Missouri State vs Marshall Picks and Prediction September 6, 2025

By: Jake Allman Published 09/01/2025, 09:24 PM ET

Missouri State and Marshall both opened the season with blowout road losses and will look to rebound Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington. The Bears were routed 73-13 at USC, while the Thundering Herd took a 45-7 beating at Georgia. Both teams sit at 0-1, but Marshall returns home with momentum from a strong finish last season. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Dominate the college scene with our College Football picks.

Missouri State Preview

Missouri State was overwhelmed from the start against USC, trailing 42-0 by halftime. Quarterback Jacob Clark managed a touchdown but also threw two interceptions, finishing 16-of-24 for 147 yards. The Bears’ lone bright spot came from Tristian Gardner, who scored the only touchdown on a 39-yard reception. Shomari Lawrence led the backfield with 50 yards on 12 carries, but the ground game never gained traction.

Defensively, Missouri State was outclassed. The Bears allowed 653 total yards and 73 points, struggling mightily in both run and pass coverage. Maguire Neal was the most active defender with nine total tackles, but the front seven failed to generate pressure or force turnovers. Mitchell Toney had the team’s only sack. Missouri State will need a massive improvement defensively to avoid another lopsided loss.

Marshall Preview

Marshall’s trip to Georgia ended in a predictable blowout, but the Thundering Herd did show a bit more life than the final score suggests. Zion Turner completed six of seven passes for 100 yards, and Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw had three catches for 58 yards. Still, the offense couldn’t move the ball consistently, managing just 195 total yards. Justin Williams-Thomas rushed for 24 yards on four carries, but the run game was bottled up from the start.

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Marshall’s defense couldn’t contain Georgia’s ground attack, surrendering 284 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Kerion Martin led with seven tackles, but the unit failed to force a turnover or slow the Bulldogs’ tempo. That said, Marshall returns home with a strong track record, having won its final five games last season. Facing a much less talented opponent should allow the defense to rebound and dominate the line of scrimmage.

Missouri State vs Marshall Pick

Despite a poor showing at Georgia, Marshall is far more balanced and experienced than Missouri State. The Bears were completely overwhelmed at USC, showing no signs of resistance on either side of the ball. Marshall has better playmakers and a more stable defense, especially at home. Final Score Prediction: Marshall 41, Missouri State 13.