Friday night college football is here, and this Columbia vs Marist prediction rounds up our CFB predictions for every editor's pick we'd make across Polymarket and Kalshi.
- Columbia (2-1) comes in off a lopsided 35-7 home loss to Princeton in last week's Ivy League opener, a sharp comedown after road wins over Lafayette and Georgetown to open the season.
- Marist (3-2, 2-0 PFL) has won two straight to open Pioneer Football League play and enters Friday night red-hot on defense, ranking inside the FCS top 10 in scoring defense, rushing defense, and red zone defense.
Here's our full CFB predictions picks table before we break down every editor's pick, the game lines, and the 1st half winner board using the best prediction markets for tonight's college football today matchup.
| 🏷️ Prediction Market | 🏈 CFB Pick: Price | 🤑 Return on $25 | 📈 Trade It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymarket | Marist +3.5 (Columbia -3.5 NO): No | 49.5¢ | $48.78 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Polymarket | Over 43.5 Total Points: Yes | 50¢ | $48.32 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Kalshi | Tie 1st Half: Yes | 10¢ | $235.10 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
Read our dedicated Polymarket review and Kalshi review to learn more about how each exchange operates, or check out more prediction market promo codes for other platforms.
Columbia vs Marist Prediction: Best NCAA Football Picks Tonight
Every pick below is a real trade we'd make tonight, part of our best NCAA football picks for this entire NCAAF slate.
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Best Spread Pick Today – Marist +3.5 (Columbia -3.5 NO)
| 🏈 CFB Prediction | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $25 | 📈 Trade It Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marist +3.5 (Columbia -3.5 NO) | No | 49.5¢ | $48.78 | Trade it now on Polymarket! |
Marist is fresh off back-to-back wins to open Pioneer Football League play, and the Red Foxes have not trailed after the first quarter all season, outscoring opponents 30-3 in opening frames.
Columbia is coming off a 35-7 home loss to Princeton in its Ivy League opener, and Marist has blocked a kick in every game this season, a special-teams trend that keeps the margin tight even against an Ivy League favorite.
At a $25 buy near 49.5 cents, this trade works out to roughly 50 shares, and the small gap between that raw share value and Polymarket's stated $48.78 return reflects normal order book depth and fees, not an error.
- If Columbia fails to win by more than 3.5 points: this ticket returns $48.78.
- If Columbia covers: the $25 stake is a total loss.
It's priced close to a coin flip, but the return still pays back nearly double your stake.
Best Total Points Prop Today – Over 43.5
| 🏈 CFB Prediction | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $25 | 📈 Trade It Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 43.5 Total Points | Yes | 50¢ | $48.32 | Trade it now on Polymarket! |
Columbia's offense was held to just 7 points in last week's loss to Princeton, but Marist's own offense has scored on its opening drive twice this season and has led at halftime in every game so far.
Marist's defense has otherwise been stingy, holding its last three opponents to 14 points or fewer, which keeps this total closer to a true coin flip than the raw scoring numbers from either team alone would suggest.
At a $25 buy near 50 cents, this trade works out to roughly 50 shares, with Polymarket's stated return at $48.32.
- If the final score tops 43.5 combined points: this ticket returns $48.32.
- If it doesn't: the $25 stake is a total loss.
A near coin-flip price that still nearly doubles your money.
Use Kalshi promo code and
Best 1st Half Winner Pick Today – Tie 1st Half
| 🏈 CFB Prediction | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $25 | 📈 Trade It Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tie 1st Half | Yes | 10¢ | $235.10 | Trade it now on Kalshi! |
Marist has led at halftime in all five of its games this season, which usually points toward a Red Foxes lead rather than a tied score after two quarters.
But Marist has also not trailed after the first quarter in any game this season while building modest early leads rather than blowouts, and a methodical, low-scoring start against an Ivy League opponent still playing from behind after last week's loss leaves real room for the clock to hit halftime all square.
On Kalshi's ticket, a $25 buy at 10 cents carries an 11% implied chance and a stated max payout of $235.10, a figure that already reflects Kalshi's 3.5% interest adjustment rather than a flat shares calculation.
- If the first half ends tied: this ticket pays out $235.10.
- If either team leads at the half: the $25 stake is a total loss.
A true longshot, but the payout here is more than 9x your stake.
Columbia vs Marist Moneyline, Spread and Total
Before the prop board, here's where every NCAA predictions market stands on the base game lines for tonight's matchup.
| 🏷️ Prediction Market | 🏈 CFB Pick: Price | 🤑 Est. Return on $25 | 📈 Trade It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymarket | Columbia Moneyline: Yes | 64¢ | $39.06 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Polymarket | Marist Moneyline: Yes | 36¢ | $69.44 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Polymarket | Columbia -3.5: Yes | 52¢ | $48.08 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Polymarket | Marist +3.5 (Columbia -3.5 NO): No | 49.5¢ | $48.78 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Polymarket | Over 43.5: Yes | 50¢ | $48.32 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Polymarket | Under 43.5 (Over NO): No | 51¢ | $49.02 | Trade it on Polymarket! |
| Kalshi | Columbia Moneyline: Yes | 64¢ | $39.06 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Kalshi | Marist Moneyline: Yes | 37¢ | $67.57 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Kalshi | Columbia -4.5: Yes | 49¢ | $51.02 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Kalshi | Marist +4.5 (Columbia -4.5 NO): No | 54¢ | $46.30 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Kalshi | Over 43.5: Yes | 50¢ | $50.00 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Kalshi | Under 43.5 (Over NO): No | 51¢ | $49.02 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
1st Half Winner Predictions on Kalshi
Kalshi is the only platform pricing a 1st half winner market for this one, and our 1st half winner predictions below are sorted from the safest outcome down to the longshot.
