The 2020 college football season opens for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and the Marshall Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W.V., with a Saturday afternoon kickoff at 1 p.m. ET (on ESPN). We analyze the Eastern Kentucky-Marshall college football betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Eastern Kentucky at Marshall: Betting odds and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:42 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Marshall -5000 | Eastern Kentucky +1400
- Against the spread/ATS: Marshall -24 (-110) | Eastern Kentucky +24 (-110)
- Over/Under: 52.5 (Over: -110 | Under: -110)
Eastern Kentucky at Marshall: Three things to know
- Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said he would fully support any player opting out due to COVID-19, but the Thundering Herd did not have any takers. Plenty of Group of Five members had opt outs, but none from Doc’s bunch.
- The Thundering Herd posted eight victories last season, including a 6-1 mark in their final seven regular-season contests before getting emasculated by UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl.
- Marshall RB Brenden Knox, the league’s Most Valuable Player, is back after galloping for 1,387 yards last season. He’ll likely be leaned upon heavily as the Herd break in a new signal caller with QB Grant Wells taking the reins after Isaiah Green surprisingly left the team.
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Eastern Kentucky at Marshall: Odds, betting lines and picks
Prediction
Marshall 45, Eastern Kentucky 16
Moneyline (ML)
Marshall is an overwhelming favorite in this one, and you cannot bet such a heavy fave and call yourself a legit gambler. AVOID.
Against the Spread (ATS)
MARSHALL (-24, -110) should cover this number at home, although it might get a bit hairy as some of the reserves get looks in the second half. The best part about Marshall’s defense is its tremendous secondary, and that’s bad news for an FCS team which figures to be in a hole early and in need of passing to get back into the game. Look for the Herd to build a giant early lead and hang on for the cover.
Also see:
- CFN – The latest college football coverage
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 52.5 (-110) is the way to go despite the fact Marshall could have some growing pains with Wells under center. The Colonels of EKU will likely see a steady diet of Knox, and that’s bad news for a team which lacks speed and didn’t have a ton of practice time to work on tackling techniques. The defending C-USA MVP should have a field day, and Marshall has the offense to nearly take care of the Over itself.
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