Marshall Thundering Herd 2010 C-USA Predictions & Odds: Marshall enters the 2010 college football season with some momentum following the Thundering Herd's 2009 campaign where they went 7-6 and ended with a win over Ohio in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. That season still wasn't good enough for coach Mark Snyder to keep his job, resigning under pressure. Taking over as head coach is John "Doc" Holliday who has 30 years of experience as an assistant.
BetUS.com lists Marshall as a long shot to win C-USA in 2010 at +1600 odds.
Holliday is fortunate that he is taking over a team that returns a solid nucleus of players, seven on offense and seven on defense, however; the Herd entered August camp with plenty of questions. Now, with only a week left until their opener at Ohio State, most of those questions have been answered. The most glaring one – who will be starting quarterback?
Brian Anderson will be the starting quarterback and will be a team captain. Anderson, who started all 13 games in 2009 returns for his senior season. He threw for 2,646 yards and 14 touchdowns against 13 interceptions last season. Anderson had to battle hard in spring and fall drills before being officially tabbed as starter this week.
The running game looks solid despite the loss of Darius Marshall as an early loss to the NFL. Martin Ward and Andre Booker will be thunder and lightening at the running back position. Ward rushed for 393 yards and three touchdowns on just 82 carries to average a solid 4.8 yards per rush last season. Ward closed out the season in fine fashion, earining MVP honors in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl with 75 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
Booker, emerged as a multi-purpose threat last season and has superb speed and quickness (he has been timed with 4.36 second speed in the 40-yard dash) that allowed him to emerge as a top punt and kick returner last season.
Marshall enters the season with a deep corps of returnees at receiver. The Herd welcomes back the majority of its top play makers, including All C-USA Freshman selection Antavious Wilson who led the team in receiving a year ago with 60 catches for 724 yards and three touchdowns.
The defensive unit, under direction of first year coordinator Chris Rippon, welcoms back six starters from last season including first-team All C-USA selection Mario Harvey at linebacker. Harvey, a senior from Forsyth, Georgia, recorded 117 tackles, 8.5 for loss and seven sacks last season. Harvey is a candidate for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award.
Marshall also welcomes back junior Kellen Harris who started all 13 games last season at middle linebacker and recorded 71 tackles, six for loss and forced a pair of fumbles.
The bottom line: Marshall will improve under Doc Holliday but the improvement might not show early. Especially after a grueling opener at Ohio State followed by a home date with in state rival West Virginia. But don't look for the Herd anywhere near the bottom of the standings either. Marshall will be very competitive and could win seven games or more. All the ingredients are there.
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