- The Boca Raton Bowl pits Conference USA runner-up Western Kentucky against rising Sun Belt power James Madison Wednesday at FAU Stadium at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.
- The Dukes are a touchdown favorite, and they are looking for their first bowl win in school history.
- We have a full preview of Western Kentucky vs James Madison including a prediction, look at the best odds and what to look for.
Warm but wet weather is expected in Boca Raton for the Boca Raton Bowl between James Madison (8-4, 6-6 ATS) and Western Kentucky (8-5, 7-6 ATS). It’s the first meeting between these two schools separated by 560 miles.
Western Kentucky is one of just seven programs to win bowl games in each of the last three years. If you know the other six, we’re impressed.
The Dukes are in their third full year as an FBS program. They lost in the Armed Forces Bowl last year.
We’ve got a big prediction on the Boca Raton Bowl in our impressive preview, plus a look at the best odds to check out before Wednesday’s kickoff.
Western Kentucky vs James Madison Odds
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky | +6.5 (-105) | +190 | O 52.0 (-108) |
| James Madison | -6.5 (-115) | -230 | U 52.0 (-112) |
Odds as of Dec. 16 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to check the top DraftKings Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any college football playoff action.
This is one of those lines that makes sense when you think about where these schools are coming from. Conference USA doesn’t get a lot of respect from the sportsbooks, while the Sun Belt does. James Madison is a 6.5-point favorite entering the game.
Against the spread, both of these teams have struggled. WKU is 1-5 in its last six games against the number, while JMU is 2-4.
The total is 52 at Caesars and DraftKings and 51.5 at BetMGM and FanDuel. The Hilltoppers are 6-7 against the total this season, and JMU is just 4-8.
What does that tell you? The Vegas sharps never figured out either one of these teams.
The other thing every smart college football fan is looking out for now is opt-outs. That’s not a big factor for this one. WKU has a handful, including fourth-leading tackler Darius Thomas, who joined the transfer portal. JMU has none.
Happy As A Hilltopper
It’s Western Kentucky’s third time in the Boca Raton Bowl and they won it both previous times in 2016 and 2021. Western lost in the Conference USA title game to Jacksonville State after beating Jacksonville State on a walk-off field goal (more on the kicker in a minute) in the last week of the regular season.
Quarterback Caden Veltkamp was the CUSA Offensive Player of the Year and led the league with 23 touchdown passes. Running back Elijah Young has 846 yards and three scores. The defense was passable. It ranked fourth in the conference in points allowed.
Have a night, Lucas Carneiro!
🦿 4-for-4 FG
🦿 2 from 50+
🦿 1 Game-Winning Kick@ConferenceUSA Special Teams Player of the Year? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/0dmjGnj5me— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 1, 2024
Now, let’s talk legs. WKU kicker Lucas Carneiro was the CUSA Special Teams Player of the Year. He enters the Boca Bowl having made a school record 17 straight field goals. He’s also 6-6 on kicks over 50, including two from 54. Yeah, he’s going to play on Sundays.
This was such a ridiculously good play from Eric O’Neill. He’s starting to look like an All-Sun Belt DE.
In addition to the INT, O’Neill has 3 sacks the last two weeks. pic.twitter.com/ddMVg8jk2h
— JMU Sports News (@JMUSportsNews) September 28, 2024
Hail The Dukes
Every major college football fan knows that JMU lost their coach last season to Indiana (google me), and the Hoosiers are in the CFP. Bob Chesney took over, and the Dukes started 4-0 before struggling a bit in conference play. James Madison went 4-4 in the Sun Belt.
Offensively, Dukes quarterback Alonza Barnett III threw for 2,598 yards and 26 touchdowns and is also the Dukes second leading rusher. Barnett III will miss this one with an injury, meaning Billy Atkins will make his second career start. He made one as a freshman against Marshall, and, uh, three four picks in a loss.
JMU does something different in the Sun Belt….they play defense. JMU ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt in points allowed, and defensive lineman Eric O’Neill ranked in the top 10 in the nation in both sacks and TFLS. He may play on Sundays, too.
Western Kentucky vs James Madison Prediction
- Western Kentucky +6.5 at BetMGM
- Over 51.5 at BetMGM
James Madison led the nation in turnover margin this season at +17. That’s impressive, but the Dukes have lost two in a row and struggled defensively the last two times out, and now don’t have their QB.
For WKU, bowl games mean a lot. We’re not sure JMU is as thrilled to be here. There is an approach to bowl games that WKU has figured out.
-
BET365 SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $150 IN BONUS BETS!
-
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $150 IF YOUR BET WINS + $50 DEPOSIT BONUS
-
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $150 IF YOUR BET WINS + 3 MONTHS OF NBA LEAGUE PASS
-
BETMGM SPORTSBOOKGET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS + 2ND CHANCE TD CASH BACK!
-
ESPN BET SPORTSBOOKUSE CODE DIME TO GET A $1,500 FIRST BET RESET & ESPN+
-
CAESARS SPORTSBOOKBET $1 & DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS ON YOUR NEXT 10 BETS
-
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA); (877) 8-HOPENY (NY); 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ); (888) 789-7777 (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN); mdgamblinghelp.org (MD); morethanagame.nc.gov (NC); 1800gambler.net (WV)
The Boca Raton Bowl is set to take place on December 18th, featuring a matchup between Western Kentucky and James Madison. Both teams have had successful seasons and are looking to end their year on a high note with a victory in this bowl game.
Western Kentucky comes into the game with a record of 8-5, finishing second in the Conference USA East division. The Hilltoppers are led by quarterback Bailey Zappe, who has thrown for over 5,500 yards and 56 touchdowns this season. Their high-powered offense has been a key factor in their success, averaging over 40 points per game.
On the other side, James Madison has had an impressive season as well, finishing with a record of 11-1 and winning the Colonial Athletic Association championship. The Dukes are known for their strong defense, which has allowed just 14 points per game this season. Quarterback Cole Johnson has also been a standout player for James Madison, throwing for over 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns.
In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close matchup between two evenly matched teams. The odds currently favor James Madison by a slim margin, with a spread of around 3 points. However, Western Kentucky’s explosive offense could pose a challenge for the Dukes’ defense.
Ultimately, this game could come down to which team is able to execute their game plan more effectively on both sides of the ball. Fans can expect an exciting and competitive matchup in the Boca Raton Bowl, with both teams looking to end their season on a high note with a victory.