Marshall Thundering Herd vs. James Madison Dukes: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/22/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Atlantic Union Bank Center, Harrisonburg, VA

Where to watch: ESPN+

DraftKings: James Madison -1

FanDuel: James Madison -0.5

BetMGM: James Madison -1.5

Caesars: James Madison -1

Marshall: 23-6 (12-4 Sun Belt)

James Madison: 20-9 (11-5 Sun Belt)

February is here and the college basketball season is taking full shape. Conference races still to be determined, the top 25 completely in shambles for what seems like every week, and there's bound to be an upset what seems like every single week. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!

Get ready to party with the Sun Belt Conference because this is the game for you if you’re so inclined to find something else other than ranked teams play. The Marshall Thundering Herd, now one game back of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for the top spot in the conference, will visit Harrisonburg, Virginia on Wednesday to take on the James Madison Dukes, another team that could very much challenge for a spot in the NCAA Tournament and be a challenge for the top dogs in the Sun Belt.

 

Marshall is coming into this game having won four in a row in which all wins they’ve eclipsed 80 point. It’s been an offensive blitz for one of the best offensive teams in the nation. Marshall is coming off an 88-78 win over the Troy Trojans at home in which they scored 88 points for the second time in three games.

 

Andrew Taylor has a game-high 27 points to go with six assists and four rebounds, while Taevion Kinsey had 22 points and eight rebounds to pace a Marshall team that shot 50.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded Troy 40-32.

 

Marshall has been able to take care of business against these inferior teams, which is what you want to hope for going into March. Sure, they’ve had to score a lot of points lately to beat their opponents, evidence of only putting up 67 against Louisiana on Feb. 4, but the Herd are making baskets at an absurd rate. Given what James Madison has done lately, fireworks could be going off in Virginia.

 

James Madison has won three straight coming into this conference clash with them actually beating Louisiana 74-68 over the weekend. Much like Marshall, the Dukes have been able to make things interesting by taking care of business of their own with wins over Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion.

 

In the latest game against the Ragin’ Cajuns, Vado Morse led the with 24 points as JMU erupted for 45 points in the second half to knock off the third-place Cajuns. Man, this conference is stacked, it’s not even fair. Mezie Offurum had 13 points, and James Madison won by making one more basket and four more free throws. That’s honestly how it goes sometimes.

 

This game is going to be fun while everyone continues to see if Southern Miss will fall off. There are four teams atop the Sun Belt with 20 wins. You’d hardly ever see that in your lifetime. Especially in this conference. Man, it’s fun.

 

There’s something about James Madison at home that should scare a bunch of teams. Defense should absolutely play a role in this one and I think that’s going to favor the home team. I love what Marshall has done, but I’m here for chaos. James Madison 82, Marshall 80

Marshall is 39-72 ATS as a road underdog of 6 points or less since 1997.

Marshall is 19-28 ATS after 2 straight conference games the last 3 seasons.

James Madison is 20-13 ATS at home the last 3 seasons.

James Madison is 38-62 ATS at home when the line is +3 to -3 since 1997.

PG: Kamdyn Curfman

SG: Andrew Taylor

SF: Taevion Kinsey

PF: Obinna Anochili

C: Micah Handlogten

PG: Takal Molson

SG: Tyree Ihenacho

SF: Noah Freidel

PF: Terrence Edwards

C: Mezie Offurum