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FACTS & STATS: Site: Louisiana Superdome (69,703) -- New Orleans, Tulane. Television: CST/CSS. Home Record: Marshall 2-1, Tulane 1-2. Away Record: Marshall 1-1, Tulane 1-0. Neutral Record: Marshall 0-0, Tulane 0-0. Conference Record: Marshall 1-1, Tulane 0-1. Series Record: Marshall leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: The Tulane Green Wave will try to collect their first Conference- USA victory Saturday afternoon when they host the Marshall Thundering Herd at the Louisiana Superdome.

The Herd are coming off a 21-17 setback to East Carolina, which snapped the team's two-game winning streak. It was the second loss of the year for Marshall, which also fell to Virginia Tech, 52-10, on the road. The Herd are now 1-1 as the visitor this season, but playing away from home has been a problem for Marshall over the years, and since 2005 the team is just 4-22 on the road.

As for the Green Wave, they won two straight matchups after opening the year with back-to-back losses. The most recent victory for Tulane was a hard- fought, 17-16 decision over Army on the road. Both of Tulane's losses have come at home, and since 2005 the team is just 5-11 in front of its fans.

This will be the third meeting between the two schools. Marshall has won the two previous matchups, but this will be the first contest in New Orleans.

The Thundering Herd were shut down in their recent loss to East Carolina, as Marshall was limited to just 306 total yards. The Herd were impressive on the ground, rumbling for 179 yards. The majority of the damage was done by Darius Marshall, who churned out 141 yards and two scores on 5.0 yards per attempt. Unfortunately Brian Anderson did not enjoy success under center, as the signal caller threw for just 127 yards on 16-of-31 passing. Anderson finished with no touchdowns and was also intercepted twice. Anderson has been wildly inconsistent on the year, throwing for just 756 yards and four touchdowns against four interceptions. However, the team has been able to rely on Marshall, who has performed like one of the best tailbacks in the conference. Marshall has only played in four games, but has still rushed for 639 yards and seven scores on 7.0 yards per tote. Even though the ground game has been successful the Herd are only posting 20.4 ppg on the year.

The lack of success offensively took away from the Herd's performance on the defensive side of the football, as the team held East Carolina to just 286 total yards. Marshall limited ECU to just 131 yards through the air, but the defense struggled tremendously against the run, as the Pirates pounded Marshall for 155 yards and three touchdowns on 4.4 yards per attempt. Stopping the run has been a problem throughout the season, as the team is being gashed for 166.6 ypg and out of the 15 touchdowns surrendered by this unit, nine have come via the run. Overall the team has been abused for 389.2 total ypg, and although that is too many yards, the Herd have been able to hold opponents to a mediocre 25.4 ppg. Marshall has put moderate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, collecting 11 sacks, but the team has tallied just eight turnovers in five games (five interceptions and three fumbles).

The Green Wave were able to slip past Army in their last game, but the team only scored 17 points on 292 total yards. The ground game churned out 126 yards on 4.1 yards per attempt, while Andre Anderson led the way with 70 yards and one score. Joe Kemp only throw for 166 yards in the win, but finished the game with one touchdown on 16-of-24 passing. Kemp has been inconsistent throughout the season and although he has completed 65.9 percent of his throws, he only has 767 yards and four touchdowns against four interceptions. The ground game has also dealt with problems on the season, as the team comes into this weekend averaging just 101.8 ypg on 3.2 yards per attempt. Anderson has been the best option out of the backfield, as the tailback has rumbled for 354 yards and five touchdowns on 4.7 yards per attempt. Overall the Green Wave come into this weekend averaging a mere 311.2 total ypg, and that has translated into just 18.8 ppg.

Although the offense was not at its best against Army, the defense was able to bail out Tulane, as the unit held the Black Knights to just 222 total yards. The Green Wave surrendered 196 yards on the ground, but considering Army is primarily a running team, it was a successful showing by the defense, which limited Army to just 3.5 yards per attempt. However, on the year the defense for Tulane has been unable to perform against the run, as opponents are gashing the Green Wave for 213.8 ypg on the ground and out of the 14 touchdowns surrendered, 10 have come via the run. The Green Wave have also struggled to make big plays, as the team has forced just five turnovers, while recording only six sacks.

The Herd have not played well on the road over the past few seasons, but they possess a dangerous tailback in Marshall and he could be the difference in this one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Marshall 31, Tulane 24