James Madison vs Marshall Odds, and Picks (Oct 19)

• James Madison improved to 6-0 with a 41-13 win over Georgia Southern.
• Marshall lost their second straight game, falling 41-24 to Georgia State.
• These two teams last met on October 22, 2022, in a game Marshall won 26-12.

The college football season is in full swing. Let’s preview the upcoming James Madison vs Marshall game. The Dukes are just outside of the top-25, as one of the final undefeated teams. They’ll try to stay perfect.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

As the nation’s current #26 team and one of the final 11 unbeaten teams, James Madison is looking for a chance to prove themselves even further. A win this week over Marshall should be enough for them to reach the official rankings. Unfortunately, they are not eligible for a bowl game or conference title due to arcane NCAA rules. They will be eligible next season, though, and may even fight for the G5’s CFP spot.

After a 4-0 start to the year, Marshall has now fallen to 4-2. Competitive road losses to NC State and 5-1 Georgia State aren’t terribly disappointing, but the Thundering Herd are still itching to get back in the win column. They have a chance to knock off a quasi-ranked team this week in James Madison, with more tough road games at Coastal Carolina and App State nearing. They need the defense to bounce back.

Prediction

I’m tempted to take a Marshall team here that is too good for an extended losing streak. It’s a bit hard to imagine them losing 3 or more games in a row. That being said, their schedule is tough enough for it to happen, with James Madison representing the toughest test of them all. The Thundering Herd should benefit from being at home, but I still like the Dukes to win this game and improve to 7-0 on the season.

NCAAF Picks:

• James Madison 26, Marshall 20 ()