James Madison Dukes vs Marshall Thundering Herd Prediction, Odds and Picks for Saturday, 11/08/25

Narrative matters in college football betting, and the James Madison storyline writes itself. Ask anyone paying attention and they’ll tell you the Dukes are quietly building a résumé worthy of representing the Group of Six in the College Football Playoff. They’re 7-1, and the lone blemish came at Louisville — a loss that looks more like a badge of honor given the Cardinals’ current playoff positioning. JMU is rolling, and the market has taken notice.

Marshall, on the other hand, is coming off a midweek disaster at Coastal Carolina. The Herd were a full touchdown favorite and even controlled that game early, yet turnovers and miscues flipped everything on its head. Not only did Marshall fail to cover — they lost outright, and in ugly fashion. That result soured the betting public quickly.

And that’s exactly where the opportunity lies. This is your classic buy-low, sell-high setup. JMU’s stock could not be hotter with a massive rivalry showdown vs. App State on deck, while Marshall looks damaged after a high-profile misstep. At home, catching nearly two touchdowns, this is a favorable number for a program that still has talent and pride.

JMU deserves respect, but situationally this is a tough ask. Marshall can shorten the game, absorb punches, and hang around. We’ll grab the points — and we wouldn’t be shocked if the Herd won outright.

James Madison vs. Marshall prediction: Marshall +13.5 (-110) available at number posted. Playable to +13.