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Marshall vs Southern Miss - Tale of the Tape

It's been 422 days since we last won on the road. We're currently on a 9 game losing streak away from The Joan.
Southern Miss couldn't come at a better time... There's been several really bad Golden Eagle teams since Larry Fedora skipped out of Hattiesburg after 2011. And this team ranks right up there with them. Their best player is probably Punter Bryce Lofton who averages 44.4 yards per punt (over 41 net).
Their three QBs have combined for 4 TDs and 10 INTs in 8 games. They're giving up a sack on roughly one out of every 8 drop backs.
Their run game averages 3.46 yards per rush....which is in the bottom 16 in the country.
On the flip side, their Rush Defense is 8th worst in the country as they're giving up nearly 6 yards per rush. Our rush defense has been really bad. Theirs is abysmal.
The only reason this game is still competitive come the end of the 3rd quarter is if we poop the bed and play in it.

Marshall (5-3)Southern Miss (1-7)
PPG29.8 (55th)17.9 (127th)
Points Allowed25.9 (79th)33.9 (117th)
Total Offense382.0 (79th)303.6 (125th)
Rush Offense212.9 (15th)108.3 (117th)
Pass Offense169.1 (123rd)195.4 (98th)
Offensive Pass Effic137.50 (58th)112.02 (128th)
3rd Down Offense41.0% (60th)26.4% (131st)
Total Defense398.4 (100th)416.0 (110th)
Rush Defense188.0 (111th)225.8 (128th)
Pass Defense210.4 (55th)190.3 (32th)
Defensive Pass Effic129.20 (59th)143.62 (108th)
3rd Down Defense31.3% (14th)40.4% (85th)
Turnover Margin Per Game+0.25 (49th)-1.88 (133rd)
Penalty Yards Per Game47.0 (40th)53.13 (68th)
Net Punting36.69 (107th)41.45 (28th)

Banker

Hey @Rock98Dog, you’re good with numbers and general logic. Maybe you can help answer a question.

Scenario:

A certain “red” candidate received 5.89 million votes in a certain state in 2020, then receives 6.38 million votes in that same state in 2024 (+490,000).

His “blue” opponent received 5.26 million votes in that same certain state in 2020 and another “blue” opponent only received 4.81 million votes in 2024 (-450,000).

Red candidate’s 2020 margin of victory: 5.6%
Red candidate’s 2024 margin of victory: 13.8% (+8.2%)

232 of 254 counties in this state voted for red
candidate in 2020.
242 of 254 counties in this state voted for red
candidate in 2024.

That’s 10 more counties that voted for the red candidate in 2024 than in 2020, for the record.

Further, this same state had 23 red congressional districts and 13 blue in 2020 and in 2024 has 25 red districts and still just 13 blue. That means this state gained in population enough to get two more districts and both went red.

I’ll also throw in the fact that their newly re-elected Senator just upped his margin of victory from 2018 (2.6%) to 2024 (8.6%). This, after receiving the most votes in state history for a senate candidate… outpacing the other red senator’s vote total from the same state two years ago, who held that same record until yesterday.

With all that said…would you classify this particular state as getting redder or bluer?

HERDNATION.COM Behind Enemy Lines: Southern Miss

HN caught up with Rivals crew over at Big Gold Nation (@BigGoldNation) to preview Saturday's game:

Obviously the big news out of Hattiesburg is the decision to move on from Will Hall. Talk a little bit about your thoughts on that decision and how the general vibe around the program feels right now.

This is a results driven business. When you don't win, you are held accountable. Will was 14-30 in 3 1/2 seasons with only one winning seasons in 2022 (7-6) with a bowl win over Rice who ended up 5-7. Those numbers aren't acceptable anywhere, especially in Hattiesburg. In many ways Will cleaned up the program. He got the culture turned around, graduation rates are up, and he really emphasized the NIL to make it one of the best in the SBC. Yet losing seasons, lack of development, and diminished fan interest doomed his tenure. The team is continuing to prepare and keep a positive attitude. Everyone is looking towards who Jeremy McClain will name the next HC.


Can you point to one thing that's been the biggest reason for USM's 1-7 start?


