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NCAAF PicksSat 1:00 PM ET
Marshall Thundering Herd logo
Marshall
Thundering Herd
4-3
versus
Old Dominion Monarchs logo
Old Dominion
Monarchs
2-6
NCAAF · Marshall Thundering Herd at Old Dominion Monarchs

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Marshall Thundering Herd vs Old Dominion Monarchs Predictions October 31, 2026

Game time: October 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET

Venue: S.B. Ballard Stadium — Norfolk, VA

Article updated Oct 28, 10:48 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

Marshall will beat Old Dominion 23-20, with its stronger offensive production providing the clearest edge in this October 31 matchup. The Herd averages 395.3 yards per game against the Monarchs' 250.4, enough to make Marshall -2.5 (-115) the best bet at the supplied price. Confidence is medium because Marshall's defensive struggles and turnovers leave Old Dominion a credible upset route.

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Old Dominion Monarchs prediction and best bet

Marshall is the pick to win, and Marshall -2.5 (-115) is the official wager. The offensive advantage is substantial: the Herd averages 21.7 points with meaningful production through the air and on the ground. Old Dominion averages 15.5 points and enters after a shutout. Marshall should generate enough scoring chances to win a competitive game by a field goal.

That is a narrow endorsement. The Herd's minus-8 turnover margin and 30.7 points allowed per game make a comfortable victory difficult to forecast. Old Dominion also allows fewer yards and points than Marshall. Those weaknesses temper the pick, while the conflicting offensive and defensive profiles make the total of 45 a Pass.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Kickoff: Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 1 p.m. EDT. This is a 2026 college football Sun Belt matchup.

Venue: S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia, for Old Dominion's Homecoming. Broadcast: ESPN+.

Records: Marshall Thundering Herd 4-3; Old Dominion Monarchs 2-6.

SportsJaw odds: Marshall Thundering Herd -2.5 (-114); Old Dominion Monarchs +2.5 (+100). Moneyline: Marshall Thundering Herd -140; Old Dominion Monarchs +120. Total: Over 45 (-111); Under 45 (-105).

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

SportsJaw total: Over 45 (-112); Under 45 (-106).

Marshall Thundering Herd outlook

Through seven games, Marshall averages 238.3 passing yards and 157.0 rushing yards, giving it two ways to attack Old Dominion. The concern is the return on that yardage. Its 395.3-yard average produces only 21.7 points per game, and the Herd scores on 71.4% of red-zone trips. Moving the ball is a strength; finishing possessions remains a vulnerability.

Carlos Del Rio-Wilson has 1,014 passing yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.0% completion rate. Those season totals describe his contribution without settling the quarterback assignment for Saturday. In the October 20 win over South Alabama, Zion Turner completed 21 of 33 passes for 181 yards and added 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Khalil Wilkins contributed 69 rushing yards on eight attempts in that 20-13 victory. Marshall then had a bye before this trip. Elsewhere in the offense, Judah Price has 237 rushing yards on 41 carries with two touchdowns, while Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw has 25 receptions for 335 yards and four scores.

Defensively, the seven-game averages are less encouraging: 430.0 yards and 30.7 points allowed. The South Alabama result offers a better recent example, but one performance is too little to dismiss that broader vulnerability.

Old Dominion Monarchs outlook

Old Dominion's offensive difficulties extend beyond its latest result. Through eight games, the Monarchs average 152.0 passing yards and 98.4 rushing yards, with a 33.6% third-down conversion rate. That combination makes sustained possession a central concern. Marshall's defense offers an opportunity, but Old Dominion needs more productive early downs to avoid repeatedly asking its passing game to rescue drives.

Jaxon Potter made his first Monarch start of the season in the October 24 loss at Louisiana Tech. He completed 18 of 34 passes for 154 yards, no touchdowns and one interception as Old Dominion lost 26-0. Quinn Henicle's season totals are 656 passing yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions with a 55.1% completion rate. Neither statistical line warrants assuming a sudden passing breakthrough.

Devin Roche has 382 rushing yards on 103 carries, while T.J. Johnson has 17 catches for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Their production gives the offense identifiable contributors, although the team scoring average remains just 15.5 points.

The defense offers a stronger argument for an upset, allowing 348.5 yards and 26.8 points per game. At Louisiana Tech, Ja'Mez Drummer recorded 15 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss; Koa Naotala added eight tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. Safety Lucas Struck leads the team with 61 tackles.

