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If I had to pick one matchup this bowl season that will likely be the most underrated and least talked about of all, it would be the one between the Northern Illinois Huskies (11-2) and the Marshall Thundering Herd (12-1). Heck, if it wasn’t for a 67-66 overtime loss to Western Kentucky, Marshall would have finished the season as one of two unbeaten teams in college football.
While Northern Illinois is a year removed from its solid passing days with Jordan Lynch behind center, you would barely be able to tell as the Huskies rank just 104th in the nation as a unit passing the ball. First-year starter Drew Hare is trying to follow Lynch’s dual-threat footsteps, throwing for 2,097 yards, 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions while also rushing for 850 yards and eight scores. Hare is second in rushing on the team, trailing only Cameron Stingily who has 895 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. The sophomore quarterback’s favorite target has been Da’Ron Brown who leads the team, by a wide margin, with 64 receptions for 1,002 yards and six touchdown catches.
Marshall, on the other hand, has one of the most electric offenses in the nation — and it is as balanced as it comes. The 18th-best pass offense is led by senior Rakeem Cato who has 3,622 yards, 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 58 percent of his passes. Cato has also contributed to the seventh-best rushing attack in the land with 457 yards and six scores, good for fourth-best on the team. Devon Johnson leads the way with 1,636 yards and 16 touchdowns on an impressive 8.6 yards per carry. Tommy Shuler has been Cato’s favorite target in the pass game, catching 74 passes for 953 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, Northern Illinois’ unit has contributed to its 11-win season in 2014, ranking 37th in points allowed and 55th in total yards allowed per contest. Marshall has been even better on this side of the ball, ranking 30th in total defense and 22nd in scoring defense this season.
When: 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 23
Where: FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
TV: ESPN
PREDICTION: Marshall 35, Northern Illinois 30
Want to see Marshall take on Northern Illinois in the Boca Raton Bowl? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
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