HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

Sun Belt Game Of The Week: Marshall at JMU Prediction & Preview

Robert Munoz by Robert Munoz
November 26, 2024
James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III

AP Photo/Mike Buscher

There are two games in the Sun Belt this week that will determine who will be playing for the conference title. This meeting between JMU and Marshall is one of them.

If Marshall is able to knock off James Madison, then it will finish atop the Sun Belt West and play Louisiana for the conference title. With a loss and if Georgia Southern defeats App State, then the Eagles will be in the championship since they beat Marshall in mid-October.

JMU is no longer in contention for a league championship but still has the opportunity to finish the season with a quality win.

How To Watch Marshall-JMU

The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday and will air on ESPNU.

Marshall-JMU Betting Odds

JMU is a three-point college football betting odds favorite.

Marshall-JMU Coaches & Records

MU: Charles Huff (30-20)

JMU: Bob Chesney (8-3)

Last meeting: Oct. 19, 2023; JMU won 20-9.

The Dukes’ win last season was their first in this series. Marshall holds a 3-1 advantage.


Related Articles

  • 2024 FBS Bowl Game Predictions, Including the College Football Playoff & More
  • College Football Bowl Games 2025: Which Teams Are Bowl-Eligible And Which Teams Won’t Be?
  • CFP Rankings Predictions: Who Would Make It To The 2025 College Football Playoff If The Season Ended Now?

Marshall Preview

If it wasn’t for the fourth-quarter collapse the Thundering Herd had against Georgia Southern, they would be 7-0 in conference play. They are 8-3 overall.

The Thundering Herd are arguably the biggest surprise in the league. They’ve been somewhat coasting under the radar but have been piling up victories in different ways. Marshall was at +1600 to win the Sun Belt, and its preseason win total was at 5.5, a number it went over three weeks ago.

Marshall head coach Charles Huff should be in the conversation for the Sun Belt Coach of the Year as he has his squad bowl bound for the fourth consecutive season — each of the years he’s been at the helm.

This year’s team has really leaned on the run game and is averaging a league-best 205.8 rushing yards per game. Running back AJ Turner is second in the conference and is averaging 84.6 rushing YPG and has added six TDs. 

The rushing attack really took off, though, when quarterback Braylon Braxton took over as the starter in Week 6. In last week’s win over Old Dominion, Braxton rushed for 140 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry. He has 529 rushing yards and three TDs on the season to go with 1,311 passing yards and 16 TDs. He’s tossed two interceptions.

Defensive end Mike Green has been one of the best defenders in the FBS this season and leads the conference in sacks (15) and tackles for loss (20). The NFL prospect should cause some problems for JMU’s offense. 

JMU Preview

Every time the Dukes seemed to be rolling this season, they were upset in games they were favored in. Two of those losses came when they were double-digit favorites and all three of them were on the road. 

JMU went 4-0 in non-conference play but have since gone 4-3 against league opponents and is behind Marshall and Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt East. Any shot at making it to the Sun Belt title game was crushed following last week’s loss to App State, but now the Dukes have a chance to disrupt Marshall’s chances at securing its first-ever Sun Belt Championship.

The good news for the Dukes is this game is at home, which is where they’re undefeated. 

JMU’s defense is the best in the league and ranks first in scoring defense, allowing 19.5 points per game, and in total defense with 327.7 yards allowed per game. The Dukes are only giving up 122 rushing YPG and have surrendered a league-low 11 rushing scores. 

It should be a great matchup between JMU’s rush defense and Marshall’s rushing attack.

Quarterback Alonza Barnett III is fourth in the conference with 261.6 total yards per game and has 31 total touchdowns on the season. 

And just like Marshall, the Dukes have a defender that lives in opposing backfields. Eric O’Neill trails only Green in sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (15) in the Sun Belt on the season. O’Neill is a player who could determine the outcome of this game.

betmgm-sportsbook-promo-banner

Marshall-JMU Prediction

If this contest were being played in Huntington, then I would have to give the edge to Marshall. However, I think the Dukes finish the season undefeated at home and pull out a win here. 

This game could come down to whoever can contain the opposing quarterback, and I think JMU has the better defense and the better chance to do so. 

I do think Marshall covers the three-point spread, though, and that it will still sneak into the Sun Belt championship because of a Georgia Southern loss to App State.

Previous Post

College Football Betting: Mountain West Predictions For Week 14

Next Post

Temple Football: The Owls Continue Looking For The Next Matt Rhule

Next Post
Temple head coach Matt Rhule

Temple Football: The Owls Continue Looking For The Next Matt Rhule

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • 2025 FCS Jersey Countdown: The Best Returning Player For Each Number
  • Boston College’s Apparel Deal With New Balance Celebrates Significant Moment
  • Plot Twist for Sac State Football Independence + Updates On ASUN, WAC, Big Sky Movement

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.