Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina Prediction & Betting Picks (October 30, 2025)
After a slow 0-2 start, the Marshall Thundering Herd will look to make a statement in week 10, where they are 6.5-point favorites on the road against the rival Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
Both of these teams enter the week at a middling 4-3, but Marshall is in strong form after winning four of their last five games. Coastal Carolina will be the underdogs at home, which is mildly surprising considering their solid 3-1 record in Sun Belt play.
Inconsistency has plagued the Chanticleers mightily in 2025, as they’ve won consecutive games just once on the year and have gotten obliterated in their three losses. Bettors will need to figure out which version of Coastal Carolina shows up on Thursday night, and if it will be enough against the near-touchdown favored Marshall.
Want to know which side to bet on? Join me as I break down the latest Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina odds, break down the matchup, and point you to my preferred picks.
Game Basics & Context
- Matchup: Marshall Thundering Herd (4-3) vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-3)
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 30, with kickoff at 6:30 pm CT (7:30 pm ET)
- Venue: Brooks Stadium in Conway, SC
- How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Team Record
- Marshall: 4-3 overall, 2-1 in Sun Belt Conference.
- Coastal Carolina: 4-3, 3-1 in Sun Belt Conference.
Betting Odds
Here are the latest Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina Tennessee odds, per ESPN Bet:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Marshall | -6.5 (-110) | -225 | Over 55.5 (-105) |
Coastal Carolina | +6.5 (-110) | +190 | Under 55.5 (-115) |
Rivalry & Venue Context
There is not much history in this matchup, as Marshall and Coastal Carolina have faced off just three times ever. They have met in each of the last three seasons, with Coastal Carolina holding a 2-1 series edge.
Coastal Carolina won the first two meetings in fairly dominant fashion, defeating Marshall 24-13 in their first matchup, and trouncing them 34-6 the following season. Marshall earned their first and only win in the series last year, when they prevailed, 31-19.
So far, Marshall has split the two meetings at home, while Coastal Carolina has won the only game played in Conway. There isn’t a ton to glean from the three games these two teams have played, other than that they haven’t been particularly close and that these teams still don’t know each other all that well.
Why This Game Matters
In the big college football picture this game is relatively meaningless, but it’s huge for the Sun Belt Conference. Both teams are just 4-3, but they also have lost just one game each inside the conference.
The loser can say goodbye to any chance of a bowl game, and would also miss out on having a real shot at contending for the conference title. The winner, however, will keep their bowl game hopes alive and will continue to push for the Sun Belt championship.
Team Profiles
Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall got off to a slow start, but they have rebounded nicely. Not only are they on fire right now (4-1 over their last five), but their only loss was an insane 54-51 shootout defeat by the hands of Louisiana.
The Thundering Herd have been racking up points with ease, pouring in 38+ points in each of their last five games. That torrid run has helped them crack the top-20 (17th) in points per game on the year, and they are crushing defenses left and right.
Dual-threat quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson is the driving force behind a dynamic offense that can win through the air but dominates (32nd in the nation) on the ground.
While Marshall is a legit dynamo on offense, they leave a lot to be desired on defense. That has a lot to do with their offense putting up points, though, as they rank 11th in the country in takeaways and also own a top-30 sack rate.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Coastal Carolina has been a lot more inconsistent than the team they face on Thursday, and that plays into why they’re the underdogs. Their offense hasn’t been remotely close to as good as Marshall’s, either, as they have just three games all year with even 20+ points scored.
Their offense ranks outside the top-100 in scoring and struggles with efficiency and converting first downs. They do a solid enough job when they get in the red-zone, however, while Ja’Vin Simpkins leads a capable ground game that ranks 55th in the nation.
Coastal Carolina isn’t much better on the defensive side of the ball, as they allow over 33 points per game and aren’t especially good against the run or the pass. They do a solid job of forcing turnovers, but when their offense isn’t clicking and the ball isn’t falling into their lap, they can get into a lot of trouble in a hurry.
