James Madison sure wishes it had beat Louisville right about now.
The Dukes are 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the Sun Belt. They’ve won their last six games, and only one of those contests was decided by less than 10 points.
JMU has otherwise been dominant, and it’s the No. 3 team in this week’s HERO Sports Group of Five Top 25 Media Poll. The Dukes might have been the current frontrunner to be the G5 team that makes the College Football Playoff if they had finished that game off against Louisville where JMU was leading early.
But because of that loss and how competitive teams in the American Conference have been, the Dukes likely need to keep winning to earn a CFP berth.
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That includes this weekend, as JMU is going on the road to take on Marshall (4-4, 2-2). The Thundering Herd have an opportunity to earn bowl-eligibility in the first year with Tony Gibson as their head coach.
Marshall, which is 3-1 at home, has won four of its last six games, including notable wins over Old Dominion and Texas State. But most recently, the Thundering Herd lost to Coastal Carolina 44-27.
JMU vs. Marshall Betting Odds
James Madison is a 13.5-point college football betting odds favorite against Marshall, with the Over/Under being 54.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for JMU is -550, and it’s +400 for Marshall.
JMU vs. Marshall On TV
The matchup between James Madison and Marshall will be televised on ESPN2.
The game will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Nov. 8. The contest is taking place at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.
JMU vs. Marshall Prediction
I predict JMU will win but Marshall will cover the 13.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Over 54.5 total points.
This is a clash between two of the most productive offenses in the Sun Belt. The Dukes lead the league with 34.8 points per game and are third with 442.1 yards per game. Marshall, meanwhile, is second in the league in points per game (34.1) and is sixth in yards per game (394.1).
That’s why I think this could be a more high-scoring game than JMU is used to. But I also anticipate the Dukes defense will help them win this game.
JMU is first in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (16.1 PPG allowed), total defense (251.4 YPG allowed), rushing defense (80.3 YPG allowed), passing defense (171.1 YPG allowed), red zone trips allowed (18), opposing third-down conversions (31.8%), and opponent first downs (13.3 per game).
Marshall, meanwhile, is 11th in scoring defense (32.5 PPG allowed) and total defense (418.1 YPG allowed).
That’s why I expect JMU’s stars on offense will go on the road and thrive.
JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III has completed 62% of his passes for 1,516 yards, 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 364 yards and 10 TDs. Wayne Knight leads the Dukes on the ground with 659 yards to go with five scores while catching 25 passes for 234 yards. Landon Ellis leads the Dukes through the air with 437 yards and five scores on 27 receptions.
And with JMU’s strong defense, led by linebacker Trent Hendrick and safety Jacob Thomas, I believe the Dukes will go on the road and win by about 10 points.
