Georgia Southern vs James Madison Odds: Dukes Look to Stay Perfect
JMU Just One of Three Undefeated Teams Left at Group of 5 Level
There’s no debate. The James Madison Dukes are one of college football’s top programs at the Group of Five level. Another opportunity to distinguish themselves comes Saturday, as the unbeaten Dukes will host the Georgia Southern Eagles in Sun Belt Conference play.
James Madison is a 3.5-point favorite (-115) and -170 on the moneyline, while Georgia Southern is +3.5 (-105) on the spread and +150 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total is 58 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Can James Madison maintain its perfect start? Read on as we break down the matchup in our Georgia Southern vs Madison odds preview.
Georgia Southern Eagles at James Madison Dukes 
Date/Time: Saturday, noon ET
Where: Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field; Harrisonburg, Va.
Streaming: ESPN2
Betting Trends
The Georgia Southern Eagles are 3-2 against the spread this season. The total has gone Under in five of the Eagles’ last six games, including six of the previous seven on the road. The James Madison Dukes are also 3-2 ATS. The total has gone Over in five of the Dukes’ last seven games. That’s important to remember when assessing the Georgia Southern vs Madison odds.
So Far, So Perfect
In their most recent game, Sept. 30 against South Alabama, the James Madison Dukes survived 31-23 to maintain their perfect start. At 5-0, the Dukes are just one of three undefeated teams remaining at the Group of Five level, joining Air Force (5-0) and Liberty (5-0).
Because they’re in just their second year since transitioning from the FCS level, the Dukes are ineligible from competing for the Sun Belt Conference title. Still, that hasn’t slowed them down on the NCAAF schedule. Not one bit.
The Dukes are averaging 33.2 points through five games. They’ve scored 30-plus points four times, with the exception of a 16-14 win over Troy on Sept. 16. As such, the Dukes have already gone Over the projected total three times this season.
Stability at quarterback has helped. Senior Jordan McCloud is completing 64.5% of his attempts for 1,173 yards, 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions. McCloud has also run for a pair of scores. The Dukes are also formidable on defense thanks to senior Jalen Green, who is among the FBS leaders with 6.5 sacks.
Helton Keeps Eagles Soaring
The Georgia Southern Eagles are coming off a bye. This is their first action since Sept. 30, when they beat Coastal Carolina 38-28 to improve to 4-1 overall. A 6-point favorite, the Eagles scored 30-plus points for the fourth time in five games this season.
It was more of the same for the Eagles, who rank 17th in the country in total offense (471.6 yards per game). Senior Davis Brin has now thrown for 1,611 yards and 12 touchdowns but he’s also been intercepted seven times, third most in FBS behind Colorado State’s Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Luke Altmyer of Illinois.
The Eagles are in their second year under Clay Helton. Last season, Helton led them to six wins and an appearance in the Camellia Bowl, where they lost 23-21 to Buffalo. The school is 3-2 in bowl games since transitioning to FBS competition. With seven games still remaining on the NCAAF football schedule, the Eagles are well on their way to becoming college football bowl eligible for the second straight year.
As Georgia Southern looks to continue its success, much of the focus will be on Khaleb Hood. The senior caught 12 passes for 131 yards against Coastal Carolina. It was his second straight 100-yard receiving day and the school-record sixth of his career. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Georgia Southern vs Madison odds.
Handicapping the Game
In just its second full year of FBS competition, James Madison has established itself as the team to beat in the Sun Belt. The Dukes continue to climb up the NCAAF standings despite being ineligible for the postseason.
While Georgia Southern has scored at a high level, James Madison’s shown it has the offensive firepower to match practically anyone in the conference. Look for that to continue in Week 7 at home, where the Dukes are a deserving favorite.
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