James Madison at Georgia State odds, picks and predictions
The James Madison Dukes (8-0, 5-0 Sun Belt) and Georgia State Panthers (6-2, 3-2) meet Saturday in Atlanta. Kickoff at Center Parc Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the James Madison vs. Georgia State odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
James Madison is No. 24 in the US LBM Coaches Poll powered by Paste BN Sports. The Dukes have not lost since Nov. 5, 2022, but they did witness the end of a 5-game against-the-spread (ATS) run last Saturday when they squeaked by Old Dominion 30-27 as a -19.5 favorite.
The Panthers, who gave JMU everything it could handle last season in a 42-40 Dukes win last Nov. 19, lost at Georgia Southern 44-27 as a +1 underdog last week. That setback snapped a 2-game straight-up and ATS win streak
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James Madison at Georgia State odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:37 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: James Madison -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | Georgia State +185 (bet $100 to win $185)
- Against the spread (ATS): James Madison -5.5 (-115) | Georgia State +5.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 53.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
James Madison at Georgia State picks and predictions
Prediction
James Madison 35, Georgia State 31
Moneyline
AVOID. Better leverage can be found in the plays below.
Against the spread
Georgia State is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games.
The Panthers were undone in last year's game despite leading 34-14 at the half. Third-down conversions were a big part of JMU's comeback in that game: GSU went 3 of 13, JMU went 9 of 14.
Georgia State thrives in that same category this year while James Madison struggles mightily (GSU 50.4%--9th FBS, JMU 30.8%--125th). The Dukes defense is quite good against the run, but look for the Panthers to be able to throw the ball enough to stay on schedule.
JMU figures to more consistently drive into opponent territory in this match-up. But the Dukes rank 112th in the nation in red-zone TD scores (51.4%). Playing at home and with a nod to the Panthers in the havoc department, expect GSU to be close in the end.
BET GEORGIA STATE +5.5 (-105).
Over/Under
Last year's game produced 82 points. On a good-weather day in Atlanta, look James Madison's shaky pass defense (288.9 YPG, 129th FBS) to allow for a back-door cover at the least.
TAKE THE OVER 53.5 (-110).
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