Florida Atlantic-Marshall Preview Capsule

The Associated Press

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (3-4, 2-1 Conference USA) at No. 23 MARSHALL (7-0, 3-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1)

Line: Marshall by 28.

Series Record: Marshall leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Marshall will try to stay unbeaten and remain alone in first place in Conference USA’s East Division against a Florida Atlantic team coming off an emotional comeback win at home over Western Kentucky.

KEY MATCHUP

Marshall RB Devon Johnson vs. Florida Atlantic’s defense. Johnson has six 100-yard rushing efforts this season and can go over the 1,000-yard mark on Saturday. In a 45-13 win over FIU, Johnson ran for 117 yards, including a career-long 71-yard scoring run, and he had two TD catches and 79 receiving yards. Marshall is ninth-best in the FBS on the ground, averaging 285 yards, while Florida Atlantic is 97th against the run, allowing 192 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marshall: QB Rakeem Cato set an FBS record last week with his 39th straight game with a touchdown pass. Cato is averaging 273 yards passing per game with 19 TDs against six interceptions.

FAU: QB Jaquez Johnson brought the Owls from a 31-14 deficit to beat Western Kentucky 45-38. The junior threw for 325 yards and three scores and ran for 95, including two short TD runs. He set a school record with 12 straight completions in the second half.

FACTS & FIGURES

Marshall is one of four remaining unbeaten teams left in the Bowl Subdivision (Mississippi, Florida State and Mississippi State are the others) and is the only FBS team to score at least 40 points in every game. … In the teams’ only meeting a year ago, Justin Haig kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give Marshall a 24-23 win over Florida Atlantic. Marshall had trailed 23-14 in the fourth quarter. … Florida Atlantic will face its third ranked opponent this season, losing by a combined 96-7 to Alabama and Nebraska. … Marshall has won eight straight games going back to last season and 13 of 14 overall.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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