James Madison Dukes Football Predictions for 2024: Total Wins Picks, Best Bets

Expert college football handicapper Ron Marmalefsky looks at James Madison college football and its chances in 2024. Ron provides expert picks for betting on the James Madison Dukes in 2024.

Ron also offers total win predictions for James Madison in 2024 (a great betting NCAAF betting future), areas to watch, favorability of schedule, and offers best bets tips on the James Madison Dukes.

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In a partnership with WagerTalk’s Ralph Michaels, the GoldSheet team has compiled a 60-page college football betting guide to help you prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Available free of charge, this preseason guide features our summer power ratings, projected point spreads and win probabilities for EVERY game of the upcoming season, plus coaching changes, quarterback transfers and much more. 

James Madison College Football 2024 Preview: What’s the Situation?

James Madison hit the ground running in their move to the Sun Belt.  After going 8-3, they nearly ran the table last year, with just an overtime loss to Appalachian St before losing to Air Force in the bowl game (thanks).  That game was AFTER their coach announced he was leaving for Indiana.  Bob Chesney has won everywhere he has coached.  His task won’t be easy this season.

2024 James Madison NCAAF AREAS TO WATCH:

The staff and starting talent were purged by their former Head Coach.  Nine starters are off to Indiana.  Once highly touted, QB Dylan Morris has had a disappointing career (four years at Washington), but this move could be a good one. 

Two transfer RB’s that I like are here.  While the WR room has been shredded, the OL looks even better than a year ago, with two transfers filling in the only gaps.  This will all be about QB play.  James Madison retains only one of their top nine tacklers.  They achieved 45 defensive sacks last year.  Every player who recorded a sack is gone. 

Two of the four projected transfer starters are from Chesney’s old school, Holy Cross.  James Madison will take a moderate or more step back on this side of the ball.  The incoming PK looks good.  Putting together kick and punt return units may be challenging with so much turnover. 
 
 

James Madison Football 2024 Predicted Total Wins Prediction

In quieter times, this would be amazing.  If all the staff and players had stayed, 11-1 would be possible.  But times are different, and I’m concerned about this defense. 

I have them at 6-3, with “tossups” hosting Coastal, at ODU, and home to Marshall.  Let’s call this 8-4, which is UNDER my 8.5 season win total recommendation, but closer than I expected.  Watch QB Morris carefully. 

Week 0 & Week 1 College Football Betting Picks & Predictions

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2024 James Madison Football Schedule and Games to Watch

James Madison will have a softer Sun Belt schedule, and overall, this schedule is one of the five easiest in all of the NCAA.  If they can win in Charlotte (double-digit favorite), the non-conference record is likely to be 3-1.  Win hosting Coastal, and the record reaches 5-1. 

After a “presumed” tough game at Georgia Southern, James Madison, even with all this turnover, will have a shot to win their next three games, which read Southern Miss (3-9 in ’24), Georgia St (rest advantage), and at ODU.  The Dukes have revenge heading to Appalachian St, but that game could be tough.  They close hosting Marshall. 

James Madison 2024 Football Expert HANDICAPPING TIP

My only action last year was fading them in their bowl loss.  I played Charlotte small (+10) in the opener.  I’ll need defensive regression clues to have a vs. portfolio, but I lean that way if their stat sheet shows too many holes on this side of the ball.  

Grab the GoldSheet 2024-2025 Betting Guide

In a partnership with WagerTalk’s Ralph Michaels, the GoldSheet team has compiled a 60-page college football betting guide to help you prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Available free of charge, this preseason guide features our summer power ratings, projected point spreads and win probabilities for EVERY game of the upcoming season, plus coaching changes, quarterback transfers and much more. 

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