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The Buffalo Bulls and the Marshall Thundering Herd will compete for holiday cheer in the Camellia Bowl on Friday at Cramton Bowl at 2:30 p.m. ET. Given that these two teams suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.
Buffalo came up short against the Ball State Cardinals last Friday, falling 38-28. Despite their loss, the Bulls got to see several of their players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. RB Kevin Marks, who punched in one rushing touchdown, was the best among equals. That touchdown -- a 67-yard rush in the third quarter -- was one of the highlights of the game.
Meanwhile, the Thundering Herd came up short against the UAB Blazers last week, falling 22-13. Despite the defeat, Marshall got a solid performance out of QB Grant Wells, who passed for two TDs and 138 yards on 23 attempts. Wells' 70-yard touchdown toss to TE Xavier Gaines in the fourth quarter made for one of the most memorable moments of the night.
Buffalo is the favorite in this one, with an expected 4.5-point margin of victory. They have been consistent moneymakers against the spread when favored (4-1), so they might be worth a quick bet.
A pair of stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: Buffalo comes into the matchup boasting the most rushing yards per game in the nation at 310. But Marshall ranks second in the nation when it comes to rushing yards allowed per game, with only 88.9 on average. We'll see which of these strengths -- offense or defense -- will win out.
