Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina: Model Picks

CONWAY, S.C. – As the 2025 college football season charges into Week 10, the Sun Belt Conference spotlight will shine brightly on Brooks Stadium, where a pivotal East Division showdown is set to unfold between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Slated for Saturday, November 1, 2025, this matchup carries significant conference championship implications for both programs.

Coastal Carolina, under head coach Tim Beck, enters the contest favored by 7 points on their home turf. The Over/Under for total points in the game is currently set at 56.5, reflecting expectations of an offensive battle.

Marshall, led by head coach Charles Huff, arrives in Conway with an impressive 6-2 overall record (3-1 Sun Belt) following a strong start to their 2025 campaign. The Thundering Herd have built on their successful 2024 season, which saw them finish 8-5, capped by a commanding bowl victory over UTSA. Known for their physical brand of football, Marshall’s defense has been stifling opponents, complementing a potent ground game that has controlled the clock and dictated tempo in key wins. Key victories against Appalachian State and a road upset earlier in the season have positioned Marshall firmly in the hunt for the East Division crown.

Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina, currently standing at 5-3 overall (2-2 Sun Belt), is looking to make a statement and climb back into contention. Coach Beck’s Chanticleers finished 7-5 in 2024 and have shown flashes of brilliance this season, particularly in their dynamic offensive scheme. With a high-octane passing attack and a mobile quarterback, Coastal thrives on creating explosive plays and maintaining offensive pressure. A recent dominant victory over Georgia Southern has injected new life into their season, setting the stage for a crucial home stand against the Herd.

“This is exactly what you play for in the Sun Belt,” Coach Huff stated earlier this week, emphasizing the competitive nature of the conference. “Every game is a battle, and playing Coastal at their place presents a tremendous challenge. We have to be disciplined and execute our game plan for sixty minutes.”

Coach Beck echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of the matchup. “Marshall is a tough, well-coached team that brings physicality every snap. This game is huge for our conference aspirations, and we’re excited to play in front of our home crowd.”

For those with a keen interest in the betting landscape, SportsLine’s proprietary computer model has conducted 10,000 simulations of this highly anticipated contest. The model, which finished last season with an impressive 110-73 record against the spread on its top-rated college football picks, reportedly returning over $2,000 to $100 players, has pinpointed its top recommendations.

In the Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina showdown, the model is notably leaning towards the Over on the total points, suggesting a higher-scoring affair than the initial 56.5 line. Furthermore, SportsLine’s model has identified a strong against-the-spread pick for this particular contest, which it has made exclusively available to its subscribers.

The game is expected to kick off at 3:30 PM ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with streaming available on the ESPN app. Fans can anticipate a hard-fought battle between two of the Sun Belt’s premier programs, with significant implications for the divisional race as the season heads into its final stretch.