I think ECU wins... for a few reasons.

1 - ECU has the ability to shut down Marshall's running game with only 4 or 5 defenders, which will force Cato to become one-dimensional.

2 - ECU has won 7 of our last 8 games, winning 5 in a row. ECU has an unbelievable amount of confidence stepping out on that field. Having only lost 1 game on the road this year, being in a hostile environment not only doesn't phase this team, it builds their confidence/swagger.

3 - I trust Shane Carden more in big moments than I do Rakeem Cato.

4 - Reason #3, but same with Ruff & Doc.

5 - Coooooooooooooooooooooop. (If you don't know now, you will Friday.)

Looking forward to an incredible game that will live up to the hype! Win or lose, I'll be on here Friday. Hope everyone else is.

What a great showdown in C-USA!

(11-24-2013 10:00 AM)Hank Rearden Wrote:  Line opened at MU -1.5 and quickly moved to MU -3.

Link

ECU opens it up at the end as Cato crumbles. He is a mental midget.
Pirates by 14

(11-25-2013 09:53 AM)Greg H Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 09:51 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  Saw both teams here and I really can't see a whole lot between them. Both have huge, mature OL's, speed in space and high quality QB's. If there is one subtle distinction I can make between the two (and maybe just because Marshall is more fresh in my mind) is that Marshall's d-line seemed enourmous. One defensive tackle for the Herd stands-out as a mountain, I'm sure the Herd fans know to whom I'm referring.

Other than that, two strong teams should be a classic to represent the East. I'm a Herd fan for a myriad of reasons, not least of which is the way their fan base conducts themselves all the way around.

I'll give a plug to the ECU fan base right here. SJ notwithstanding. I go to a lot of ECU games, since I'm close. I ALWAYS wear Kelly green and I'm always treated very well. My second favorite team and I love their fans. I really don't get the "reputation" they have with some (usually NC State and UNC).

Thank you. Hopefully at the very least we get a series going and you can visit again soon.

(11-25-2013 10:46 AM)Hank Rearden Wrote:  No, we got beat because we played horribly. There was no emotion on the sideline. Players were cold and huddled around the heaters. It was bizarre. Luckily we have played a little more focused since that game, especially at home.

And ECU didn't do that. My point.

(11-25-2013 10:46 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  1 - ECU has the ability to shut down Marshall's running game with only 4 or 5 defenders, which will force Cato to become one-dimensional.

(11-25-2013 10:29 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 09:05 AM)MTowho Wrote:  Having seen both play at our house, I really don't think ECU will have a problem winning this game.

What makes you write this?

Probably because they ran on us with ease in the second half of that game.

We are a radically different team at home vs. the road. Not just this year, but since we joined C-USA.

Speaking only conference games, this year our home vs. road split is +26 (we are better by 26 points at home), but we are short one home game which will in all likelihood bring that split down.

Prior to this year, our home vs. road split was +13.25 (or nearly two touchdowns). That has to be one of the biggest splits in the country.

(11-25-2013 10:46 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  I think ECU wins... for a few reasons.

1 - ECU has the ability to shut down Marshall's running game with only 4 or 5 defenders, which will force Cato to become one-dimensional.

Marshall rotates in 4 RBs, 3 of which who have rushed for 500+ yards each. If ECU can stop the running game with 4 defenders, then I agree the Pirates will win.

These 2 teams are going to go after it in this game, and then the winner will fall flat in the champ game.

Calling it now!

This has all the things a great game needs: history, tradition, end of the season, CUSA title game berth on the line, etc.

I think having the game in Huntington gives us a boost, but I'm not confident it's going to be enough. ECU has had a better record in a stronger schedule. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to watch many ECU games this year, but I'm still not thoroughly confident in our coaching. We were flat out out-coached against an Ohio team that didn't have as much talent/skill as we did. If nothing else, this game will come down to turnovers and/or Marshall getting out-coached.

I predicted an 8-4 regular season this year and am still leaning towards that. I will be at this game and screaming my ass off for Marshall, but until we prove we can pull it out in these big games consistently, I'm still going to be super nervous.

Either way, I think we've done exactly what we needed to this season and that's come out strong against a new CUSA lineup. We need to establish ourselves as the flagship of the East going forward and 2013 has been a good effort for that, IMO. We really need to win CUSA East in 2014, though. Anything less would be a disappointment given who we have returning.

(11-25-2013 11:50 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  This has all the things a great game needs: history, tradition, end of the season, CUSA title game berth on the line, etc.

I think having the game in Huntington gives us a boost, but I'm not confident it's going to be enough. ECU has had a better record in a stronger schedule. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to watch many ECU games this year, but I'm still not thoroughly confident in our coaching. We were flat out out-coached against an Ohio team that didn't have as much talent/skill as we did. If nothing else, this game will come down to turnovers and/or Marshall getting out-coached.

I predicted an 8-4 regular season this year and am still leaning towards that. I will be at this game and screaming my ass off for Marshall, but until we prove we can pull it out in these big games consistently, I'm still going to be super nervous.

Either way, I think we've done exactly what we needed to this season and that's come out strong against a new CUSA lineup. We need to establish ourselves as the flagship of the East going forward and 2013 has been a good effort for that, IMO. We really need to win CUSA East in 2014, though. Anything less would be a disappointment given who we have returning.

I also predicted 8-4, and agree with all you said here. Obviously, I want Marshall to win (and I think that they can if all goes right), but I do think that ECU is the slightly better team. But if our last two games together are any indication, (these two teams have taken very similar roads to be where we both are for the last two years) this will be a great game for C-USA and these two teams.

If certain rumors are true I would not be surprised to see a substantial move in the current line….

shhhh

(11-25-2013 12:31 PM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  If certain rumors are true I would not be surprised to see a substantial move in the current line….

(11-25-2013 12:31 PM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  If certain rumors are true I would not be surprised to see a substantial move in the current line….

Terry Williams return, or Shane Carden's hand?

Nothing to see here...move along

(11-25-2013 12:38 PM)ARandomHerdFan Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 12:31 PM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  If certain rumors are true I would not be surprised to see a substantial move in the current line….

?

TW will be in beast mode.. won the Marshall game last year by forcing a fumble

Who has the inside scoop when did he break his hand?

He broke his throwing hand in garbage time against UAB. He is in a full arm cast now.

(11-25-2013 12:50 PM)triple-s Wrote:  Who has the inside scoop when did he break his hand?

(11-25-2013 12:50 PM)triple-s Wrote:  Who has the inside scoop when did he break his hand?

Supposedly happened early in the NC State game...

(11-25-2013 12:36 PM)airbornepirate Wrote:  shhhh

(11-25-2013 12:31 PM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  If certain rumors are true I would not be surprised to see a substantial move in the current line….

Like this was going to stay a secret with it plastered all over all the ECU message boards...

(11-25-2013 12:45 PM)PirateHeist Wrote:  TW will be in beast mode.. won the Marshall game last year by forcing a fumble

Having him back is a nice surprise but I am not sure how much he will be able to play…I know he has been doing conditioning with Coach Conners but he has not even been practicing so he will probably not be game fit.