Through 3 Quarters

Down one at the end of last quarter, the Marshall Thundering Herd have now snagged the lead. They have emerged as the frontrunner after three quarters and are ahead of the Appalachian State Mountaineers 30-21.

No one has had a standout game offensively for Marshall, but they have gotten scores from TE Xavier Gaines and RB Rasheen Ali. One of the most thrilling moments was Gaines' 56-yard TD reception in the second quarter. The team has gotten extra help from defensive menace LB Abraham Beauplan and his nine tackles.

RB Camerun Peoples has led the way so far for Appalachian State, as he has rushed for three TDs and 78 yards on 25 carries.

Who's Playing

Marshall @ Appalachian State

Current Records: Marshall 2-1; Appalachian State 2-1

What to Know

After a two-game homestand, the Marshall Thundering Herd will be on the road. They will take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Coming off of a loss in a game they were expected to win, the Thundering Herd nows face the more daunting task of proving themselves against unfavorable odds.

Marshall was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap last week as they fell 42-38 to the East Carolina Pirates. Marshall was up 38-21 at the end of the third quarter but couldn't hold on to the lead.

Meanwhile, you're bound to get a positive result if you outscore your opponent every quarter, and that's exactly how it played out for Appalachian State last week. They made easy work of the Elon Phoenix and carried off a 44-10 victory. The margin was wide but not a surprise since the spread was 35.5 points in Appalachian State's favor.

Marshall and the Mountaineers now sit at an identical 2-1. A couple defensive stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: The Thundering Herd are 194th worst in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game, with 194.7 on average. Appalachian State has experienced some struggles of their own as they are stumbling into the contest with the 169th most passing yards allowed per game in the nation, having given up 240 on average. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.

How To Watch

  • When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Kidd Brewer Stadium -- Boone, North Carolina
  • TV: ESPN
  • Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
  • Follow: CBS Sports App
  • Ticket Cost: $25.00

Odds

The Mountaineers are a solid 7-point favorite against the Thundering Herd, according to the latest college football odds.

The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Mountaineers as a 7.5-point favorite.

Over/Under: -111

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Series History

Marshall won the only game these two teams have played in the last seven years.

  • Sep 19, 2020 - Marshall 17 vs. Appalachian State 7