The Marshall Thundering Herd have stampeded to a perfect 5-0 start this season (4-1 ATS) and they’ll put their undefeated record on the line when they host the Florida International Panthers in a Conference USA matchup Friday night.
The question is whether the Herd can cash for college football bettors as a big favorite? Marshall is just 1-1 ATS when laying 20-plus points this season, but face an FIU squad coming off a home loss to FCS Jacksonville State.
Let’s take a look at our best college football predictions for Marshall at Florida International, with kickoff scheduled for Friday, October 30 at 7:00 ET.
Marshall Thundering Herd at Florida International Panthers betting preview
Weather
It could be a messy night in University Park. The forecast is calling for about a 40 percent chance of rain and scattered thundershowers during the game, while humidity will have it feeling like the high-80s to low-90s. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
Marshall: Garet Morrell TE (Questionable), Jaron Woodyard WR (Questionable), Naquan Renalds S (Questionable), Nazeeh Johnson S (Questionable), Broc Thompson WR (Questionable), Willie Johnson WR (Questionable).
Florida International: Injury report not available.
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Florida International has been the underdog in four straight meetings against Marshall, with the Panthers covering the spread in all four of those games, twice winning outright. Find more NCAA football betting trends for Marshall vs. Florida International.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Let’s get this out of the way right away. Marshall is clearly the better team here and should win the game. But, will the Herd be able to cover more than a three-touchdown spread against FIU? At first, glance, the answer is "of course: the Panthers just lost to FCS Jacksonville State 19-10 as 10-point home faves." But there is a little more to it than that.
It’s hard to make excuses for dropping a game like that to an FCS opponent, but FIU was missing 24 players due to COVID-19 and injuries, including six starters on offense. This will also be just the Panthers’ fourth game this season, so even if they can get some of those players back it would make a huge difference.
FIU will want to establish the run, with D’Vonte Price and Shaun Peterson Jr., if they want to stay in this game. The Panthers are a much better running team than a passing one, but it might not matter against this Marshall defense.
But it's not the Marshall defense that will be the problem in this one, it’s the offense that will make you pause and think. The Herd is coming off a game where they put up just 20 points against a not great Florida Atlantic team, in a game where they were favored by 20-point chalk.
QB Grant Wells has struggled with consistency, throwing just four touchdowns with four picks over his last four games, and the Herd could lean on running back Brenden Knox.
While the Panthers defense is not great, they are giving up a respectable 4.2 yards per carry this season. With the potential messy weather, and a focus on the ground game from both sides, asking Marshall to cover 23.5-points might be a little much.
PREDICTION: Florida International +23.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The better play in this game might be the total for all those reasons we just mentioned: It could be wet, both teams should focus on running the ball, and at least one team has a very good defense.
That is, of course, Marshall. The Thundering Herd defense ranks in the Top 10 in the country in total yards, rushing yards and points against per game, limiting opponents to just 9.4 per contest. That doesn’t really bode well for an FIU squad that will try to lean on the running game.
But as mentioned, the Marshall offense has inconsistencies, particularly at quarterback, and has scored 20 points or fewer in two of its last four games. And while Knox is as steady a running back as there is in the country, racking up 556 yards and seven scores already this year, he isn’t a huge home run threat, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
This game has a very 31-10 feel to it. Take the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 46.5 (-110)
First score prop pick
Despite some of those offensive inconsistencies, the Thundering Herd have done a good job this season when it comes to beginning each game with a plan and executing it.
The Herd have opened the scoring in each of their five games with a touchdown, and with the way the Panthers should struggle on offense in this one, Marshall is a good bet to be the first to light up the scoreboard in this game too. Take them to score the first points by crossing the goal line.
PREDICTION: First Score - Marshall TD (-180)
Marshall vs Florida International betting card
- Florida International +23.5 (-110)
- Under 46.5 (-110)
- First Score - Marshall TD (-180)
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