- Columbia Wins 1st Half (1st Half Winner: Yes 55¢): the Ivy League favorite the market still leans on even through two quarters.
- Marist Wins 1st Half (1st Half Winner: Yes 41¢): Marist has led at halftime of every game it has played this season.
- Tie 1st Half (1st Half Winner: Yes 10¢): our longshot pick above, and the only outcome where neither team has pulled ahead by the break.
What's Moving the Market
Prediction markets and prices can move for several reasons, and this week's NCAA predictions for Columbia vs Marist lean heavily on Marist's defensive form and Columbia's rough outing last week.
Marist's defense has held its last four opponents under 20 points and its last three under 14, while also leading all of Division I in blocked kicks this season, a special-teams edge that keeps showing up in close college football today scorelines.
Columbia, meanwhile, was outscored 35-7 at home by Princeton in its Ivy League opener, a result that has kept Columbia's moneyline price roughly even across both Polymarket and Kalshi despite Marist's recent form.
One genuine split worth watching: Polymarket has Columbia laying 3.5 points on the spread, while Kalshi has the same side laying 4.5, a full point wider, even though both platforms price the moneyline and the 43.5 total almost identically.
NCAA Predictions: Compare and Contrast Polymarket vs Kalshi
Both platforms agree closely on the moneyline, with Columbia priced at 64% to win outright on Polymarket and Kalshi alike, and Marist sitting in the mid-to-high 30s on both boards.
The spread is where these NCAA predictions diverge: Polymarket has Columbia -3.5, while Kalshi has the Lions laying a wider -4.5, meaning Marist bettors get half a point of extra cushion on Kalshi's version of the same side.
The total is the one line both platforms match exactly, with Over 43.5 priced within a cent of each other on Polymarket and Kalshi, a sign the market is far more confident about the combined scoring number than it is about the final margin.
How to Trade These CFB Predictions on Polymarket
Ready to get in on these CFB predictions yourself? Here's exactly how to claim the bonus and start trading tonight's board:
- Read a comprehensive Polymarket review to understand how this exchange operates.
- Follow this guide to trading on Polymarket to learn how to buy your first "Yes" or "No" contract.
- Monitor the relevant tab on Polymarket to stay ahead of the live order book movements.
- When you're ready, sign up with Polymarket promo code ACTION to get started!
📝 POLYMARKET TERMS & CONDITIONS
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
How to Trade These CFB Predictions on Kalshi
Ready to get in on tonight's Kalshi board? Here's exactly how to claim the bonus and start trading:
- Read a comprehensive Kalshi review to understand how this exchange operates.
- Follow this guide to trading on Kalshi to learn how to buy your first "Yes" or "No" contract.
- Monitor the relevant tab on Kalshi to stay ahead of the live order book movements.
- When you're ready, sign up with Kalshi promo code to get started!
📝 KALSHI TERMS & CONDITIONS
Final Thoughts: College Football Today
Marist's defense and special teams give the Red Foxes a real path to covering at home, even against an Ivy League team that has owned this series for decades, and the 1st half winner board is where the deepest value on tonight's college football today slate might be hiding.
Columbia still looks like the better overall roster on paper, but a hungry Marist team seeking its third straight win, in front of its home crowd, is exactly the kind of spot where these NCAA football picks get interesting.
That wraps our full Columbia vs Marist prediction and every CFB predictions pick we'd make across Polymarket and Kalshi tonight.
Columbia vs Marist Prediction FAQs
Who wins the Columbia vs Marist prediction tonight?
Both Polymarket and Kalshi favor Columbia at 64% to win outright, with the Lions laying 3.5 points on Polymarket and 4.5 points on Kalshi.
What are the best NCAA football picks for this game?
Our top plays lean on Marist covering the spread as home underdogs, the total going over 43.5 combined points, and a longshot look at a tied first half on Kalshi.
What are the top NCAA predictions for Columbia vs Marist?
Marist's defense, which ranks inside the FCS top 10 in scoring, rushing, and red zone defense, is the biggest factor behind our NCAA predictions for tonight's spread and total.
Where can I watch college football today's Columbia vs Marist game?
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Tenney Stadium in Poughkeepsie, New York, with the broadcast available on ESPN+.
How do I use promo code ACTION on Polymarket?
Create an account, make a qualifying deposit, and enter the code to unlock a trading bonus before kickoff.
How do I use a Kalshi promo code?
Sign up for a Kalshi account, complete a qualifying deposit, and apply the promo code to activate the trading bonus.
Has Marist ever beaten Columbia?
No. Columbia is a perfect 7-0 all-time against Marist, including 0-2 at Tenney Stadium, and Marist is 0-10 all-time against Ivy League opponents.
