Coming off the back of their first nine-win season and bowl game victory since 2018, can Charles Huff’s Marshall Thundering Herd team challenge for the top prize in the Sun Belt this fall? Our Marshall season predictions for the 2023 college football campaign hold the answers.
Marshall Season Predictions: Predicting the Game-By-Game Results
Using groupthink, College Football Network analysts have painstakingly gone through every game for every team in the Sun Belt and across the country.
Find Every Sun Belt Season Prediction per team: App State | Arkansas State | Coastal Carolina | Georgia Southern | Georgia State | JMU | Louisiana | UL-Monroe | Marshall | ODU | South Alabama | Southern Miss | Texas State | Troy
Picking these games straight up with a projected score using the rosters as up-to-date as the last spring practice, the Marshall season predictions show whether the Herd are thundering or stumbling in 2023.
Week 1 – Marshall vs. Albany: Win, 37-10
Marshall beat their two non-FBS opponents by a total of 73 points last fall, and they should kick off their 2023 college football season with another comfortable success when Albany comes to Huntington in Week 1.
Week 2 – Marshall at East Carolina: Win, 25-22
The last time these two teams met in Greenville, East Carolina emerged victorious in a high-scoring shootout. The Pirates also hold an 11-5 head-to-head advantage, but as Mike Houston’s team adjusts to life without Holton Ahlers and Keaton Mitchell, there’s an opportunity for the Thundering Herd to cause a Week 2 surprise.
Week 4 – Marshall vs. Virginia Tech: Win, 20-17
Virginia Tech rides an 11-game win streak dating back to 1951 into this matchup. However, Marshall is 2-1 against the Hokies in Huntington and can take advantage of a Virginia Tech team that could still be gelling together after a severe roster overhaul this offseason. The Thundering Herd is no stranger to upsetting Power Five-type programs after beating Notre Dame last year.
Week 5 – Marshall vs. Old Dominion: Win, 27-21
A five-game win streak dating back to 2017 — including a 2022 clash that saw Old Dominion fail to score — and a substantial loss of talent from the Monarchs’ roster combine to make this an exceptionally winnable first game in Sun Belt competition for the Thundering Herd.
MORE: Sun Belt RB Rankings 2023
Week 6 – Marshall at NC State: Loss, 19-31
Plugging Brennan Armstrong into an offense that ranked in the top 30 nationally for pass attempts in 2022 feels a little unfair for any of NC State’s opponents in the upcoming college football season. While Marshall returns some key defensive components, the Wolfpack are well placed to hunt down the Herd on home territory.
Week 7 – Marshall at Georgia State: Loss, 22-25
Marshall stacks back-to-back losses after running into Darren Grainger and the Georgia State Panthers in Week 7. While the Thundering Herd edged a close one against their Sun Belt foe last fall, the combination of a dangerous quarterback, a slew of Power Five portal additions, and home field advantage gives the Panthers an edge in Week 7.
Week 8 – Marshall vs. James Madison: Loss, 25-29
While there’s some roster turnover for the Dukes, James Madison still projects to be one of the best teams in the Sun Belt again this season. Of course, that didn’t stop Marshall last season. However, that two-touchdown win took advantage of the Dukes being without their starting QB, and a fully healthy James Madison roster edges the Thundering Herd.
Week 9 – Marshall at Coastal Carolina: Loss, 22-31
Marshall lost the only previous matchup between these two teams — last fall — and with the Chanticleers expected to challenge for the Sun Belt crown this season, the Thundering Herd could be 0-2 all-time against Coastal by the end of Week 9. Marshall lacks the passing attack to take advantage of a suspect Coastal Carolina secondary.
Week 10 – Marshall at Appalachian State: Win, 20-17
Marshall travels to Boone boasting a 4-1 record from their last five clashes with Appalachian State. This should be an exciting encounter for fans of the run game, with two of the Sun Belt’s finest on display in Rasheen Ali and Nate Noel.
However, Marshall should have a defensive advantage over the Mountaineers, halting a four-game losing streak as per our season predictions.
MORE: Sun Belt QB Rankings 2023
Week 11 – Marshall vs. Georgia Southern: Loss, 22-27
Can Marshall keep pace with the high-volume passing attack of Georgia Southern? They managed to hold down the Eagles last fall — limiting their opponent to just 205 passing yards and 10 points. However, with the Eagles projected to be one of the best teams in the Sun Belt this fall, a repeat performance feels unlikely.
Week 12 – Marshall at South Alabama: Loss, 19-31
Marshall and South Alabama have never met before, and the Thundering Herd might wish they hadn’t when they make the trip to Mobile in Week 12. The Jaguars are strong on both sides of the ball, and with Carter Bradley and a duo of talented receivers, the passing game should have a significant impact on the result of the game for the potential Sun Belt champions.
Week 13 – Marshall vs. Arkansas State: Win, 26-18
Another first-time opponent for Marshall to round out the 2023 college football season, but Arkansas State won’t pose the same threat level as South Alabama. The Thundering Herd should be too strong for the Red Wolves and win their season finale to end the campaign with a 6-6 record.