Lack of development on the offensive line and defensive front. The O-Line at the G-6 is a developmental position and one that needs to be built through the JUCO system and portal. The last 2 seasons it has been horrific at Southern Miss. In fact, some may say it has regressed since even last season. Defensively, the Nasty Bunch has not been nasty in a few seasons, ever since Austin Armstrong (current DC at UF) left. It is too easy to run the ball on USM and lack of a pass rush has allowed for opposing quarterbacks to carve up the secondary.


Where do you think USM might have an edge on Saturday? What are the keys for the Golden Eagles to win the game, and who do you think can be an X-factor for them?


To be honest, I am not sure there is a position that USM is better than Marshall at right now. I do believe there has been a lot of promise shown by many underclassmen - especially at RB, QB, LB, and in the secondary. If those guys continue to grow and the veterans finally show the promise most thought we would see this season, who knows what could happen. Remember, many in the media thought the USM DL would be one of the best units in the SBC. Yet, they really haven't played anywhere to that potential. However, they did play much better against JMU. Perhaps they could grow on that.


Who or what about this Marshall squad worries you?

Marshall's ability to stop the run and their ability to run the football. USM has had issues in both areas this season. Marshall has much more to play for at this point. It's going to be a massive hill to climb, but the game is in The Rock. Stranger things have happened in the past.


Score Prediction? How does the game play out?


I don't see a scenario in which Southern Miss pulls out a win here, but who knows. A fumble here, tipped pass there, and blown assignment could keep this one relatively close. However, I think the Herd comes into Hattiesburg and picks up the win 28-13.

HERDNATION.COM Behind Enemy Lines: Southern Miss

HN caught up with Rivals crew over at Big Gold Nation (@BigGoldNation) to preview Saturday's game:

Obviously the big news out of Hattiesburg is the decision to move on from Will Hall. Talk a little bit about your thoughts on that decision and how the general vibe around the program feels right now.

This is a results driven business. When you don't win, you are held accountable. Will was 14-30 in 3 1/2 seasons with only one winning seasons in 2022 (7-6) with a bowl win over Rice who ended up 5-7. Those numbers aren't acceptable anywhere, especially in Hattiesburg. In many ways Will cleaned up the program. He got the culture turned around, graduation rates are up, and he really emphasized the NIL to make it one of the best in the SBC. Yet losing seasons, lack of development, and diminished fan interest doomed his tenure. The team is continuing to prepare and keep a positive attitude. Everyone is looking towards who Jeremy McClain will name the next HC.


Can you point to one thing that's been the biggest reason for USM's 1-7 start?


Lack of development on the offensive line and defensive front. The O-Line at the G-6 is a developmental position and one that needs to be built through the JUCO system and portal. The last 2 seasons it has been horrific at Southern Miss. In fact, some may say it has regressed since even last season. Defensively, the Nasty Bunch has not been nasty in a few seasons, ever since Austin Armstrong (current DC at UF) left. It is too easy to run the ball on USM and lack of a pass rush has allowed for opposing quarterbacks to carve up the secondary.


Where do you think USM might have an edge on Saturday? What are the keys for the Golden Eagles to win the game, and who do you think can be an X-factor for them?


To be honest, I am not sure there is a position that USM is better than Marshall at right now. I do believe there has been a lot of promise shown by many underclassmen - especially at RB, QB, LB, and in the secondary. If those guys continue to grow and the veterans finally show the promise most thought we would see this season, who knows what could happen. Remember, many in the media thought the USM DL would be one of the best units in the SBC. Yet, they really haven't played anywhere to that potential. However, they did play much better against JMU. Perhaps they could grow on that.


Who or what about this Marshall squad worries you?

Marshall's ability to stop the run and their ability to run the football. USM has had issues in both areas this season. Marshall has much more to play for at this point. It's going to be a massive hill to climb, but the game is in The Rock. Stranger things have happened in the past.


Score Prediction? How does the game play out?


I don't see a scenario in which Southern Miss pulls out a win here, but who knows. A fumble here, tipped pass there, and blown assignment could keep this one relatively close. However, I think the Herd comes into Hattiesburg and picks up the win 28-13.
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