Marshall vs Appalachian State Prediction 2/19/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Marshall Thundering Herd and the Appalachian State Mountaineers will meet on Thursday night in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at the George M. Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, North Carolina.

Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Preview

The Marshall Thundering Herd enter Thursday’s contest with a 17–10 win‑loss record, including a 9–5 mark in conference play and a 5-7 record on the road. The Herd have compiled wins over Massachusetts, Toledo, Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, Elon and Mercyhurst, while losing games to Virginia, Lipscomb, UNC Wilmington and the Ohio Bobcats.

Earlier this season, in the Marshall Thundering Herd’s 69–60 victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers, guard Jalen Speer tallied 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the field and 5 of 9 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Marshall Thundering Herd average 79.5 points on 46 percent shooting from the field and 36.9 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. The Thundering Herd are allowing opponents 79.6 points per game which ranks an abysmal 262nd in the nation.

It should also be noted that these two teams met previously in 2025. Who won? Last month, the Marshall Thundering Herd defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers 88-81.

Senior forward Wyatt Fricks leads the Marshall Thundering Herd averaging 15.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. Senior guard Jalen Speer adds 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per contest. Senior center Matt Van Komen contributes 10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest providing the Thundering Herd a strong presence in the paint.

Appalachian State Mountaineers Betting Preview

The Appalachian State Mountaineers enter Thursday’s matchup with an 18–10 overall record, including a 10–5 mark in Sun Belt play and a 10–3 record at home, making Boone one of the toughest environments in the conference. The Mountaineers have earned wins over Georgia Southern, Eastern Michigan, South Alabama and Troy, while dropping a recent game to James Madison.

In the Appalachian State Mountaineers’ 69–58 loss to James Madison, the Mountaineers struggled offensively but continued to show defensive resilience, a hallmark of their season.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers are averaging 68 points on 42.7 percent shooting from the field and 30.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc per contest. Defensively, the Mountaineers are allowing opponents just 65.7 points per contest which ranks 15th in the country.

Guard Kasen Jennings leads the Appalachian State Mountaineers averaging 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while center Luke Wilson averages 10.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest anchoring the Mountaineers frontcourt. Guard Alonzo Dodd adds 13.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game providing further backcourt stability.

Why the Marshall Thundering Herd Will Win

• Quality offense. The Marshall Thundering Herd are averaging 80.1 points per game this season.

• Balanced roster. Fricks, Speer, and Otshudi provide excellent scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability.

• Frontcourt play. Senior forward Wyatt Fricks leads the Marshall Thundering Herd averaging 15.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game

Why the Appalachian State Mountaineers Will Win

• Defensive edge. App State allows just 64.3 points per game, one of the best marks in the conference.

• Home court edge. The Mountaineers have amassed a 10–3 record at home in 2025

• Momentum. The Appalachian State Mountaineers have won seven of the team’s last eight games played this season.

Marshall vs. Appalachian State Prediction

This matchup features Marshall’s high pace offense against an Appalachian State team that has been one of the most defensively consistent units in the nation this season. Marshall’s scoring balance gives them a path to victory, but the Herd’s defensive inconsistency and uneven road form present a difficult challenge against a Mountaineers team that defends at a high level and has been dominant at home in 2025. With that said, I am backing the Appalachian State Mountaineers to cover the 2.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Appalachian State -2.5