The Appalachian State Mountaineers snapped a mid-season skid last week with a much-needed home victory over Southern Miss. Now, App will host Marshall, a fellow 4-4 team who has lost its last four games and is desperate to get back in the win column. There is a lot of shared history between the two schools, with 25 games between them dating back to 1977.
The Thundering Herd began the 2023 season with four wins but the losses have began to pile up with a general lack of offense and an abundance of turnovers hurting the team’s potential; Marshall quarterback Cam Fancher is closing in 2,000 yards and has been effective at times, but he currently has more interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (seven).
The Game
Marshall at Appalachian State
Boone, NC
Saturday, 6:00 p.m., NFL Network
Records
App State: 4-4 (2-2 Sun Belt)
Marshall: 4-4 (1-3 Sun Belt)
Head-to-head
The Mountaineers lead series 15-10; the Herd won 28-21 in Huntington, WV, last season.
Players to Watch
App State wide receiver Christan Horn — With eight receptions, 165 yards and two touchdowns last week, the junior from Columbia, SC, is playing his best ball yet as a Mountaineer. His chemistry with quarterback Joey Aguilar has flourished over the course of the season and the two could be in line for another big day at home versus the Herd, who allowed Coastal Carolina wideout Jared Brown to rack up 117 yards last week.
Marshall running back Rasheen Ali — Two years ago, the talented back tallied 1,401 yards and 23 touchdowns as he led Marshall’s offense. Ali missed most of 2022 with an injury but has quietly regained form as a premier rusher in the Sun Belt; he has 11 touchdowns and a career-best 8.7 yards-per-carry this season. Held to a season-low 52 yards last week, expect a bounce-back performance for the junior.
Odds
Betonline.ag: App State -3.5, over/under 55.5
