When James Madison and Liberty were tied at 10 at halftime last week, JMU fans began to wonder if the Dukes were legitimate Sun Belt contenders like many believed they would be going into the season.
But then JMU turned things around. The Dukes outscored the Flames by 18 points in the second half to beat Liberty 31-13. JMU is now 2-1 overall with its only loss being a competitive game at Louisville.
The Dukes begin conference play against Georgia Southern, which is also starting league play. The Eagles struggled early on, but they’ve bounced back and are 2-2.
Georgia Southern began the year with a disappointing 42-14 loss at Fresno State, then fell 59-20 at USC. But the Eagles won back-to-back games over Jacksonville State and Maine at home.
Will Georgia Southern sustain that momentum on the road against one of the favorites to win the Sun Belt?
Georgia Southern vs. JMU Betting Odds
James Madison is a -16.5 college football betting odds favorite against Georgia Southern, with the Over/Under being 55.5 as of this writing.
The moneyline for Georgia Southern is +550, while it’s -800 for James Madison.
Georgia Southern vs. JMU On TV
The matchup between Georgia Southern and JMU will be televised on ESPN+.
The game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 27. The contest is taking place at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Georgia Southern vs. JMU Prediction
I predict JMU will win but Georgia Southern will cover the 16.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 55.5 total points.
I think JMU’s defense will be the dominant unit in this game. And that’s been the case for the Dukes in their first three contests.
JMU is allowing 215 yards per contest. That’s the fewest in the Sun Belt and Group of Five, and it’s the sixth-fewest in the FBS.
JMU’s pass defense has been exceptional. The Dukes allow 103.3 yards per game through the air, which is No. 1 in the G5 and the second-fewest in the country. They also are allowing just 17 points per game.
Georgia Southern has done well on the ground and through the air at points this year, but I expect the Eagles to struggle on offense in this matchup.
JMU’s offense hasn’t always been perfect this year, though. And the Dukes may struggle with standout running back George Pettaway out due to injury.
But I think JMU’s other offensive weapons, like running backs Wayne Knight and Ayo Adeyi, will step up and help the Dukes sustain some drives. And while quarterback Alonza Barnett III hasn’t been consistent, I expect him to make enough on-target throws to help JMU win by about 10 points.
