James Madison has a fantastic chance of making it to the College Football Playoff.
The Dukes entered the season as the favorite to win the Sun Belt. They’ve delivered on their preseason expectations thus far, having defeated FCS Weber State 45-10 in Week 1.
JMU is ranked No. 3 in the HERO Sports Group of Five Top 25 after Boise State lost to USF a week ago. But if the Dukes can get a Power Four win, they could have a strong enough resume to make the College Football Playoff by the end of the season.
This week, JMU faces Louisville on the road. But winning that contest won’t be easy.
JMU vs. Louisville Betting Odds
Louisville is a -15.5 college football betting odds favorite against JMU, with the Over/Under being 55.5.
The moneyline for JMU is +475, while it’s -650 for Louisville.
JMU vs. Louisville On TV
The matchup between JMU and Louisville will be televised on ESPN2.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 5. The contest is taking place at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
JMU vs. Louisville Prediction
I predict JMU will win and cover the 15.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Over 55.5 total points.
I know this game will be challenging for the Dukes. But I also think this JMU team is absolutely loaded with talent.
The Dukes also have the kind of roster that’s poised for an upset like this. For starters, they have a stellar running game that will be led by G5 Preseason All-American running back George Pettaway, who rushed for 99 yards on 10 carries against Weber State last week.
But JMU has a balanced offense. Quarterbacks Alonza Barnett III and Matthew Sluka both rushed for and passed for a touchdown each a week ago.
The Dukes also have a solid defense. They have stars up front, like G5 Preseason All-American defensive lineman Immanuel Bush, and in the secondary, with G5 Preseason All-American defensive back Jacob Thomas.
The Dukes don’t necessarily need this win to make it to the College Football Playoff as a G5 team, but a victory here against a Power Four opponent would be a huge boost. That’s especially true considering Tulane just beat Northwestern a week ago.
I think JMU will be highly motivated considering what’s at stake. I expect the Dukes will keep this game close until the end and will find a way to ultimately win.
