Marshall vs Old Dominion Prediction, Odds and NCAAF Picks for Saturday, 10/31/26

It seems like gluttony for punishment, backing a team that's covered just once this season and got blanked 26-0 last weekend. This is especially the case when Marshall just made an impression with an upset of a sexy South Alabama team in a primetime spot last Tuesday. But that's exactly the point. The confluence of those results has enabled the Thundering Herd to go from a home underdog to a road favorite in the space of one week. Think about that. A week ago, nobody gave Marshall much of a chance in Huntington against South Alabama. Now, following one impressive victory, we're suddenly supposed to trust the Herd to travel to Norfolk and win? That's quite a turnaround in market perception. It's also the definition of a zig-zag

Let's put this back into perspective. Old Dominion beat Appalachian State, which subsequently knocked off James Madison on Saturday in overtime. The Monarchs have demonstrated they can win against credible opposition, even if their recent performances have done little to inspire confidence. And let's not forget that Marshall nearly lost to FCS Gardner-Webb earlier this season. This isn't some powerhouse that should automatically command respect away from home. ODU's stock has cratered following that shutout loss to LA Tech, while Marshall's has surged after its primetime upset. That's precisely the kind of market overreaction I want to exploit. I'll take the Monarchs outright.

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Old Dominion Monarchs prediction: Old Dominion +126 (ML) available at time of publishing. Playable to +115.