Troy coach Gerad Parker needs his quarterback to finish a game. Goose Crowder is probable for Thursday after leaving each of the last two with an upper-body injury; against ULM, he managed a miserable 50 passing yards on 14 attempts. The Trojans converted a dismal three of 16 third downs and finished with 200 yards. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the James Madison Dukes and the Troy Trojans.
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James Madison vs. Troy prediction, preview
Before those exits, Crowder tore through Southern Miss for 145 rushing yards on 17 carries. Parker has since needed backup quarterback Tucker Kilcrease in both games. Kilcrease scored on a 23-yard run at Louisiana, but Troy has scraped together 20 points across those losses. Running back Jordan Lovett gained a respectable 70 yards on 17 carries against ULM. Parker needs his quarterbacks to help turn that work into touchdowns.
James Madison edge rusher Turner Schmidt just sacked App State twice, and the Dukes have 21 sacks through eight games. Troy’s blockers have allowed 15 through seven, including four against ULM. With JMU also holding App State to 81 rushing yards on 31 attempts, Crowder or Kilcrease should have to make difficult throws to sustain possessions. Troy needed 17 plays to finish their opening 77-yard touchdown drive against ULM, then squandered a possession at ULM’s 21 when Crowder immediately threw an interception.
JMU coach Billy Napier has lost running back George Pettaway to injury for Thursday. Replacement backs Seth Cromwell and Nick Herman combined for 26 yards on six carries at App State. Pettaway left late in the fourth quarter, though; the Dukes had already struggled to run. They converted a dreadful two of 15 third downs, even turning third-and-one into third-and-six with a false start before punting. Napier needed three fourth-down conversions to reach overtime.
Troy vs. James Madison pick, best bet
His quarterbacks still have receivers who can get JMU into the end zone. Camden Coleman answered late in Boone, driving the Dukes 71 yards in 15 plays for the tying touchdown. Coleman also hit tight end Cole Keller for a 19-yard touchdown; Keller had already burned Georgia Southern for 108 receiving yards. Fellow quarterback JC Evans connected with receiver Braeden Wisloski for a 70-yard score against App State; he also threw a touchdown and ran for two against Georgia State. Troy allowed Southern Miss to throw for 391 yards. Napier should use both passers to finish drives while he redistributes Pettaway’s carries.
Troy pass rusher Donnie Smith can interrupt them—he has six sacks through seven games—and his defense held ULM to 243 yards last week. I’ll back Smith to end enough of those passing possessions to hold JMU around 30, with Napier turning to Cromwell and Herman on the ground. Parker’s quarterbacks should struggle to answer against Schmidt at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Best bet: Under 49.5 (-110).
Projected score: James Madison 31, Troy 13.
Best Bet: James Madison vs. Troy u49.5 total points scored (-115)
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