Free Week 1 Prediction: Colonels vs. Thundering Herd Odds
Looking for Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs. Marshall Thundering Herd free picks? Week 1 betting sees the Colonels taking on the Thundering Herd on Saturday, September 5th, at John C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football predictions like this Colonels Thundering Herd Week 1 free pick.
College Football Handicapping: Week 1
(0-0) Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020
Time: 1:00 PM EST
Venue: John C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia
NCAA Football Spread: Eastern Kentucky -23.5
NCAA Betting Total: O/U 52.5
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The first college football Saturday game is going down on September, 5th at 1:00 between the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and the Marshall Thundering Herd.
Eastern Kentucky finished 7-5 in 2019 while going 5-3 in the Ohio Valley conference, leading them to finish 4th overall.
Marshall, on the other hand, posted an 8-5 record in 2019 with a 6-2 conference USA record. The Thundering Herd even earned themselves a Bowl bid to play in the Gasparilla Bowl, but ultimately lost 48-25.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Walt Wells returns to Eastern Kentucky as the head coach of the Colonels after an 18-year hiatus. Wells was a member of the Offensive Linemen coaching staff way back in 2002.
Walt will look to secure his first career victory as this is his first year transitioning to a head coach after being at the University of Kentucky in 2019. Wells will also bring along a set of new coordinators in Andy Richman (offense) and Jake Johnson (defense).
These guys will try to bring back the rush heavy and defensive strategy that the team implemented in 2019 helping the Colonels win seven games last year. Three out of the five Colonel’s losses came on the road last season which is where they will start their season against the Thundering Herd.
Parker Mckinney or Dakota Allen will be the starting QB for the Colonels on Saturday, but head coach Wells has decided to not disclose that information until game day, so we will all find out together when it’s “go” time. You’re probably going to see a run-heavy attack in that case with Alonzo Booth being Eastern Kentucky’s featured back. Booth had a team-high 14 touchdowns last season, but only 673 yards at the running back position so look for him to get cooking on Saturday to start the season.
Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall will have Doc Holliday returning for his 11th season as the head coach of the Thundering Herd. Tim Cramsey (OC) and Brad Lambert (DC) are also coming back to help lead Marshall to hopefully another bowl game, but they actually win it this time.
2020 may be the toughest test that Doc Holliday will have to face schedule-wise as they have Louisana Tech, Appalachian State, and Florida Atlantic to face on the horizon.
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Losing starting QB Isiah Green really hurts the herd’s offense as he threw for over 4500 yards and had 29 touchdowns in 2019. Redshirt Freshman Grant Wills will take over the signal calling from Green after sitting out his first year.
Marshall did lose a lot on defense due to graduation over the summer, but should still have a strong front seven to provide stoppages against the Eastern Kentucky offense. The strengths will truly be in the secondary and their defense of the passing game, as West Virginia transfer Derrek Pitts will pair with Preseason All-CUSA selection Nazeeh Johnson to create possibly the best safety duo in the conference.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Eastern Kentucky is 0-10 SU in their last 10 games on the road.
- Eastern Kentucky is 0-8 SU in their last 8 games played in September.
- Eastern Kentucky is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played on a Saturday.
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of Marshall’s last 16 games.
- Marshall is 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
- Marshall is 9-1 SU in their last 10 games at home.
- Marshall is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games played in September.
Free Week 1 NCAA Football Prediction:
Marshall is the far superior team in this matchup. Even though the Herd have a history of coming out slow in September I think this is the year that Holliday says enough. They have all the continuity with an 11th-year head coach and the second-most experienced line in all of college football returning which will matter in a crazy season like this. There are just too many question marks for Eastern Kentucky with a brand new staff and I’m confident in taking Marshall -23.5.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: Marshall -23.5
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