FACTS & STATS: Site: John C. Edwards Stadium (38,019) -- Huntington, West Virginia. Television: Local. Home Record: ECU 3-2, Marshall 1-3. Away Record: ECU 3-2, Marshall 0-5. Neutral Record: ECU 0-0, Marshall 0-0. Conference Record: ECU 5-1, Marshall 1-4. Series Record: East Carolina leads, 6-2.

GAME NOTES: The East Carolina Pirates will try to remain atop the East Division of Conference-USA when they battle the Marshall Thundering Herd this Saturday afternoon at John C. Edwards Stadium. The Pirates head into this matchup red-hot, winning five of their last six games, including two in a row. The last time ECU was on the field, the team collected a convincing, 56-40 victory over Memphis on the road. This is the second consecutive season the Pirates have won five league games. The last time ECU posted back-to-back seasons with five victories was during the 2000 and 2001 campaigns. As for the Thundering Herd, they have been dreadful this year, as the team has lost eight of its first nine games. The most recent setback came this past weekend, as the Herd ware destroyed by UCF, 47-13. Since the beginning of the 2005 campaign the Thundering Herd have struggled in league action, posting an 8-13 conference mark. Next up for Marshall will be a road matchup against Houston, followed by a home contest against UAB. The Pirates have won the last two meetings against Marshall and hold a solid 6-2 edge in the all-time series on the gridiron.

The Pirates do not possess an overwhelming offensive unit, but the team does a solid job with the run, as well as with the pass. In the recent win over Memphis, the Pirates used a devastating rushing attack against the Tigers, posting an eye-popping 491 yards on 44 carries (11.2 ypc). Chris Johnson led the way with an impressive 301 yards and scored four times, while quarterback Pat Pinkney added 94 yards and also found the end zone. Johnson has been the main source out of the backfield for ECU, as the tailback has rumbled for 973 yards and 13 scores. As for Pinkney, he has done a mediocre job under center for ECU, as the signal-caller has completed 59.9 percent of his throws. In 10 games the QB only has 1,086 yards and 10 TDs against four INTs. In the win this weekend, Pinkney also dismantled Memphis with his arm, throwing for 105 yards and two scores on 8-of-16 passing.

There is one area that has hampered the ECU defense all year and that is the passing game, as opponents are currently producing 302.1 ypc via the pass. Overall this unit is being dismantled for 442.4 total ypg, which has led to a whopping 31.9 ppg. This past weekend against Memphis, the Pirates were torched for 416 yards through the air, but despite the terrible performance against the pass, ECU was able to come away with a much needed win. East Carolina forced two turnovers in the win, but finished the game with just two sacks. The defense has been able to force an impressive 25 turnovers on the season, but at the same time the Pirates have had a tough time getting to the quarterback and come into this game with 23 sacks in 10 games. C.J. Wilson has been a terror on the front line, collecting nine TFLs to go along with a team-high six sacks.

The Thundering Herd possess a one-dimensional offensive attack, as the team relies heavily on the passing game. On the season, Marshall is torching the competition with 271.8 ypg through the air, and overall the unit is producing a mediocre 399.4 total ypg, but that has led to just 22.0 ppg. The last time Marshall was on the field, the team was embarrassed by UCF in a 34-point loss. Unfortunately the passing attack did not have much success in the loss, as quarterback Bernard Morris threw for just 239 yards on 18-of-31 passing. The signal-caller finished with two interceptions and was sacked six times as well. Morris has done a commendable job this year for Marshall, as the QB has completed 61.4 percent of his throws for 2,342 yards. In nine games, Morris has thrown 13 scores against 10 INTs. The top two targets for Morris have been wide receivers Cody Slate and Darius Passmore. Slate comes into this matchup with 51 receptions for 667 yards and five touchdowns, and as for Passmore, he has grabbed 43 passes for 628 yards and has also found the end zone five times. Unfortunately the team has had little success on the ground, as Marshall is posting just 127.7 ypg on 3.9 ypc.

This unit has been beaten and battered all year, and has had a tough time against the run and also against the pass. The competition has dismantled the Herd for 211.4 ypg on the ground, while also torching the defense for 253.3 ypg via the pass. With the unit being unable to stop any opponents, teams have averaged a whopping 36.7 ppg. In the recent loss to UCF, the defense surrendered a whopping 472 total yards and that led to 47 points. The unit allowed 203 passing yards in the contest, but the real problem against the Knights came against the run, as UCF pounded the ball to a tune of 269 yards on 5.2 ypc. Marshall forced just one turnover in the contest and finished the game with zero sacks. Both areas have been a severe sore spot for the Thundering Herd, as the team has forced a pathetic five turnovers, while recording just 10 sacks.

Although Marshall is home, the team has still far too many holes in its defense to compete with East Carolina. Expect the Pirates to win a huge game away from home, as they continue their march towards the C-USA East Division title.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: East Carolina 38, Marshall 21

Saturday, November 10th, 4:30 p.m. (et)