Coastal Carolina at James Madison odds, picks and predictions

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) visit the James Madison Dukes (4-1, 0-1) Thursday in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at Bridgeforth Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Coastal Carolina vs. James Madison odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

The Chanticleers head to Harrisonburg, Va., looking to add to the woes of the Dukes. Coastal Carolina is coming off a 45-37 victory over Old Dominion, covering as a 4-point home favorite as the Over (51.5) cashed.

Coastal has scored 24 or more points in all 5 of its games, while going for 40 or more points 3 times, cashing the Over at a 4-1 clip. QB Ethan Vasko leads the offense with 1,101 passing yards, 7 TDs and 2 INTs, while running for 220 yards and 2 TDs.

James Madison suffered its 1st loss of the season with a disappointing 21-19 setback at UL Monroe last Saturday as a 17-point favorite. It was JMU’s 1st Under against an FBS opponent since a 30-7 win in Week 1 at Charlotte.

At home, the Dukes have hosted just one FBS opponent, Ball State, winning 63-7 to easily cover as 22-point favorites with the Over (56) hitting.

– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

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Coastal Carolina at James Madison odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated at 4:29 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Coastal Carolina +280 (bet $100 to win $280) | James Madison -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
• Against the spread (ATS): Coastal Carolina +9.5 (-110) | James Madison -9.5 (-110)
• Over/Under (O/U): 60.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Coastal Carolina at James Madison picks and predictions

Prediction

James Madison 34, Coastal Carolina 30

James Madison (-350) will cost 3½ times your potential return, which is way too much for a standalone bet, especially against a very good opponent.

If anything, Coastal Carolina (+280) is a little more tempting, especially since the Dukes are coming off such a disappointing loss against a mediocre conference foe last weekend.

PASS.

COASTAL CAROLINA +9.5 (-110) is a strong play nearly catching double digits.

The Chanticleers have a powerful pass offense with Vasko, and he’ll be able to match the performance of JMU QB Alonza Barnett. This should be a very entertaining game, and it also should be a one-score game.

OVER 60.5 (-110) is worth a look in this Sun Belt matchup in Northern Virginia.

The Over has cashed in 2 of the past 3 games for the Dukes, including a 70-point performance in a 20-point win at North Carolina Sept. 21, as well as the 63 points at home against Ball State.

For Coastal, the Over has cashed in 4 of 5 games with the offense averaging 38.4 points per game, while allowing 29.6 PPG. The scoreboard operator at Bridgeforth is going to be busy in this one.

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