Troy Trojans vs James Madison Dukes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/5/25
The Trojans and Dukes are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Dukes will host the game at Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, VA. The odds for this Sun Belt conference game currently have James Madison as the -1 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 134.5 points.
TROY TROJANS VS JAMES MADISON DUKES BETTING PICK
The Pick: James Madison Dukes -1
This game will be played at Atlantic Union Bank Center at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, February 5th.
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 -1.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 134.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Can Troy Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?
Troy Trojans Recent Game/Games
Troy improved to 13-7 on the season with a dominant 87-50 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Playing at home, the Trojans entered the game as -17.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 137, just under the O/U line of 139.5.
Troy jumped out to a 50-15 lead by halftime, effectively putting the game out of reach early. In the second half, they scored 37 points while allowing 35, coasting to the win.
Troy’s offense put up 87 points in their last game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.9% from beyond the arc, hitting 14 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.7%, and they connected on 81.2% of their free throws, going 13-for-16.
Marcus Rigsby Jr. was a standout, hitting 5 threes at a 71.4% clip in just 20 minutes. Troy also dished out 20 assists and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, with Tayton Conerway contributing 8 boards and 5 assists.
Despite giving up 50 points, Troy’s defense allowed their opponent to shoot 47% from the field, including 66% on two-point attempts with 16 makes on 24 tries. From beyond the arc, their opponent went 14/39, hitting 35% of their three-point shots.
At the free-throw line, Troy’s opponent shot 81%, making 13 of 16 attempts. Troy also gave up 14 offensive rebounds in the game.
Is a Home Win Possible for James Madison?
James Madison Dukes Recent Game/Games
James Madison improved to 12-9 on the season with a 68-54 win over Old Dominion on Saturday. Playing at home, the Dukes were favored by 10 points and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 122, falling short of the O/U line of 138.5.
After leading 36-25 at halftime, James Madison maintained control in the 2nd half, outscoring Old Dominion 32-29.
James Madison put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 41.7% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 50%, with a strong 55.2% mark on two-point attempts. From beyond the arc, they hit just 29%, connecting on 9 of 31 attempts.
At the free-throw line, the Dukes were efficient, making 9 of 11 for an 81.8% rate. They grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and dished out 11 assists. Sean Durugordon led the team with 18 points, while Mark Freeman added 17, and Bryce Lindsay contributed 14 points, hitting 4 of 9 from three-point range.
James Madison’s defense held their opponent to 54 points, despite allowing a 41% shooting performance overall. The Dukes gave up 16 two-point baskets on 29 attempts, a 55% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, James Madison limited their opponent to 9 made threes on 31 attempts, a 29% shooting rate. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 11 times, where they hit 9 shots for 81%.