Free NCAA Football Prediction: Bobcats vs. Dukes Odds
Looking for Marshall Thundering Herd vs. James Madison Dukes free picks? College football betting sees the Thundering Herd taking on the Dukes on Saturday, October 22nd at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, VA. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 8 predictions like this MAR-JMU free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 8
(3-3) Marshall Thundering Herd vs. James Madison Dukes (5-1)
Date: Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Time: 3:30 pm EST
Venue: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: MARS +12 | MAD -22 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Thundering Herd +1000 | Dukes -2100
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 58
Marshall vs. Madison? It has a little ring to it.
Harrisonburg will be a special once again this weekend, as the James Madison Dukes will welcome the Marshall Thundering Herd to town for their homecoming game. JMU will open as the 12-point favorites, with the total opening at 58
Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall opened the season with a blowout of Norfolk State, then followed it up with one of their biggest wins of all-time in South Bend over Notre Dame. Road losses to Bowling Green and Troy would follow, but a homecoming victory over Gardner-Webb would send them into their bye week with a winning record.
In Week 7, Marshall lost to Louisiana, 23-13, dropping to 2-4 against the spread this season.
Marshall scores 26.7 points per game, while allowing 17.3 ppg.
Henri Colombo pushed Grant Wells out of the program and delivered immediately with a big win at Notre Dame. The Texas Tech transfer has been serviceable this season, but reserved play calling has sapped his upside. Colombi went an impressive 24/26 in his debut, and he approached a career-high in the loss to BGSU with 338 yards, but none of his other four starts have eclipsed the 145-yard mark. The senior quarterback could find himself playing from behind and passing a lot this weekend in Harrisonburg.
Columbi has passed for 943 passing yards with six touchdowns to three interceptions.
Khalan Laborn has been one of the most productive running backs in the country this season. The senior back will return to his home state this weekend after surpassing the 110-yard mark and scoring in each of the first six games. Laborn ran for 163 yards in the win over ND, and he dashed for a career-best 191 yards against Gardner-Webb.
Laborn is an integral part of this offense, and he’s among the nation’s leaders in rushing with 851 yards and ten touchdowns. Corey Gammage returned after leading Marshall in receiving last year, and he’s on pace to do so again this season with 23 catches for 254 receiving yards thus far.
James Madison Dukes
JMU’s arrival to the FBS ranks has jumped out to a great start truly. The Dukes blew Middle Tennessee in their home opener, before welcoming in-state foe Norfolk State to town, and sending them back to the 757 with a 56-point loss. The Dukes then traveled to Boone and defeated Appalachian State in the Battle of the Blue Ridge in dramatic fashion. JMU would then pick up wins over Texas State and Arkansas State, but their first bit of trouble in Statesboro last Saturday.
In Week 7, James Madison lost to Georgia Southern, 45-38, dropping their first game as FBS competitors.
JMU scores 43.2 points per game, while allowing 20.1 ppg.
Todd Centeio has already made his mark on the program and it only took six starts. The senior quarterback displayed a lot of leadership and composure leading their comeback in Boone, and he makes them threats in the Sun Belt already in their debut season.
Centeio has been dynamic through the first half of the season, throwing for 1,780 yards with 17 touchdowns to four interceptions, and rushing for 333 yards and five scores.
Sixth-year back Percy Agyei-Obese is the lead dog for the Dukes, rushing for 450 yards in five games.
Kris Thornton has been Centeio’s top target early. Despite a very quiet showing versus App State, the veteran receiver recorded 37 catches for 642 yards and a whopping five touchdowns. Junior wideout Reggie Brown is second on the team in receptions (22) and yards (346)
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- MAR are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- JMU are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Herd are 3-5 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- Dukes are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Free Week 8 NCAA Football Final Analysis:
Homecoming season is here, and Harrisonburg will be the place to be this weekend. Purple Valley will bleed this weekend, as alumni and former students return to town to feel that JMU air one more time. The Dukes are making history in their first FBS season, and this will mark the first of many.
Marshall has quite the historical program themselves, but after beating Notre Dame in South Bend, it’s safe to say they’ve had their moment for the year. The Thundering Herd will cross the state border and come into this one very one dimensional, and they may find their scenic trip back to Huntington a lot more pleasant than the final outcome. Dukes big here in a bounce back effort for the battle of Marshall and Madison.
Purple Valley will provide the smiles, and the Dukes will provide the cover here. It honors me to say, take JMU’s spread for their homecoming day.
4* Free Week 8 NCAA Betting Pick: JMU -12.5
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