Key Matchup Angles
Here are the key matchups for Thursday’s Sun Belt showdown:
- Marshall’s rush offense vs. Coastal Carolina’s run defense: The Thundering Herd run at a 61% clip with a solid 4.3 yards per carry. There’s a decent chance they enforce their will against a weak defense that is allowing a staggering 194 rushing yards per game (113th).
- Coastal Carolina’s rush offense vs. Coastal Carolina’s run defense: Coastal Carolina’s passing game is brutal, but they can run effectively (55th in rushing). It’s crucial for their success for them to establish the run early, and that isn’t an impossibility against Marshall’s 79th ranked run defense.
- Marshall’s pass rush vs. Coastal Carolina’s o-line: The Chanticleers only throw the ball 28 times per game, but they give up a surprising amount of sacks. When they do throw, they better protect better than usual versus Marshall’s elite pass rush (26th best sack rate).
- Turnovers & Penalties: Marshall does a great job at taking the football away, but they can struggle with penalties. Coastal Carolina coughs up the ball a decent amount, but are typically pretty disciplined. If either of those shift in this matchup, it could change the course of the game.
Betting Insights & Trends
Marshall has been a fun team to bet on this year. They are 5-2 against the spread overall, as well as 2-1 ATS in the Sun Belt Conference. However, when favored, they’re just 2-2 ATS.
Their games have been pretty explosive, with the Over going 5-2 so far in 2025. This game total is high, but their offensive production and game logs indicate a good amount of points can be counted on from them again.
Coastal Carolina has been surprisingly reliable ATS (3-1 inside the conference), but they are just 3-4 against the spread overall and 3-3 ATS as underdogs. Their weak offense and leaky defense could definitely contribute to the Over hitting, but it’s worth mentioning the Over is just 2-4 for them this season.
Best Bets & Confidence Levels
Here are the top picks for this game:
| Bet | Recommendation | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
Marshall -225 | Marshall is the way better team. They’re on the road at night on a short week, but their offense is vastly superior and Coastal Carolina can’t do anything outside of running the ball. | 9/10 |
Marshall ATS -6.5 (-110) | The Thundering Herd are safer on the moneyline, but they’ve covered a spread like this a few times, and Coastal Carolina isn’t the least bit scary. It’d take a pretty big stumble to allow this game to be close. | 7/10 |
Over 55.6 (-105) | Coastal Carolina’s offense is awful, but their poor defense and Marshall’s elite ground game should combine for plenty of production in this one. | 7/10 |
- Primary Pick: Marshall ML (-225)
- Secondary Pick: Marshall ATS -6.5 (-110)
Marshall opened the week as 5.5-point betting favorites at most sportsbooks, but they’ll settle in as 6.5-point favorites on Thursday night. That gives Coastal Carolina ATS bettors another point to work with, but it doesn’t change the fact that Marshall is the better team.
Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina odds can swing fast — don’t miss your chance to grab the best lines. Compare spreads, totals, and props now on our top football betting sites before kickoff.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
We like all the picks above, but things do go wrong. Here are some things to consider:
- Running Mad: The one thing Coastal Carolina has going for them is their ground game. They also did find a way to put up 45 points in their last game. If they run effectively and hop out to an early lead, they could stage the upset.
- Home, Sweet, Home: Coastal Carolina benefits from this game being played in their own backyard. It’s a night game on a short week, so it’s not impossible those factors could lead to Marshall under-performing.
- Defensively Inept: Marshall’s offense is fantastic. If they are ahead early, they can lean hard on their ground game and allow their defense to tee off on Coastal Carolina. However, they don’t have a reliable defense. If this game turns into a shootout, all bets are off.
Putting Our Pick on the Board: Here’s How It Plays Out
Final Score Prediction: Marshall 40, Coastal Carolina 20
There isn’t much reason to believe Marshall loses this game. They have more talent to put on the field, and their offense is way more dominant. They are equipped to win no matter which direction this game goes in. Either that, punish Coastal Carolina with their ground game and roll, or they can squeak out a shootout if things get crazy.
Coastal Carolina’s only real path to winning is leaning on their rushing attack and keeping the ball out of Marshall’s hands. I don’t see that happening, so a lopsided affair where the Thundering Herd dominates is the most likely outcome.
