On Saturday, the James Madison Dukes (8-2) will hit the road to battle the Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-5) in a Sun Belt clash.
James Madison is still in play to win the Sun Belt East division as they enter the week tied with Georgia Southern and a game behind Marshall.
However, JMU cannot afford to overlook the Mountaineers here.
Typically, at this point in the season, Appalachian State is playing for a berth in the Sun Belt Championship game, but 2024 has been a down season. With James Madison this week and Georgia Southern on deck next week, Appalachian State may play a role in how the division is decided, as it plays for bowl eligibility as well.
James Madison is a 7-point favorite on the spread with a 59-point over/under.
Read on for my James Madison vs Appalachian State predictions and college football picks.
James Madison Dukes vs App State Mountaineers Prediction, Picks
- James Madison vs. App State Pick: James Madison -7
My James Madison vs. App State best bet is on the Dukes spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
James Madison vs App State Odds, Spread
| James Madison Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 57.5 -115 / -105 | -280 |
| Appalachian State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 57.5 -115 / -105 | +230 |
- James Madison vs Appalachian State Spread: James Madison -7.5 · Appalachian State +7.5
- James Madison vs Appalachian State Over/Under: 57.5
- James Madison vs Appalachian State Moneyline: James Madison -280 · Appalachian State +230
James Madison Football vs Appalachian State Football Preview
James Madison Dukes Betting Preview
James Madison has been one of the most balanced teams in the country this season. It ranks 20th nationally in scoring offense (35 PPG) and 14th in scoring defense (18 PPG).
Offensively, JMU's ground attack leads the way as it ranks 33rd in Rushing Success Rate and is averaging 186 rushing yards per game. Redshirt sophomore George Pettaway leads the way with 746 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Quarterback Alonza Barnett III has 395 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, but defenses cannot sleep on him as a passer. He is averaging 222 passing yards per game with 22 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. That includes five touchdown passes at North Carolina, the lone Power Four opponent the Dukes have faced this season.
Stopping the run has also been a point of emphasis for James Madison, as it ranks 11th in Rushing Success Rate allowed. Linebacker Jacob Dobbs has been a critical cog in the Dukes' run defense. He leads the team with 69 tackles and is third on the team with three sacks.
Dobbs trails defensive linemen Khairi Manns and Eric O'Neill, who each have eight sacks on the year and are tied for second in the Sun Belt. With a trio of disruptive defenders in the front seven, James Madison ranks 23rd in Havoc.
However, it has not been easy to pass on the Dukes either.
James Madison ranks eighth in Passing Success Rate Allowed and 12th in PFF's Coverage grades. Cornerback Terrence Spence leads the way with five interceptions.
App State Mountaineers Betting Preview
Since 2015, Appalachian State has won nine games eight times, including five 10-win seasons.
However, it comes into this week with just four wins on the season, and defensive struggles have largely been the culprit.
Appalachian State ranks 123rd or worse in Defensive Line Yards, Finishing Drives, Passing Success Rate Allowed, Rushing Success Rate Allowed, and Havoc.
The Mountaineers rank 121st in scoring defense, allowing 34.8 points per game. They are allowing 47.8 points per game in their five losses this season. For Appalachian State to pull off the upset, its offense will likely lead the way.
Offensively, the Mountaineers have leaned more on the passing game, as they have thrown the ball on 52% of their offensive snaps. Quarterback Joey Aguilar has nearly thrown for 2,500 yards with 19 touchdown passes, albeit with 12 interceptions. Senior Kaedin Robinson has been his top receiver with 840 yards on 53 receptions, but he will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
However, Appalachian State has actually been more successful running the ball, as it ranks 37th in Rushing Success Rate. Three different backs have over 200 yards, led by senior Ahmani Marshall, who has 478 yards and five touchdowns on the year on 4.7 yards per carry.
Overall, Appalachian State is very capable, averaging 26.6 points per game. The problem is that it has been unable to score at the rate that its defense has been hemorrhaging points this season.
James Madison vs Appalachian State Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how James Madison and Appalachian State match up statistically:
James Madison Offense vs. Appalachian State Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 33 | 130 | |
| Line Yards | 33 | 127 | |
| Pass Success | 91 | 123 | |
| Havoc | 36 | 129 | |
| Finishing Drives | 69 | 134 | |
| Quality Drives | 68 | 127 | |
Appalachian State Offense vs. James Madison Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 37 | 11 | |
| Line Yards | 31 | 18 | |
| Pass Success | 68 | 8 | |
| Havoc | 44 | 23 | |
| Finishing Drives | 64 | 43 | |
| Quality Drives | 51 | 8 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 64 | 111 |
| PFF Coverage | 12 | 107 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 33 | 111 |
| Middle 8 | 69 | 30 |
| Seconds per Play | 26.9 (60) | 25.6 (35) |
| Rush Rate | 55% (57) | 48% (98) |
How to Bet James Madison vs App State
James Madison will play to keep its Sun Belt Championship hopes alive and seek revenge.
Last year, Appalachian State ended the Dukes' perfect season with a 26-23 road victory.
This year’s matchup is set up nicely in James Madison's favor.
The Mountaineers have a rest advantage in this matchup, having last played on the seventh, but that will not help the defense.
James Madison’s balanced attack will give Appalachian State fits. The Dukes have scored 30 points in seven of 10 games this season. They have the second-highest scoring offense in the Sun Belt but also lead the conference in scoring defense.
Additionally, James Madison is 6-4 against the spread this season, while Appalachian State is 3-7 against the spread. Seven of the Dukes' wins have been by seven points or more, while six have been by double digits.
Pick: James Madison -7 (-110, bet365) | Play to -9.5 (-110)
James Madison vs App State Start Time, Channel, Streaming, How To Watch
| Location: | Kid Brewer Stadium, Boone, NC |
| Date: | Saturday, Nov. 23 |
| Kickoff Time: | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
James Madison vs App State will be played at Kid Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on ESPN+.
