South Alabama visits Marshall at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Jaguars are 3-point road favorites, and a total of 65.5 gives this matchup the highest over/under on Tuesday's college football slate. Will South Alabama justify its favorite status, or can the Thundering Herd deliver at home? Read on for our South Alabama vs. Marshall picks and predictions, betting odds and best bets.
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Tuesday’s Best College Football Picks & Predictions: South Alabama vs. Marshall
Week 8 of the 2026 college football season kicks off with a three-game Tuesday night slate. There are two Conference USA matchups and one Sun Belt battle. Let’s break the games down for our top college football picks and predictions for Tuesday night’s game South Alabama vs. Marshall.
South Alabama Jaguars at Marshall Thundering Herd
Tuesday night brings us a weekday Sun Belt matchup as Marshall hosts South Alabama. The over/under is very high, at 65.5 total points. Even so, we're taking the over. Expect a high-scoring game as both offenses pace the matchup.
South Alabama's style and team profile naturally lead to shootouts. The Jaguars are averaging 38.8 points per game, powered by a potent offense. They've also scored 52 and 56 points in their first two conference games. The offense ranks 10th nationally in EPA/play and 17th in total yards against FBS competition.
Conversely, the South Alabama defense is one of the worst in the country. The Jaguars are allowing 38.6 points per game against FBS opponents, ranking 130th in the sport. They've also allowed 35+ points in four straight games. The defense ranks 137th in EPA/play, 134th in success rate and 127th in total yards allowed.
It's easy to see why a high-scoring, back-and-forth game is expected when South Alabama is involved, given their strong offensive numbers and poor defense. The over has cashed in five straight games for the Jaguars. Plus, their last four matchups have averaged 83.8 combined points.
Marshall has struggled on defense as well. The Thundering Herd are 132nd in total yards and 129th in points allowed per game this season. They also rank 115th in defensive EPA/play and 110th in defensive success rate. South Alabama could easily score 40+ points in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Marshall is just good enough offensively to exploit the Jaguars' terrible defense on the other side of the ball. The Thundering Herd rank 37th nationally in offensive success rate. They made a quarterback change last game, with Zion Turner throwing for two touchdowns with a 67% competition rate in relief. The offense also put up 505 total yards in the loss to Coastal Carolina.
Pick: Over 65.5 Points (-110)
