Stony Brook vs Marshall Prediction College Football Picks 8/31/24

Marshall (0-0) vs. Stony Brook (0-0)

Game Info: Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 5:00 pm (Joan C. Edwards Stadium)

Betting Odds: Marshall -30.5 / Stony Brook +30.5 — Over/Under: 51.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Stony Brook Seawolves and the Marshall Thundering Herd meet in week 1 college football action from Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday afternoon. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Stony Brook vs. Marshall prediction.

Stony Brook Team Preview

The Stony Brook Seawolves come into the 2024 season looking to bounce back from a brutal 0-10 mark in 2023, finishing below .500 for the 5th straight season. Stony Brook then made a change at head coach after that, bringing in Billy Cosh to replace Chuck Priore after Cosh made Richmond and VMI offensive success stories over the last few years.

Casey Case returns to QB1 after throwing for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns while he will be challenged by former Georgetown QB Tyler Knoop who started 10 games for the Hoyas last year, throwing for 2,459 yards and 22 TDs. Roland Dempster is back after leading Stony Brook with 408 rushing yards and 3 TDs last year while Shakhi Carson is back and will probably see an increased role in the backfield. Anthony Johnson leads one of the deepest receiving groups in the CAA, after leading Stony Brook with 59 grabs for 714 yards and 3 TDs. Jasiah Williams hopes for a clean bill of health after an injury-plagued 2023, while Chance Knox comes over from VMI to help with receiver depth.

On defense, Davon Bomar and Taylor Bolesta will lead the front seven on the line while the secondary will feature Rudy Silvera who comes over from LIU, Deshawn Jones Jr. and Jordan Jackson to help a secondary that really let Stony Brook down last year.

Why the Stony Brook Seawolves will win

Marshall has lost seven of his last nine games.

The underdog has covered the spread in nine of Marshall’s last 11 games at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Marshall has failed to cover the spread in eight of his last 10 games.

Marshall Team Preview

The Marshall Thundering Herd will look to keep the tradition going after another decent season, making a bowl game for the 7th straight year, finishing the 2023 season with a 6-7 overall record, including 3-5 in Sun Belt conference play. The year culminated with a 35-17 loss to UTSA in the Frisco Bowl.

Cole Pennington is expected to be given the keys to the offense with Cam Fancher now at FAU while Mitch Griffis transfers in from Wake Forest and Braylon Braxton comes over from Tulsa to give Marshall options under center. Jordan Houston comes over from NC State to collaborate with Ethan Payne in the Marshall backfield to replace Rasheen Ali, while the receiving group is almost all made up from the transfer portal. Christian Fitzpatrick comes in from Michigan State, while Bralon Brown, Tychaun Chapman, Carl Chester and Elijah Metcalf come in from Ole Miss, UNC, Tulsa and Middle Tennessee respectively.

On defense, Isaiah Gibson and TyQaze Leggs lead Marshall’s defensive line while Jacarius Clayton and Ashton Heflin transfer into flanker J’Coryan Anderson in the linebacker room. There’s question marks in the secondary for the Herd, but JJ Roberts and AG McGhee make up a pair of solid safeties for Marshall and Isaiah Johnson transfers in from Arizona State to give the Herd some solidity at the corner.

Why the Marshall Thundering Herd will win

Marshall has won each of his last 11 season openers.

Marshall has covered the spread in seven of his last nine season openers.