Ball State Cardinals vs James Madison Dukes Betting Pick & Prediction 9/28/24
James Madison enters this week five non-conference matchup with a 3-0 record, and they are set to face the Ball State Cardinals, who are currently 1-2. Kickoff is set for 1:30 ET at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field in Harrisonburg, and the game can be seen on ESPN+. The over/under line is at 57.5 points, with the Dukes as -20.5 point favorites. The money line odds have James Madison at -1370 and Ball State at +781.
BALL STATE CARDINALS VS JAMES MADISON DUKES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Ball State Cardinals +20.5
This game will be played at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field at 1:30 ET on Saturday, September 28th.
WHY BET THE BALL STATE CARDINALS:
- We have the James Madison Dukes winning this one by a score of 31 to 30
- Even though we like the James Madison Dukes to win, our ATS pick is to take the Ball State Cardinals at +20.5
- Look for this game to go over the line of 57.5 points
Will The Ball State Cardinals Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
Ball State is looking to bounce back after a 37-34 road loss to Central Michigan. Despite the defeat, the Cardinals covered the spread as +6.5 point underdogs. The combined score of 71 points surpassed the over/under line of 50.5 points. Ball State is now 1-2 for the season.
The Cardinals took an early 10-0 lead, but Central Michigan responded with 23 unanswered points. Ball State narrowed the gap to 23-17 by halftime and took a 24-23 lead in the third quarter. However, Central Michigan outscored the Cardinals 14-10 in the final quarter to come out on top.
Ball State’s offense, led by quarterback Kadin Semonza, put up 431 yards in their 37-34 loss to Central Michigan. Semonza completed 75% of his passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with a passer rating of 119.27. Tanner Koziol was his top target, hauling in nine receptions for 112 yards.
The Cardinals’ offense moved the chains 27 times, with Braedon Sloan contributing 94 yards on the ground from 19 carries, including one rushing touchdown. Ball State’s passing game accounted for 285 yards, while the ground attack added 146 yards.
Ball State’s defense will be looking to improve after giving up 527 total yards in their last game. Central Michigan’s ground game was particularly effective, rushing for 335 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals’ secondary also allowed 192 yards through the air, with 15 completions on 21 attempts resulting in two passing touchdowns. Overall, Ball State’s defense will need to make significant adjustments to avoid a similar outcome in their next game.
Are The James Madison Dukes Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
James Madison is off to a strong start, sitting at 3-0 after a surprising road win over North Carolina. The Dukes, who were +11 point underdogs, not only won the game but also covered the spread, resulting in a 20-point victory. The combined score of 120 points easily surpassed the over/under line of 48.5 points.
James Madison took control early, leading 25-14 after the first quarter. They then outscored North Carolina 28-7 in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a commanding 53-21 lead. North Carolina closed the gap slightly in the second half, but the Dukes still came out on top, 70-50.
Alonza Barnett III led James Madison’s offense to a 70-50 victory over North Carolina, throwing for 388 yards and five touchdowns. Barnett completed 64.7% of his passes and finished with a passer rating of 143.14. Omarion Dollison was his top target, catching three passes for 125 yards and one touchdown.
The Dukes’ offense totaled 612 yards, with 224 yards coming on the ground. Barnett also contributed to the ground game, rushing for 99 yards on 13 carries and scoring two rushing touchdowns.
James Madison’s defense will be looking to tighten things up after allowing 616 total yards in their last game. They gave up 475 passing yards, with North Carolina completing 28 of 48 attempts. The Dukes did manage to come away with two interceptions, but they allowed three passing touchdowns. On the ground, James Madison surrendered 141 yards and three rushing touchdowns.