Old Dominion and Marshall will meet in college football on Saturday. The Monarchs are a heavy favorite going into this game as they look to improve to 5-1 on the season. Marshall will try to upset ODU and make a statement in Sun Belt play. Here, I break down this matchup and make my Old Dominion vs Marshall prediction.
Our Old Dominion vs Marshall Pick
- Pick: Old Dominion -14.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Old Dominion Monarchs vs Marshall Thundering Herd
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Venue: Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Old Dominion vs Marshall Odds
| Betting Market | Line |
|---|---|
| Spread | Old Dominion -14.5 |
| Moneyline | Old Dominion -700, Marshall +450 |
| Total | 57.5 |
Key Storylines
- Old Dominion’s Offensive Dominance: The Monarchs have been impressive on offense, averaging 36.2 points per game, ranking 34th nationally. They average 247.4 passing yards and 251.2 rushing yards per game. Marshall’s defense will have to figure out how to stop both components of the Old Dominion offense to have a chance in this game.
- Marshall’s Defensive Struggles: The Thundering Herd’s defense has allowed 31 points per game, ranking 104th nationally. In fairness, a large portion of those points were allowed against the Georgia Bulldogs and in a double overtime game against Louisiana. But this vulnerability could be exploited by Old Dominion’s high-powered offense.
- Recent Form: Old Dominion enters the game on a four-game winning streak, including a commanding 47-7 victory over Coastal Carolina. Marshall is coming off a 54-51 loss to Louisiana, which ended a two-game winning streak for the Thundering Herd.
Quarterback Play
- Old Dominion: Quarterback Colton Joseph has been efficient, completing 18 of 26 passes for 271 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the team’s recent win over Liberty. Joseph has 12 touchdown passes to four interceptions so far this year.
- Marshall: The Thundering Herd’s offense has been dynamic, averaging 31.6 points per game. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson has thrown nine touchdown passes and hasn’t thrown an interception on the year. However, their defensive lapses have often overshadowed their offensive efforts, leading to their 2-3 start.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Old Dominion: Old Dominion is 4-1 against the spread this season and 1-1 on the road.
- Marshall: Marshall is 3-2 against the spread and 1-1 at home.
- Head-to-Head: Marshall has won the last seven meetings against Old Dominion. The Thundering Herd are 9-1 all-time against Old Dominion.
- Over/Under Trends: The total has gone over in three of Marshall’s first five games. Old Dominion has seen three of its first five games stay under the total.
Old Dominion vs Marshall Model Projection
- Score Projection: Old Dominion 43, Marshall 15
- Win Probability: Old Dominion 85.9%, Marshall 18.3%
Final Thoughts
Marshall has dominated the head-to-head history between these two schools. But Old Dominion is playing at a much higher level than the Thundering Herd this year and I expect that to continue in this contest. My recommendation is for bettors to lay the points with Old Dominion in what I expect to be a lopsided game between Sun Belt foes.
