Marshall returns to Huntington for its Homecoming fixture against an FCS opponent in Gardner-Webb, featuring storyline intrigue with former Thundering Herd quarterback legacy Cole Pennington leading the Runnin Bulldogs. Marshall operates with a superior athletic profile and depth advantage, but structural travel fatigue for Gardner-Webb playing its fourth road game in five weeks creates efficiency issues. Market spread adjustments reflect blowout potential, yet precise line anchoring uncovers layered value in alternative spread configurations and conservative team-level margins.