Troy and Texas State went to overtime in last week’s Sun Belt Game of the Week after the Trojans scored a late touchdown and the Bobcats missed a field goal at the end of regulation.
The Trojans prevailed 48-41 to improve to 4-2 and 2-0 in Sun Belt play. The Bobcats fell to 3-3 and 0-2.
This week’s game is the biggest game in the league so far this season and could be a big factor in who wins the Sun Belt East.
Old Dominion-JMU On TV
The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and will air on ESPNU.
Old Dominion-JMU Betting Odds
JMU is a 2.5-point college football betting odds favorite over ODU, per BetMGM, as of this writing. The Over/Under is at 47.5.
Old Dominion-JMU Coaches & Records
ODU: Ricky Rahne (24-32 overall/at ODU)
JMU: Bob Chesney (125-51 overall, 14-5 at JMU)
Last meeting: JMU won 35-32 on the road. The Dukes hold the 3-2 advantage in the Royal Rivalry.
Old Dominion Preview
The Monarchs seemed to be on cruise control ahead of last week’s trip to Marshall. They were 4-1, and their only loss came by 13 points to Indiana, which is currently ranked No. 3 in the country.
Turnovers derailed ODU, however, and its defense stumbled in the 24-point loss to the Thundering Herd. The Monarchs finished with five turnovers and surrendered 445 total yards.
In both losses, the Monarchs have a combined eight turnovers. With six interceptions thrown and nine fumbles coughed up, they’ve turned the ball over more than any other team in the conference. JMU has just five takeaways on the season. It’ll still be critical for ODU and quarterback Colton Joseph to take care of the ball, though.
There’s a solid argument to be made that Joseph is the frontrunner to win the Sun Belt Player of the Year right now. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt sophomore leads the league in total offense with 327.3 total yards per game. He paces the conference in passing and has 19 total touchdowns. He’s averaging 7.5 yards per carry, which trails only backfield mate Trequan Jones for the best mark in the Sun Belt.
Jones is second on the roster with 79.5 rushing YPG on 8.8 yards per carry and has four TDs. The Monarchs have a trio of wideouts who each have over 300 yards and multiple TDs. Ja’Cory Thomas’ 397 yards lead the team while Tre’ Brown III has 373 and Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding has 366 to go with five TDs.
ODU leads the league with 488.5 YPG and is third with 34.2 points per game.
Safeties Jerome Carter (44) and Mario Easterly (39) lead the Monarchs in tackles. Nickendre Stiger has 30 total tackles, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
The Monarchs rank second in the league in total defense (336 YPG) and scoring defense (20.2 PPG), trailing only JMU.
JMU Preview
Since joining the Sun Belt in 2022, the Dukes’ offense has ranked near the top of the league but its defense has been what they’ve hung their hat on.
JMU has yet to allow more than 30 points this season and is surrendering just 13.7 points and 229 yards per game — both rank top 10 in the FBS. The Dukes are allowing 74 YPG on the ground and 2.5 YPC but will have a tougher test against ODU’s rushing attack. In last week’s win over Louisiana, they held the Ragin’ Cajuns to 45 rushing yards on 1.6 YPC.
It was the fourth win in a row for the Dukes, who are 5-1 and 3-0 in conference play. Their only loss of the season came to Louisville. JMU’s average margin of victory is 19.
JMU doesn’t create a ton of havoc defensively, but it does have 18 sacks, which is the second most in the conference. The Dukes do an excellent job of taking away an opponent’s offensive strength and don’t let their opponents sustain drives or allow big plays. They only allow third-down conversions on 29% of attempts.
Linebacker Trent Hendrick paces the Dukes with 43 total tackles and has three sacks. Safety Jacob Thomas has 27 total tackles, four pass breakups, and two picks.
Despite dynamic RB George Pettaway being limited to only 19 carries this year because of a muscle injury, JMU is still averaging 232.5 rushing YPG led by Wayne Knight’s 537 yards. Jordan Fuller has added 312 yards on the ground.
QB Alonza Barnett III is averaging 159.5 passing YPG and has 12 total TDs. The Dukes are averaging 27.2 PPG.
Old Dominion-JMU Prediction
I predict JMU wins and covers the spread.
I think this will be a defensive battle and JMU’s defense will get more stops down the stretch. I also like the Dukes at home, where they are 18-3 since 2022.
