Marshall vs Georgia State Odds: Herd Slight Favorites in Sun Belt Tussle
Marshall (9-1 SU in last 10) hoping recent history holds true
Two of the better NCAAF teams from the Sun Belt Conference will square off Saturday (7 p.m. ET) when the Marshall Thundering Herd visit the Georgia State Panthers.
Georgia State is a slight 1-point favorite (-110) over Marshall (+1, -110) on the NCAA football line, while the projected total is 53.5 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Who has the edge? Read on as we break down both teams and dive into the Marshall vs Georgia State odds in our college football game preview.
Marshall Thundering Herd at Georgia State Panthers 
Date/Time: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Center Parc Stadium; Atlanta
Streaming: ESPN2
Betting Trends
The Marshall Thundering Herd are 2-3 against the spread this college football season. They’ve won five straight Sun Belt Conference games and nine of their last 10 overall. Meanwhile, the Georgia State Panthers are 3-2 ATS this season and 5-2 over their last seven games. Notably, the total has gone Under in four of Georgia State’s last five games at home. That’s important to remember when assessing the Marshall vs Georgia State odds.
Marshall Thundering to Contention
The Marshall Thundering Herd suffered their first loss in Week 6, falling 48-41 to North Carolina State. The Thundering Herd led 24-21 at halftime but allowed three second-half touchdowns to watch their unbeaten streak end. A 6.5-point underdog, they also failed to cover the spread for the second straight week.
Cam Fancher threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns but was also sacked six times. Three turnovers proved costly for the Thundering Herd.
The loss didn’t do much to shake the Thundering Herd’s Sun Belt odds, as they remain a +650 pick to win the conference. That’s third on the board behind Troy (+350), Georgia Southern (+450) and South Alabama (+500). Remember that James Madison, the conference’s only remaining unbeaten team, is ineligible for championship play due to FBS transition rules.
The Thundering Herd were projected for 7.5 wins, with a slight lean toward the Under (-144). With seven regular-season games remaining on the NCAAF schedule, they’re on track to topping that total. But it’ll take some heavy lifting, with James Madison upcoming on Oct. 19.
Notably, Marshall ranks near the top half of the country in several offensive categories, including scoring (31.6 points per game, 50th) and yards (413.6 per game, 53rd). Keep that in mind when analyzing the Marshall vs Georgia State odds.
Panthers Hanging Tough
The Georgia State Panthers are coming off a bye. In their most recent game, Sept. 30 against Troy, they lost 28-7 to snap their four-game winning streak. A 1-point favorite, the Panthers committed three turnovers and managed only 298 total yards.
The Panthers (4-0, 1-1) are currently priced at +800 to win the Sun Belt, right behind Marshall. While they looked formidable in non-conference play, the lopsided loss to Troy didn’t offer much encouragement. After leading 7-6 at halftime, the Panthers were shut out over the final two quarters.
Projected for just 5.5 wins (+138 Over, -170 Under), Georgia State is well on its way to beating expectations in 2023. After topping FCS program Rhode Island in their season opener, the Panthers strung together double-digit victories over UConn, Charlotte, and Sun Belt foe Coastal Carolina. In doing so, they’ve already matched their win total from last season’s 4-8 finish.
What’s their ceiling? That’s still being determined.
Led by Darren Grainger, the Panthers have been solid offensively. The fifth-year senior has thrown for 1,187 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for three more. As such, Georgia State ranks 56th in the country in total offense (411.4 yards per game) and tied for 56th in scoring (31 points per game).
Handicapping the Game
Marshall and Georgia State are both on the short list of contenders in the Sun Belt. While the Panthers are clearly headed in the right direction under head coach Shawn Elliott after last year’s shortcomings, they’re facing a tall order at home. The Thundering Herd played North Carolina State tough and have won five straight against conference foes.
Look for that streak to continue this week.
For NCAAF scores and odds, betting news and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
