The James Madison Dukes will host the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM ET. The Dukes are 20.5-point favorites going into this contest, in which they are expected to remain undefeated against their opponents from the MAC. Continue reading for our college football picks for Saturday’s Ball State vs James Madison matchup from Bridgeforth Stadium.
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Ball State Looks to Snap Losing Streak
Going into this weekend, the Ball State Cardinals hold a record of 1-2, including an 0-1 record in MAC play. They dropped their conference opener to the Central Michigan Chippewas last time out, losing a tight 34-31 decision to their conference rivals. This week, the Cardinals will look to get back into the win column and even their record at 2-2, though they will need to pull off a huge upset to do so.
Ball State’s defense has been alarming to say the least over the last couple of weeks. There is no shame in giving up 62 points to Miami like they did in their second game of the season. But allowing 34 to Central Michigan after that is a concern, as the defense of the Cardinals has prevented them from notching a win over an FBS opponent so far this year.
Can James Madison Stay Undefeated?
There was concern going into this season that the James Madison Dukes would struggle due to a coaching change and some departures through the transfer portal. But they have not missed a beat after last year’s brilliant season, winning their first three games of the 2024 campaign. Last week, they hung 70 points on North Carolina and will look to sustain their momentum in this Ball State vs James Madison matchup.
The Dukes had scored just 13 points against FCS Gardner Webb the week before they scored 70 against the Tar Heels. While James Madison deserves a ton of credit for last week’s offensive outburst against an ACC opponent, such a large gap between their performances over the last couple of weeks could point to a lack of consistency that needs to be addressed in the near future.
Ball State vs James Madison Prediction
It is hard not to back James Madison in this contest based on the way they played last week. But we will avoid taking that bait and instead look at the total. The over at 57.5 points appears to be the best bet on the board for this matchup, as the Dukes should pick up where they left off on offense from last week, while Ball State should be able to do their part to push things over the number.
