs a few days before the 70-7 loss to Louisville. Before moving over to the Big East, the Bearcats are looking for their first bowl win since 1997 and to prove the program is on the verge of big things.
Players to watch: If you like tremendous defensive ends, you'll enjoy this game. The star is Marshall's Jonathan Goddard who cranked out 16 sacks and 28 tackles for loss in an All-America season. Not just a pass rusher, he was stout all year against the run finishing third on the team with 78 tackles. He's too fast for most college linemen and too strong for the lighter ones.
While not the player Goddard is, linebacker-sized Jamus Martin is also a pass rushing freak with eight sacks and 13.5 sacks on the year. He isn't just a product of attention paid to Goddard, he's great all on his own and deserves special attention in blocking schemes.
Cincinnati has a frightening pair of ends as well in seniors Trent Cole and Andre Frazier. Cole has next-level pass rushing skills but is more suited to outside linebacker with his size and quickness. He was fourth on the team with 62 tackles and led the way with 7.5 sacks, 13 hurries and 20.5 tackles for loss. Frazier is only around 215 pounds using his speed to rack up four sacks and seven quarterback hurries.
Offensively, this will be the final game of two great careers. Cincinnati QB Gino Guidugli is fine after getting the cast taken off his broken hand. The senior has thrown for 11,222 yards and 76 touchdowns in his career and is finishing off with his finest season yet completing 61% of his throws for 2,402 yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. Most impressively, he has thrown 12 scoring passes and no interceptions since the loss at Army on October 9th.
Marshall WR Josh Davis has caught 301 career passes and has been the go-to guy all season long. After a rough start, he lit up Buffalo for 132 yards on 12 catches and torched Akron for 15 grabs for 197 yards. Not normally a touchdown maker, he has caught one scoring pass in each of his last three games.
Marshall will win if... it can get up early. The Herd defense isn't so good that it can protect a big lead, but it wouldn't mind giving it a try. MU's offense isn't consistent enough against decent defenses to come back from, so taking the early momentum will be important and force the Bearcats to start bombing away. The secondary isn't bad at picking off passes with 17 on the year, and the ends should be able to wreak havoc in the backfield.
Cincinnati will win if... RB Richard Hall has a big game. The senior rushed for an average of 56 yards in the five losses and 111.5 in the six wins. Cincinnati is a solid running team and Marshall is normally a killer against the run, but it didn't exactly face too many teams that could run. Kyle Takavitz and the UC offensive line is good enough to control the tempo.
What will happen: Marshall has a veteran team with a solid defense, but it hasn't beaten anyone of note since late September and a 33-25 win over Miami University. Cincinnati beat that same RedHawk team 45-26. The Bearcat defense isn't all that bad while Gino Guidugli and the balanced offense will do just enough to get the job done.
Line: Cincinnati -2 ... CFN Prediction: Cincinnati 31 ... Marshall 23
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