James Madison (7-2) travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for a Thursday night Sun Belt Conference matchup against Southern Miss (3-5). Kickoff at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The Dukes enter as 13.5-point road favorites with an over/under of 57.5 points. James Madison is 6-3 against the spread this season, while Southern Miss sits at 4-4 versus the line.
Betting Odds and Trends
The money line lists James Madison at -575 and Southern Miss at +425. The Dukes' dual-threat quarterback JC Evans has added a dangerous dimension to the offense, while Southern Miss quarterback Ethan Hampton attempts to spark the Golden Eagles against a stingy JMU defense.
Projection Model Predictions
A projection model simulating the game 10,000 times leans toward the over 57.5 points, with the over hitting in more than 50% of simulations. The model projects 58 combined points. Recent trends support the over: the last two Southern Miss games and three of the last four have gone over the total, while two of James Madison's last three games have also cleared the number. Overall, the over holds a 10-7 record for both teams combined this season.
Quarterback JC Evans is projected to throw for 255 yards and 1.7 touchdowns, while running back George Pettaway is projected to rush for 124 yards and 1.19 touchdowns. The model also indicates one side of the spread hits in more than 50% of simulations. The model entered Week 10 on an 80-77 run on top-rated college football picks.
