Marshall won just five games a season ago and it finished third in the Conference USA's East Division with a 4-4 league record. Despite those uninspiring totals, most pundits believe the Thundering Herd will be a force in the CUSA this season. Marshall returns 15 starters, including eight from an offense that averaged over 40 points per game, and teams like Southern Miss and East Carolina at home. For those reasons, the odds makers at 5Dimes have the Thundering Herd listed at +370 odds ($100 wins $370) to win the conference championship and +175 odds to finish atop the East Division. Marshall is, however, favored to win fewer than 9.5 games (-165) and the latest 2014 BCS Title Odds from the offshore bookmaker have the Herd listed at +500000 odds to win ($100 wins $500,000) the National Championship.

The Golden Nugget bypassed Marshall when putting together its College Football Games of the Year lines, but it seems reasonably to think that Doc Holliday's squad will be favored in each of its home games. The road could prove more troublesome, though, with trips to Ohio, Virginia Tech, and Tulsa in the offing.

It is a certainty the Hokies will be favored against the Herd, and Tulsa, which knocked off Marshall 45-38 in Huntington last year, should be as well. The Ohio game might draw a one or two point line, but the side, at least at this juncture, is less clear.

Marshall Thundering Herd 2014 BCS Title Odds:

Marshall Thundering Herd Odds to win the 2014 BCS National Championship +500000
Marshall Thundering Herd Odds to win the CUSA Championship +370 (three of 14)
Marshall Thundering Herd Odds to win the CUSA East +175 (tied one of seven)
Marshall Thundering Herd Regular Season Wins: Over 9.5 (+125), Under 9.5 (-165)

CFB Games of the Year Betting
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