The Marshall Thundering Herd will host the Missouri State Bears in Week 2 of the college football season on Saturday. Missouri State will look to win on the road to secure its first win as an FBS football program. Marshall is also looking for its first win of the year after falling to a power conference opponent last week. Here, I break down this non-conference matchup in college football and bring you my Missouri State vs Marshall prediction.
Our Missouri State vs Marshall Pick
- Pick: Marshall -8.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Missouri State Bears vs Marshall Thundering Herd
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025, 6:00 PM ET
- Venue: Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Missouri State vs Marshall Odds
| Betting Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spread | Marshall -8.5 |
| Moneyline | Marshall -340, Missouri State +270 |
| Total | 54.5 |
Key Storylines
Both teams are coming off blowout losses in their season openers. Missouri State fell 73-13 to USC and Marshall suffered a 45-7 defeat at Georgia. These results are not indicative of who these football teams are and we should see better from both teams now that they aren’t facing elite programs from the two best conferences in college football.
Marshall’s offense struggled in their opener with only 207 total yards. That output ranked 130th in the FBS. Their passing game accounted for just 129 yards and the rushing attack added only 78 yards. This lack of offensive production will need to improve for Marshall to cover the spread as a favorite in this matchup.
Missouri State’s offense also faced difficulties with just 13 points against USC. This game will be their best chance to get a win as an FBS team in their brief history since transitioning from FCS football for the start of this season.
Quarterback Play
Marshall’s quarterback situation is in flux following their season opener. Zion Turner completed 6 of 7 passes for 100 yards. JacQai Long and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson combined for just 29 yards on 14 attempts. The Thundering Herd will need improved quarterback play to establish a more dynamic offense.
Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark had a middling showing in the opener for his team. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 147 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. A more efficient performance from Clark could help the Bears stay competitive in this game on the road.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Marshall is 1-0 against the spread this season and Missouri State is 0-1 ATS.
- Both of these teams went over the total in their season openers last week.
- This is the first game between these teams as FBS opponents.
Missouri State vs Marshall Model Projection
- Score Projection: Marshall 31 – Missouri State 21
- Win Probability: Marshall 85%, Missouri State 15%
Final Thoughts
Both teams should look a lot better than they did in their season openers just by playing a less daunting opponent. But Marshall should be the team that comes out of this game with the win. The Thundering Herd should have a physical advantage in the trenches and elsewhere against a team that will still need to adjust to life in the FBS. My recommendation is to lay the points with Marshall on Saturday evening.
