Week 3 College Football Odds – Marshall vs Bowling Green

Coming off a devastating loss last weekend, the Marshall Thundering Herd head into the Week 3 college football betting lines looking for the first win of their season.

It won’t come easy though, as they visit a pesky Bowling Green squad.

Saturday, September 18: 7:00 p.m. ESPN3.com

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Marshall Thundering Herd (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS) at Bowling Green Falcons (0-2 SU, 2-0 ATS)

NCAA Betting Odds:

Marshall: -3

Bowling Green: +3

For those who didn’t see Marshall’s Friday night meltdown against West Virginia, it was bad. Really bad.

The Thundering Herd led 21-6 with just six minutes to go, before the Mountaineers put together a blistering late game run. West Virginia scored two touchdowns, kicked an extra point and added a two point conversion, forcing overtime, where they eventually won. Physically, Marshall has the players to recover from that win. Whether they can do it mentally or not is another story.

Leading them into this weekend is quarterback Brian Anderson, who put together an excellent effort against West Virginia. The senior completed 20 of 29 passes, for 229 yards and three touchdowns last Friday, in maybe his best effort of the year. The Marshall ground game looked strong as well, as Martin Ward had 11 rushes for 101 yards.

But before you take Marshall in the Week 3 college football odds, consider the case for Bowling Green. The Falcons are 0-2 yes, but lost two tough games on the road, and are returning home for the first time this season.

To get the win, Bowling Green simply needs to make stops on defense. Period.

They currently rank 99th in college football allowing 31.5 points per game, which are bad, regardless of who those numbers are against. The pass defense is especially suspect, as Tulsa’s G.J. Kinne lit them for 356 yards last weekend, as part of a 546 yard explosion from the Golden Hurricane on Saturday.

As for the offense, well it’s been tough sledding for Bowling Green. On the season the passing game has been better than the rushing attack, which is averaging just 74 yards per game. That ranks just 105th in the country.

Of course at the same time, while Bowling Green is putting up yards through the air, there is cause for concern. Quarterback Matt Schilz has thrown just one touchdown and four interceptions so far this year.
In the end we could give you a lot of statistics to tell you why one squad or the other will win, but just know this: Marshall is the better team.

They’re better coached under Doc Holliday. And they’ll get a comfortable win Saturday. Take the Thundering Herd in the Week 3 college football odds.

Marshall enters this game off a tough loss, but if they proved anything last weekend, it’s that they’re able to move the ball on offense. On the flip side, Bowling Green has done little to prove they can stop anyone’s offense, let alone a player as skilled as quarterback Brian Anderson. Expect Marshall to be able to move the ball at will, and put points up in bunches.

This one really is a no-brainer. Marshall is the only selection you should make this weekend in the Week 3 college football odds.

The Pick: Marshall -3

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