Appalachian State Mountaineers vs James Madison Dukes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
The Mountaineers and Dukes are set to face off at 4:00 ET on ESPN+. The Dukes will host the game at Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, VA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 133.5 points, and James Madison is favored by -2.5 to win at home against Appalachian State.
APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS VS JAMES MADISON DUKES BETTING PICK
The Pick: James Madison Dukes -2.5
This game will be played at Atlantic Union Bank Center at 4:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE JAMES MADISON DUKES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-67 in favor of the Dukes.
- Not only will James Madison pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 133.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will the Mountaineers Exceed Expectations on the Road?
Appalachian State Mountaineers Recent Game/Games
Appalachian State improved to 8-7 on the season with a 62-43 road win over Old Dominion on Thursday. The Mountaineers entered the game as 3-point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
Appalachian State took control early, leading 29-18 at halftime. They added 33 points in the second half while holding Old Dominion to 25. The game’s total points of 105 fell well short of the O/U line of 135.5.
Appalachian State managed just 62 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 48.1%. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 27.3% of their threes (6/22), while connecting on 53.1% of their two-point attempts (17/32). At the free-throw line, they made 10 of 15 attempts, good for 66.7%.
CJ Huntley led the way with 26 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 55.6% overall and 50% from three (2/4). Myles Tate contributed 14 points and 7 assists, though he shot just 22.2% from three (2/9). Robert Davis Jr. also struggled from deep, hitting 25% of his attempts (3/12) and finishing with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Appalachian State’s defense was dominant, holding their opponent to just 43 points on 30% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, allowing only 11 made shots on 30 attempts, a 36% success rate.
From beyond the arc, the Mountaineers gave up just 4 threes on 19 attempts, with their opponent shooting 21%. They also sent them to the line 13 times, where they made 9 free throws, shooting 69%. Appalachian State allowed 10 offensive rebounds.
Can the Dukes Please their Home Crowd?
James Madison Dukes Recent Game/Games
James Madison improved to 8-8 on the season with a 67-64 win over Marshall on Thursday. The Dukes were -6.5 favorites heading into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread.
After leading 39-25 at halftime, James Madison allowed 39 points in the second half while scoring 28. The total points for the game were 131, falling short of the 145.5 O/U line.
James Madison’s offense put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 41% from the field and 25% from three-point range (5/20). Their effective field goal percentage was 45.9%, and they hit 80% of their free throws (12/15). The Dukes grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and dished out 11 assists.
Jalen Speer led the way with 20 points, hitting 5 threes at a 45.5% clip. Mikal Dawson added 15 points, though he struggled from deep, shooting 25% on 3/12 attempts. Nate Martin contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds, making 4 of 5 shots, including his only three-point attempt.
James Madison’s defense held their opponent to 64 points, with a field goal percentage of 41% on 25 of 61 shooting. They allowed 20 two-point baskets on 41 attempts, a 48% success rate.
From beyond the arc, the Dukes limited their opponent to 5 of 20 shooting, or 25%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 12, an 80% rate. James Madison gave up 10 offensive rebounds.