Key matchup factors

Finishing drives matters more than the raw yardage comparison. Marshall's red-zone scoring rate leaves room for Old Dominion to force empty possessions, while the Monarchs' third-down struggles threaten their own ability to sustain drives. A few successful stops near scoring range could outweigh several productive series between the 20s.

Turnovers are the other swing factor. Marshall's minus-8 margin makes ball security a concrete concern, particularly when laying points on the road. Drummer and Naotala's recent tackles for loss suggest another way Old Dominion can disrupt possessions. The forecast favors Marshall's offensive output, but the Monarchs have a plausible path through defensive stops and mistakes rather than matching the Herd yard for yard.

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Old Dominion Monarchs spread prediction

Recommendation: Marshall -2.5 (-115). A three-point victory covers, which fits a matchup where Marshall has the stronger offense but significant defensive limitations. Old Dominion +2.5 (-101) has appeal through its better defensive averages, yet backing the Monarchs requires trusting an offense coming off a shutout to keep this within two points or win outright.

The projected margin is only three, so this is a modest edge at the exact supplied line. Marshall's turnover problems prevent a stronger endorsement. The offensive comparison still tips the spread decision toward the Herd.

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Old Dominion Monarchs total prediction

Recommendation: Pass on total 45, with Over 45 (-112) and Under 45 (-106). The teams' scoring averages sum to 37.2 points, and Old Dominion's latest shutout strengthens the lower-scoring case. But Marshall allows 30.7 points per game, while Old Dominion allows 26.8. Those defensive figures pull in the opposite direction.

The 43-point projection sits below 45, but the two-point cushion is too small to justify Under 45 (-106) against that counterevidence. Turnovers could also alter scoring opportunities. Neither direction earns an official total recommendation.

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Old Dominion Monarchs projected score

Game forecast: Marshall 23, Old Dominion 20. Marshall's greater offensive production earns the winner selection, while Old Dominion's defensive advantage keeps the projected margin close. Giving the Monarchs 20 points reflects Marshall's defensive vulnerability without assuming that Old Dominion suddenly becomes a consistently productive offense.

The strongest objection is that Marshall can undermine its yardage advantage through turnovers and unfinished drives. If those problems persist, Old Dominion has a credible route to the upset. Even so, Marshall remains the projected winner with medium confidence. The single official wager is Marshall -2.5 (-115). The total of 45 is a Pass despite a projected score slightly below it.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Thundering Herd23

Monarchs20

Projected winner Marshall Thundering HerdConfidencemedium
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Spread: Marshall Thundering Herd -2.5 (-115)

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Pass on total 45: Over 45 (-112) and Under 45 (-106)

Sources

  • Old Dominion AthleticsGame Nine Preview: Old Dominion vs. Marshall
  • Associated Press via WV NewsOld Dominion hosts Marshall in Sun Belt matchup
  • NCAA.comCollege football TV schedule and times

SportsJaw Thundering Herd vs Monarchs game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Thundering Herd vs Monarchs matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Crowd vs qualified handicappers

Spread crowd
Marshall Thundering Herd -2.5 (-114) · 100%
Spread qualified handicappers
Insufficient qualified picks
Qualified handicappers need at least 20 graded picks and a 52.5% win rate. A market needs at least three current qualified picks. Selection share is not a win probability.

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Marshall Thundering Herd-145 → -140Moved
  • Moneyline · Old Dominion Monarchs+125 → +120Moved
  • Spread · Marshall Thundering Herd-3 (-104) → -2.5 (-114)Moved
  • Spread · Old Dominion Monarchs+3 (-113) → +2.5 (+100)Moved
  • Total · Over45.5 (-108) → 45 (-111)Moved
  • Total · Under45.5 (-113) → 45 (-105)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Marshall Thundering Herd
4-3 matchup record · 3-7-0 ATS · 3-7-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Old Dominion Monarchs
2-6 matchup record · 2-8-0 ATS · 3-7-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2026-10-28T14:48:53.276Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

No verified injury or availability note was included in the published matchup research.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2025-10-11Old Dominion Monarchs 24 · Marshall Thundering Herd 48
  • 2024-11-23Marshall Thundering Herd 42 · Old Dominion Monarchs 35
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