Kicking off in the noon slate of this week’s college football Saturday, the James Madison Dukes will take on the UConn Huskies.
This is just the seventh matchup between these two football programs in their histories. James Madison has won five of these matchups, with UConn’s lone victory coming in their first meeting in 1993. They last faced off in 2023, when JMU won 44-6.
Looking at the odds, James Madison enters as a 4.5-point favorite with -205 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. UConn is +170 to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 57.5 points.
This article previews both teams and offers a pick for the Week 11 CFB matchup.
James Madison vs. UConn Preview
James Madison Dukes
The James Madison Dukes enter with an 8-2 record, but have hit a bit of a rough patch lately. They have lost two of their last three games, with both losses coming in overtime to Appalachian State and Troy. James Madison has gone 7-3 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in six of its last 10 games.
Camden Coleman has stood in at quarterback for the bulk of the season and looked largely impressive. The 6-foot-3 gunslinger has completed 61.8% of his passes for 1,814 yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions, while adding 116 rushing yards and two scores. However, after the two losses, JMU elected to start JC Evans last week, and the junior completed 19 of 26 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown. Evans had seen his role grow in recent weeks as he worked back from injury, and expectations are that he will maintain the QB1 spot. He provides more dual-threat ability in the offense, and the Dukes will likely lean on it moving forward.
George Pettaway headlines the rushing attack, with a Sun Belt-leading 824 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns. Pettaway missed last week, and his status is uncertain for this matchup, but JMU has depth on the ground. Seth Cromwell and Nick Herman have combined for 691 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season. Corey Scott has established himself as the team’s leading receiver with 524 yards and five touchdowns. Michael Scott is close behind with 417 yards through the air and three touchdowns, while tight end Cole Keller is tied with a team-high five receiving scores.
As a team, James Madison averages 40.6 points per game — ranking seventh nationally — and 455.6 yards of total offense. The Dukes have shown they can move the ball on the ground and through the air. They have also been effective defensively, limiting opponents to 19.3 points per game.
UConn Huskies
The UConn Huskies have slipped to 4-5. They are coming off back-to-back losses against Air Force and North Carolina, and they have dropped four of their past six games. This season, UConn is 5-4 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in five of their nine games.
Kalieb Osborne stands in at quarterback and has completed 58.4% of his passes for 2,102 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions, while adding 358 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Cyncir Bowers leads the team with 639 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Kenji Christian and Trey Cornist also contribute to the rushing attack, with 600 combined rushing yards and seven touchdowns. UConn relies on a balanced passing attack. Ryder Treadway leads the team with 24 receptions for 346 yards along with two touchdowns, while Shamar Porter adds 333 receiving yards and three scores. Jediyah Willoughby and Javon Brown also play important roles.
Jason Candle’s team averages 32.9 points and 429.9 yards per game, including 183.2 rushing yards. The Huskies have enough offensive production to challenge opponents, but their defense has been less dependable. UConn allows 26.7 points and 392.3 total yards per game. That includes 249.8 passing yards per contest, creating an opportunity for James Madison to attack through the air.
James Madison vs. UConn Pick, Best Bet
It has been an overall disappointing season for UConn, which will try to slow down James Madison’s high-powered attack. My lean is toward a high-scoring matchup on both sides, with the Dukes covering the 4.5-point spread. But I am backing the James Madison team total to go over 32.5 points as my best bet in this matchup.
JMU has one of the highest-octane attacks in football, averaging 40.6 points per game and scoring over 32.5 points five times. Momentum is on the Dukes’ side, as they put up 54 points last week against Southern Miss, and the recent quarterback change has provided a bit of a spark. The standard is high for how this team will perform, given the consideration to make the change in the first place. This standard starts with the high-powered offense, and Evans should be eager to prove this was the right decision. Evans accounted for four touchdowns against Southern Miss, helping James Madison generate 498 yards of offense. His ability to create with his legs gives defenses another responsibility and provides an additional scoring option near the goal line.
JMU’s balanced attack creates issues for any defense, which should remain true against UConn’s porous unit. UConn ranks 88th in the country in opponent points allowed, giving up an average of 26.7 points per game. The Huskies allowed 38 points to North Carolina last week after surrendering 35 to Air Force. Maryland and Syracuse also scored at least 38 against UConn earlier this season.
The red-zone matchup offers further encouragement. UConn has allowed opponents to score on 90.6% of their red-zone possessions, while James Madison has scored on 94.1% of its trips. Those figures include field goals, but they still suggest the Dukes can consistently finish drives with points. James Madison does not need to match its season scoring average to cash this ticket. With Evans coming off an encouraging start and UConn struggling to limit opposing offenses, expect the Dukes to find enough success to finish with at least 33 points.
