James Madison 2023 Future Odds: National Championship, Conference, Regular Season Wins and Player Props

The 2022 season has to be considered a successful one for James Madison. The school made the move from FCS to FBS and finished 8-3. The Dukes were 6-2 in Sun Belt Conference games and cracked the NCAA rankings by appearing in the AP Top 25. James Madison is still ineligible to compete for the Sun Belt Conference title due to the NCAA transition rules. The Dukes would be one of the favorites if allowed to compete for the conference championship. The 2023 James Madison stats could be hard-pressed to match 2022, but the pieces are in place for a successful season.

James Madison At A Glance

James Madison Reloads on Offense

There’s no doubt the Dukes were hit hard by offensive departures. Quarterback Todd Centeio, the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year, is gone. He threw for 25 touchdowns and rushed for seven more. Also gone is the team’s leading rusher Percy Agyei-Obese and leading receiver Kris Thornton.

But the offensive line returns intact and James Madison has one of the best, if not the best, lines in the conference. Nick Kidwell and Tyler Stephens are the team’s leaders up front.

Replacing Centeio won’t be easy, but the Dukes landed Arizona transfer Jordan McCloud and Brett Griffis, from Wake Forest. McCloud is the more proven of the two and will likely be the man to beat entering fall practice. Those two, along with redshirt freshman Alonza Barnett III and redshirt sophomore Billy Atkins played in the spring game.

Latrele Palmer was the team’s second-leading rusher last season and is back, as is Kaelon Black, who had 28 receptions out of the backfield. With an experienced offensive line, the 2023 James Madison stats for rushing could be just as good as last season.

Reggie Brown had 24 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns last season and he’ll get some help from the transfer portal. The Dukes added several wideouts, including Elijah Surratt, who had 13 receiving TDs for St. Francis.

Most of the defense returns and the Dukes were No. 5 in total defense in the country last year. The defense will again be the driving force behind the team. Linebackers Taurus Jones and Jailin Walker were the team’s leading tacklers a year ago.

The secondary is a bit untested, as many of the teams the Dukes played weren’t good throwing teams. Georgia Southern did throw for more than 550 yards against JMU. Nobody else gained more than 250 yards.

Regular Season Wins: More Games, More Tough Opponents

The NCAA football schedule gives James Madison 12 games this season instead of 11. But the competition is going to be a bit tougher. The Dukes have Virginia on the slate this year. James Madison managed to miss both Troy and South Alabama last season and that’s not the case this year. Both teams were 7-1 in conference games last year. The Dukes visit Troy to open conference play and then host the Jaguars two weeks later.

But there are also some games the Dukes should win without too much trouble. The season opener against Bucknell is one of those games. Games against Old Dominion and UConn should fall JMU’s way. Then there are some tough games that JMU should win, but an upset isn’t out of the question. Those come against the likes of Utah State, Georgia Southern, Marshall, Appalachian State, and Georgia State.

James Madison will have its hands full with Virginia, Troy, South Alabama, and Coastal Carolina. But the Dukes have the ability to win several of those games. Getting good play from the quarterback position will be a deciding factor. If the 2023 James Madison stats for the offensive unit are above average, the defense will do its part. JMU was 6-4 against the NCAAF spreads last season and that could be a tough mark to match. But the Dukes look to be good for eight or nine wins this season.

For NCAAF betting news, football odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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