It’s not exactly an elimination game in the Sun Belt East, but James Madison had better not lose this after dropping the road date to ULM last week.
It doesn’t have a nasty slate after this, but it can’t be two games behind Coastal Carolina.
The Chanticleers won a shootout over Old Dominion last week, but it has a nasty date against Louisiana after this. Win at JMU, though, and they’re in the driver’s seat for the division.
Coastal Carolina vs James Madison Preview
Coastal Carolina vs James Madison How to Watch
Date: Friday, October 10, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
Venue: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA
How to Watch: ESPN2
James Madison (4-1), Coastal Carolina (4-1)
Why Coastal Carolina Will Win
It has been great to pass the ball.
It is possible for James Madison to turn it up if it gets its rhythm again. In two games, the team scored 133 points. Ethan Vasko will keep the quick strike attack going.
It is not just the middle pop-and-play passing style of the past few years, though. Coastal Carolina is making big plays, and their offence is one of the best in the Sun Belt.
Most importantly, they are not turning the ball over or making big mistakes against this team because….
Why James Madison Will Win
The James Madison defence is once again taking away a lot of balls.
There are 15 takeaways in five games, with at least two in each. It is not the D of the last few years under Curt Cignetti, but it charges and makes everyone mess up.
But this should be about the offence of James Madison, especially the running game. Recently, Coastal Carolina has been pushed around too much.
They have given up two touchdowns on the ground in all but one game (their win over Temple), and they let Virginia and Old Dominion run for 584 yards.
That is why…
Coastal Carolina vs James Madison: Who Will Win
After last week’s loss to ULM, James Madison will not get too crazy about this.
It will try to change things up a bit, but the ground game will be its main weapon. It will point the ball away at least 35 times and gain an average of five yards per run.
It is not often that Coastal Carolina makes a mistake, but twice it will in a pretty interesting battle that ends late in James Madison’s favour.
Coastal Carolina vs James Madison Prediction, Betting Lines
James Madison 37, Coastal Carolina 24
Line: James Madison -9.5, o/u: 60.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Coastal Carolina vs James Madison Must See Rating: 3.5
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