Marshall Thundering Herd Host UL Monroe Warhawks in Crucial Sun Belt Showdown

The Marshall Thundering Herd, currently standing at 4-3, are set to host the UL Monroe Warhawks, who are 5-2, in a significant Sun Belt conference matchup on Saturday, November 2, 2024. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia, and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.

The Thundering Herd are coming off a strong performance against Georgia State, where they secured a 35-20 victory. A.J. Turner, Marshall’s standout running back, had a notable game with 177 rushing yards and three touchdowns, bringing his season total to 717 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Turner praised his offensive line, stating, “My O-Line, I couldn’t have done it without them. They put me in the best position to be successful. I believe I’ve got one of the best O-Lines in the country.”

UL Monroe, on the other hand, suffered their first conference loss last weekend with a 46-17 defeat at the hands of South Alabama. Despite this setback, the Warhawks remain competitive in the Sun Belt West division with a 3-1 conference record. However, they have struggled on the road, losing their two away games by an average of 38.5 points.

The matchup is significant for both teams as they aim to stay in their respective divisional races. Marshall is part of a three-team pack in the East with just one conference loss, while UL Monroe is one of three teams in the West with one loss. The game will be a test of Marshall’s strong rushing offense, which averages 215 yards per game, against UL Monroe’s defense that has struggled to contain the run, allowing over 180 yards per game.

From a betting perspective, Marshall is favored by 10.5 points, and the over/under is set at 47.5 points. Both teams have fared well against the spread this season, with Marshall going 6-0-1 ATS and UL Monroe holding a 5-2 ATS mark.