armed forces bowl prediction
PublishedDecember 11, 2023,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:December 11, 2023 ,

James Madison vs Air Force Armed Forces Bowl Prediction

The James Madison Dukes (11-1) face off against the Air Force Falcons (8-4) on Saturday, December 23rd. This game will be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth and televised on ABC. James Madison is coming off a win in their previous game, while Air Force is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Boise State. Kickoff is set for 3:30 ET.

James Madison Dukes vs Air Force Falcons

The James Madison Dukes Are Coming Off A Win

The Dukes are looking to ride the momentum of their convincing 56-14 win over Coastal Carolina. Jordan McCloud posted a passer rating of 130.24 after throwing for 324 yards against Coastal Carolina. He made 35 passing attempts and achieved a completion rate of 74.3%.

When looking at how their game played out from a betting perspective, their combined 70 points resulting in the over hitting. The over/under line going into the game was 51. James Madison also covered the spread as 4.5-point favorites.

This season, the James Madison Dukes are currently 11-1. So far this season, they have played six road games and four at home.

So far, James Madison has been favored eight times and the underdog in two games. This has led to an ATS record of 8-2 and an average scoring differential of +16.7. So far this season, the average over/under line for James Madison’s games has been 50.3 points. The Dukes have an over/under record of 7-3 heading into this week’s game.

The Air Force Falcons Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In Air Force’s most recent loss to Boise State, the Falcons faced a -2-point deficit going into the 4th and were unable to mount a comeback effort, falling 27-19. In Air Force’s loss against Boise State, John Busha threw the ball 17 times for 131 yards. He didn’t throw for a touchdown in the game but did find the endzone with his legs.

Looking at the over/under in this matchup, the line was 45 and with their 46 points, the over hit. Against the spread, Air Force went into the game as 6.5-point underdogs giving them an ATS and straight-up loss.

So far, the Air Force Falcons are 8-4, including going 3-2 on the road and 3-2 at home.

So far, Air Force has been favored nine times and the underdog in one game. This has led to an ATS record of 4-5-1 and an average scoring differential of +9.7. This season, Air Force holds an over/under record of 6-4. On average, their games have produced a combined total of 45.5 points, with the typical over/under line set at 42.8 points.

James Madison Offense Breakdown

The Dukes’ offense is gearing up to take on Air Force, with an average of 144.2 rushing yards per game and an 4 yards per attempt. In the college football rankings, they are currently in 82nd place for rushing yards and 22nd place for passing yards, accumulating an average of 287.1 yards per contest. James Madison’s overall scoring average is at 35.2 points per game, placing them 22nd rank nationally.

Jordan McCloud is the team’s passing leader, having thrown for 3413 yards. He has also added some production in the running game, ranking 3rd on the team in rushing yards. This season, he’s carried the ball 92 times for 311 yards, while maintaining a completion rate of 68.9%.

Air Force Offense Breakdown

Air Force comes into the game with an offense averaging 27.6, which places them at 56th in the NCAA rankings. Their passing game has them ranked 131st nationally, with an average of 88.3 passing yards. In the rushing department, they’re 2nd in the nation, with 642 rushing attempts per game for the season.

Zac Larrier is the team’s leading passer, with 744 passing yards under his belt and a completion rate of 59.7%. Currently, he’s averaging 12 yards per pass attempt.

James Madison Team Defense

Defensively, the Dukes defense has come up with 44 sacks this season and are 1st in quarterback hurries. Overall, they are allowing 18.5 points per contest (60th). Against the pass, they are 162nd in the NCAA, having allowed 267.1 passing yards allowed per game. James Madison is giving up 63.2 rushing yards per contest.

Air Force Team Defense

Air Force’s defense is ranked 179th in passing yards allowed per game as they prepare for this matchup. Opponents have attempted an average of 26.4 passing attempts against the Falcons. They have given up 17.9 points per game so far, placing them 56th in college football. In the NCAA’s rush defense category, they are 19th.

James Madison vs Air Force Trends

  • James Madison are 5-0 Against the spread in their last five games on the road.
  • Looking across Air Force’s three most recent home games, they are 1-2 against the spread.
  • Looking back at the last ten times Air Force went into a game as the underdog, their ATS mark was 5-4-1.
  • James Madison is 6-4 in their last ten games as the favorite.

James Madison vs Air Force Prediction

I’m going with James Madison at -3 for this game. Their defense looked good against Coastal Carolina and they should be in line for for another solid performance. I am projecting James Madison to pick up the win and end up covering the spread against Air Force.

This season, James Madison’s margin against their over/under lines currently sits at +4.5. Given the over/under of 41, we expect this game to exceed expectations, resulting in a combined total of 42 points.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.