(12-25-2020 08:09 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote: Buffalo is a solid team. Second place Mac vs second place Cusa and Mac prevails over their former conference mate. Marshall young qb looked better today than he has the last couple.
Buffalo is NOT the same caliber team as Marshall. Buffalo is a good MACtion team. Prior to December, Marshall was in the league of Coastal, Liberty, and #23 App, who they beat 17-7. Buffalo is nowhere near that caliber.
Had they played the game prior to December, Marshall would likely have won by 2+ touchdowns. That is the point I am trying to make - Marshall was a very good, ranked, undefeated team before December. Then the wheels came off. Why?
Thunderstruck is right. Marshall's production fell off dramatically during December....
Average points scored in the seven games before December.... 37.4
Average points scored in the three games during December.... 7.1
Average points allowed before December.... 10.1
Average points allowed during December.... 19.7
Average passing yards before December.... 240.0
Average passing yards during December.... 139.0
Average rushing yards before December.... 205.6
Average rushing yards during December.... 88.3
Not only is that a tailspin of mammoth proportions, but consider that undefeated (7-0), nationally-ranked Marshall didn't just get upset in a squeaker by 1-2 Rice, they were skunked 20-zip!
I'm also sure that Thunderstruck is right that Doc Holliday has lost the team, and whether it was an event that occurred during the week of the COVID-canceled non-game the week before the Rice game or a general rebellion that has been brewing all season is apparently unclear outside of Marshall's coaches and players, but it is a shame to see a team crash and burn like that. It reminds me of Mikey's last season with us and our loss at Colgate when Houston had one foot out the door already.