HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - 3 x 1 = Win.

That's the formula for Marshall coach Mark Snyder as he readies the Thundering Herd for the Central Florida Golden Knights.

"Effort, effort, effort. And focus," Snyder said about what he wanted from his team when the 6 p.m. kickoff rolls around Saturday.

"I want effort and focus. We want to eliminate those little mistakes that have plagued us."

Both Marshall (1-1) and UCF (0-2) left the Mid-American Conference to join Conference USA this season. Saturday's game marks the C-USA opener for both schools.

Marshall won last year's meeting 20-3 while still in the MAC and leads the overall series 3-0.

Central Florida is currently mired in a 17-game losing streak, but Snyder isn't letting his team take the Golden Knights lightly.

"I think the film shows they have some talent," Snyder said.

"It's hard to fool kids. Our guys have watched the film and when you put (UCF) on film they have talent ,so I don't think it's been a hard sell them on what kind of team they'll be playing."

Central Florida may have talent, but it has very little experience. UCF has just six senior starters, fifth fewest in the nation. Snyder thinks Marshall's youth will be a positive factor against the young Golden Knights.

"I think that for once our youth will work in our favor. Our guys are excited and just want to play the game. That usually happens with veteran teams, but that's not what I'm getting from our team. I think our guys are ready to play," Snyder said.

Marshall will go with Bernie Morris at quarterback over Jimmy Skinner. After Skinner started the opener won by the Herd 36-24, Morris got the nod in a 21-19 loss to Kansas State.

However, Morris was injured in the game and Skinner came on to rally the Herd before his ill-fated interception in the final seconds killed Marshall's hopes of a potential game-winning field goal.

Morris is 22 of 35 for 288 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Skinner is 26 of 42 for 287 yards and two interceptions. He does not have a touchdown pass.

"They have a young quarterback who is doing some things better," UCF head coach George O'Leary said. "Last year they were sort of one-dimensional at quarterback. (Stan Hill) wasn't much of a runner. This kid will do both. He will run and throw."

While the passing game ranks 18th in the nation, the running game will be the difference as Ahmad Bradshaw leads the Herd with 130 yards and a 4.2 yards per carry average.

"I think their running back is a good running back," O'Leary said. "They have a massive offensive line. Defensively, they have a bunch of new players. There is no question that we can't be three and out in this game."

The game will be a homecoming for Snyder who was a graduate assistant in 1989 and part-time linebacker coach in 1990 at Central Florida. The Golden Knights were 17-7 during Snyder's tenure.