Line: Buffalo by 3.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Both teams are trying to get rid of the sour taste of losing their conference championship games. Marshall, which won its first seven games, fell 22-13 to UAB in the C-USA title game. Buffalo lost 38-28 to Ball State with the MAC title on the line. The Thundering Herd have lost their last two games after a 7-0 start.
KEY MATCHUP
The game pits the nation’s top rushing offense against the stingiest scoring defense and No. 2 run defense. Buffalo leads the nation averaging 309.5 yards per game on the ground and has tallied 30 rushing touchdowns, led by star tailback Jaret Patterson. Marshall is second nationally, giving up 88.9 rushing yards on average. The Thundering Herd has allowed only four rushing touchdowns. They’re also giving up a nation’s-best 12.6 points per game.