Louisiana vs. Marshall Picks, Predictions College Football Week 7: 'Fun Belt' Action Returns
The "Fun Belt" returns Wednesday night as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun and Marshall Thundering Herd open up the Week 7 slate. Check out our top Louisiana-Marshall picks for their Week 7 matchup.
Although expectations were high in Lafayette coming into the 2022 season, Louisiana (3-2 ATS, 2-3 O/U) enters this game on a three-game losing skid. After losing back-to-back road games as betting favorites, the Ragin’ Cajuns fell at home to South Alabama two weeks ago.
Marshall (2-3 ATS, 1-4 O/U) enjoyed a moment in the national spotlight earlier this season thanks to a shocking upset win over Notre Dame. The Thundering Herd have come back down to Earth since then with losses to Bowling Green and Troy but were able to get back on track two weeks ago with a win over FCS Gardner-Webb.
These schools met for the first time in last year’s New Orleans Bowl. Louisiana scored on three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter to win 36-21 as a 4-point favorite.
Check out our top Week 7 college football games to watch.
Here are our college football picks for the Week 7 matchup between Louisiana and Marshall (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Louisiana vs. Marshall Game Info
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV
Weather: 69 degrees, 81.0% chance of precipitation, 8-9-mph winds S
Louisiana vs. Marshall Odds
Louisiana vs. Marshall Odds Analysis
Bettors have remained strongly aligned on Marshall into Wednesday afternoon. This has caused the spread to grow from the consensus opening line of Marshall -8 to -10. Seventy-seven percent of the handle is backing the Thundering Herd on 76% of all ATS tickets.
The Over/Under has dropped by a point from the opening line of 47.5 to 46.5. The Under has received the support if 64% of the tickets and 90% of the cash.
Louisiana vs. Marshall Picks
Louisiana vs. Marshall ATS Pick
Louisiana +10.5 (-108) ★★
It’s clear that Louisiana has regressed overall relative to the last few seasons. Such is usually the case when a mid-major program loses its head coach, its veteran quarterback and its top three tacklers on defense. That said, the line move for Wednesday’s matchup against Marshall has gotten a bit out of hand. Thus, buying back on the underdog seems like the play to make.
One thing that is clearly hampering the Ragin’ Cajuns this season is the team’s inability to commit to a quarterback. The stability that Levi Lewis provided at the position is out the door. Louisiana has played both Chandler Fields and Fresno State transfer, Ben Wooldridge, through the first five games.
On the bright side, Louisiana boasts an experienced receiving corps. Provided that one or both quarterbacks can play competent football, the Cajuns should have an advantage on the perimeter against a Marshall defense that ranks 110th in passing yards allowed on the year.
Meanwhile, the Thundering Herd's offense is predicated on Florida State transfer Khalan Laborn as the focal point of the backfield and comes in ranked fourth in the nation with 731 rushing yards. Considering that Louisiana’s defense has been quite strong against the run this season, it’s fair to question how much damage Laborn will be able to do in this matchup.
Louisiana vs. Marshall O/U Pick
Under 47.5 (-110) ★★★
Offensively, both Louisiana and Marshall would prefer to run the football. The problem with this desire as far as Wednesday's matchup is concerned is that both teams are also much better defensively against the run than they are against the pass.
The Thundering Herd come in allowing only 71.2 rushing yards per game, the four fewest in all of FBS. Louisiana has held opponents to 128.2 yards per game on the ground. These stats would seem to suggest that both teams will need to make some plays through the air in order to keep the opposing defense honest.
While Marshall does not utilize a two-quarterback rotation to the same degree that Louisiana does, it’s still tough to trust Henry Colombi on a weekly basis. The Texas Tech transfer has been extremely hit or miss this season. One week after throwing for nearly 350 yards against Bowling Green, he finished with just 49 yards passing in an awful offensive effort against Troy.
An inability to trust either team’s quarterback(s) to give their talented receivers a chance bodes well for the Under. In addition, the weather forecast is calling for an 80% chance of rain in Huntington on Wednesday night. This added element will surely favor a run-heavy offensive approach and a lower-scoring game.
Louisiana vs. Marshall Prop Pick
Marshall team total: Under 29.5 (-102) ★★★
Ever since scoring 31 points in an overtime loss to Bowling Green, Marshall’s offense has fallen on hard times. Given that Louisiana’s defense has been solid against the run, plus the threat of rainy weather impacting this game and it seems highly unlikely that the Herd will reach the 30-point threshold.
Marshall notably needed the extra period to surpass this team total of 29.5 against BGSU. Case in point, the Thundering Herd have yet to score more than 28 points in regulation time in any game against FBS-level competition this season. Even two weeks ago against FCS-level Gardner-Webb, Marshall scored only 28 points.
Despite the odds being juiced to the Over on this team total prop, the preferred option is to take the Under on 29.5 points for Marshall. This line is essentially daring Colombi and the inconsistent Thundering Herd passing attack to beat us, and in rainy weather, nonetheless.
Where to Bet on Louisiana vs. Marshall Picks
Louisiana-Marshall picks made 10/11/2022 at 3:14 p.m. ET
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