Quarterback - Marshall
Braylon Braxton is playing his best football of the year, and MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s passing game is hitting its peak at just the right time after three consecutive 200-yard performances through the air. Braxton and Alonza Barnett have similar skill sets and are both the second-leading rushers on their teams, but MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s man is coming off another SBC Player of the Week performance with 350 all-purpose yards at Old Dominion. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll ride with the hot hand.
Running Backs - James Madison
George Pettaway has been the workhorse for James Madison this season with 136 carries out of the backfield, which is 81 more than the next running back. I think a healthy AJ Turner is better, but the tight-lipped nature of the Marshall football program makes it tough to decipher how healthy Turner is after he was used sparingly last week despite getting the start. With the regular-season finale and a bowl game remaining, Pettaway has the chance to be the DukesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ first 1,000-yard rusher at the FBS level. He needs 173 in those two games to do so.
Wide Receivers - James Madison
Every time you turn around, thereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a new Marshall pass-catcher making a play. That speaks to the HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s depth, but James MadisonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s receiving corps has a handful of guys consistently called upon to make plays, with three Dukes having surpassed 400 yards receiving on the year. Omarion Dollison and tight end Taylor Thompson are tied for the James Madison lead in touchdown receptions, with five each. MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Carl Chester is becoming a nice complementary piece opposite Christian Fitzpatrick, but the Herd is still missing Elijah MetcalfÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s presence on the field.
Offensive Line - Marshall
The Thundering Herd played the majority of last SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s game down two starters up front. Bryce Ramsey was banged up and didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t play and Logan Osburn left early with an apparent leg injury. Marshall should get one or both back this week and will need it against an extremely talented defensive front. The Dukes have given up 20 more sacks (32) than MU has this year. Winning up front on offense is going to be critical, and I trust the HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s unit more than the DukesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™.
Defensive Line - James Madison
I havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t often picked against the Marshall defensive front this season, but James Madison is right up there in terms of production. One player in the Sun Belt Conference has more quarterback hurries than the Thundering HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Mike Green, and thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Eric OÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™Neill, who also leads the Dukes with nine sacks. Khairi Manns is right behind him in that category with eight sacks. The duo has been a problem for opposing offenses, and I would expect them to have a big game.
Linebackers - Marshall
James Madison has been dealing with injuries at linebacker and Jacob Dobbs, the DukesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ leading tackler, has missed the past three games. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s listed on the depth chart for this weekÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s game and could make his return, but Marshall has the top tackler in the conference in Jaden Yates, who in his first year as a starter has shown a knack for flying to the football. This unit didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t have a great game last week against Old Dominion, so I expect it will be ready to wash that performance away Saturday.
Secondary - Marshall
JJ Roberts continues to make plays at every level of the defense and has elevated the play of others around him. Marshall has given up just two passing touchdowns in the last three weeks and has five interceptions over that same stretch of games. Roberts leads the SBC in passes defended, and Ian Foster has taken a step forward in his development. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not to take away from a talented Dukes defensive group, which has 17 interceptions this season with four of those being returned for touchdowns, but theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve come away with just one takeaway in the secondary over the last three games.
Special Teams - Marshall
If you believe in momentum, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s hard not to pick Marshall on special teams this week. Ian Foster has been about one block away from a kickoff return for a touchdown on multiple occasions the last few weeks, and IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™d argue that MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s performance in this area of the game has been the unsung hero of the five-game win streak. James Madison probably has the edge in both placekicking and punting, but Marshall hasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t been bad at either. Productivity in the return game will influence the outcome of SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s contest.
Getting it Done - Marshall
I picked against Marshall last week and it proved me wrong. The Thundering Herd could earn its first conference championship game berth since 2020 with a victory at James Madison, and I think that motivation leads to the desired result for Marshall. It wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t be easy, but the Herd pulls away in the fourth quarter and spoils the DukesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ bid for a perfect 6-0 record at home in 2024.
