Appalachian State and James Madison will meet in Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon. App State enters this road test at 4–5 overall and 1–4 in Sun Belt action, needing two wins in three games to get to a bowl game. James Madison is 8–1 with a 6–0 conference record and they control their own destiny in the race to get to the Sun Belt title game. Before kickoff from Virginia, you can find my App State vs James Madison prediction below.
Our App State vs James Madison Pick
Pick: App State +21
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Appalachian State vs James Madison
- Date & Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Bridgeforth Stadium / Zane Showker Field, Harrisonburg, VA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
- JMU is in control of the Sun Belt East. The Dukes continue to overwhelm opponents with consistency on both sides of the ball and show no signs of slowing down as they push for a conference crown. The Dukes hold a one-game lead over Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt East and need to keep winning to avoid being caught.
- App State continues its rebuild. The Mountaineers have been competitive at times but have struggled to sustain offense or close out tight games. They have lost three straight games by one possession each.
- Series history favors App State, but recent momentum belongs to JMU. App State holds a 14–5 edge historically against James Madison. The Dukes have won two of the last three meetings between these teams, including a decisive 34–20 victory in 2024.
Quarterback Play
James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III has emerged as one of the league’s best quarterbacks, producing 1,786 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. His ability to escape pressure and extend plays adds a dimension that App State’s defense has struggled to contain this season.
App State will rely on quarterback AJ Swann, who has completed 62.9% of his passes for 1,431 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Swann has shown strong decision-making in spurts, but his inconsistency and turnover issues have limited the Mountaineers’ offensive ceiling.
Betting Trends
- James Madison is 6-3 against the spread going into this contest.
- App State is 4-5 against the spread entering Saturday’s game.
- The under has hit in 6 of James Madison’s first 9 games.
- The under is 5-4 in games involving App State this year.
App State vs James Madison Model Projection
Score Projection: James Madison 38 – Appalachian State 24
Win Probability: James Madison 82%, Appalachian State 18%
Final Thoughts
James Madison should be able to win at home to stay unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play. But I’m inclined to take the points with the App State Mountaineers in this contest. App State has been keeping games close in Sun Belt competition lately, including a one-possession loss against a good Coastal Carolina team. I expect another close game involving the Mountaineers here, even if JMU wins it in the end.
