What’s the Line? (vs. Marshall)

According to the current BetMGM odds, Georgia is a 39.5-point favorite over Marshall with a point total of 55.5 for their game this Saturday. Notably, head coach Kirby Smart is 0-12-1 against the spread (ATS) in games in which his Bulldog team entered as more than a 38-point favorite.

Matchup: Last season, Georgia finished 11-3 straight up and as SEC champions, but was 4-10 ATS despite winning the two games outright that the Bulldogs entered as underdogs. It was Georgia’s worst ATS record since going 3-9-1 in 2013. On the other hand, in going 10-3 straight up and winning the Sun Belt Conference, Marshall was a stellar 11-2 ATS last year. In its final three games of last season, the Thundering Herd was victorious over Old Dominion, James Madison, and Louisiana, all on the road and all as an underdog of at least a field goal.

Coaching Trends: Disregarding Smart’s 0-12-1 ATS record when favored by more than 38 points, he’s otherwise covered the spread more than 58 percent of the time as Georgia’s head coach. In nine previous season openers, he is 6-3 ATS, while eight of the nine games have gone under the point total. Coaching a team projected to finish at the bottom of its division in the Sun Belt, Marshall’s Tony Gibson, former defensive coordinator at NC State, is in his first season as a college head coach. The Thundering Herd has covered eight of its last 10 season openers.

Series History: Georgia and Marshall have met just once before, facing off in Athens on September 18, 2004. While the third-ranked Bulldogs could generate little offense in a 13-3 win, Georgia’s defense limited the Herd to seven first downs and 160 total yards while keeping it out of the end zone. In defeat, Marshall covered as an 18.5-point underdog.