Marshall Thundering Herd vs James Madison Dukes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/16/25
The Thundering Herd and Dukes are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Dukes will host the game at Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, VA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 143 points, and James Madison is favored by -6 to win at home against Marshall.
MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD VS JAMES MADISON DUKES BETTING PICK
The Pick: James Madison Dukes -6
This game will be played at Atlantic Union Bank Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 16th.
WHY BET THE JAMES MADISON DUKES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Dukes.
- Not only will James Madison pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 143 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will the Thundering Herd Defense Show Up on the Road?
Marshall moved to 8-8 on the season with an 81-69 home win over Georgia Southern on Saturday. The Thundering Herd were -8.5 favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the 12-point victory.
Marshall led 45-35 at halftime and outscored the Eagles 36-34 in the second half. The game’s total points of 150 fell just under the O/U line of 152.5.
Marshall’s offense was clicking in their last game, putting up 81 points with a 50% field goal percentage. They hit 38.5% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 26 attempts, and their effective field goal percentage was 59.3%. The Thundering Herd also pulled down 17 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists.
Nakavieon White led the way with 22 points, shooting 70% from the field, while Mikal Dawson added 21 points, hitting 5 threes at a 50% clip. Nate Martin was nearly perfect, shooting 6 of 7 and grabbing 13 rebounds, and Dezayne Mingo contributed 17 points and 7 assists.
Marshall’s defense struggled, giving up 69 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 50% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they conceded 60% shooting on two-point attempts.
From beyond the arc, Marshall’s defense allowed 10 threes on 26 attempts, a 38% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the line 27 times, where they hit 17 free throws.
Will the Dukes Make it Happen at Home?
James Madison Dukes Recent Game/Games
The Dukes fell to 7-8 on the season after an 86-66 road loss to Appalachian State on Saturday. Entering the game as +1 underdogs, they not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 152, exceeding the over/under line of 133.5.
James Madison found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 49-30 at halftime. Although they scored 36 points in the second half, they couldn’t close the gap, as Appalachian State added 37 points after the break.
James Madison struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 34.8% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.4%, and they managed only 8 assists as a team.
CJ Huntley and Myles Tate each scored 21 points, with Huntley hitting 4 of 6 threes and shooting 66.7% overall. The Dukes grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and shot 77.8% from the free-throw line.
James Madison’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 86 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 53% from the field. The Dukes allowed 18 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 51% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, James Madison’s defense gave up 10 threes on 17 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 58%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 28 times, where they made 20 free throws, shooting 71%.