Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes 12/18/24 – The Boca Raton Bowl will be contested by the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the James Madison Dukes, both teams currently have an equal record of 8 wins to 5 losses on the court. Because both teams have competitive records, this match looks to be a great battle. The game will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 5:30 PM ET at the FAU Stadium. All the actions will be first streamed on ESPN and all the details will be shown on Sofascore.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes 12/18/24
| When: | Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 5:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | FAU Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NFL+/ SofaScore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltoppers | +7 (-110) | 53.5 Over -110 | +195 |  |
| Dukes | -7 (-110) | 53.5 Under -110 | -230 | |
| ||||
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— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 18, 2024
As the Dukes come in as -7 favorites, it makes them a good option because, considering their last 20 games, they have been considerably stronger as favorites this season (15-5 SU). On the other hand, the Hilltoppers’ ability to win games in December (10-3 SU in their last 13) lends weight to the notion that they can actually provide the spread. Also, bettors will consider the total, as the recent defensive performance of James Madison has been directed towards the lower edge, while the games of Western Kentucky’s team tend to be over.
Caden Veltkamp QB vs. Alonza Barnett III QB
Caden Veltkamp has been impressive in the season, having thrown for 2,806 yards and 23 touchdowns. In a way, this display is thanks in part to his 66.6% completion rate and his ability to make an average of 8 yards on a pass. However, his 10 interceptions and 21 sacks endured points to some weaknesses when put under duress, which will be worrisome against the defensive line of James Madison.
James Madison’s Alonza Barnett III adds on with 2598 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and only 24 interceptions. Although his completion percentage of 60% is lower than what Veltkamp can do, Barnett seems to compensate this by minimizing the turnovers. The concern is he is prone to being sacked, having been sacked 34 times losing 227 yards. Who knows, if Western Kentucky can take advantage of this, they would be able to stutter the offensive progression of James Madison.
Hilltoppers’ Resilience Despite Setbacks
Western Kentucky has had a patchy form in the recent past having won three out of their last five matches. Their most recent success came in a tough 19-17 win over Jacksonville State; however, earlier they lost against Liberty (21-38) and Louisiana Tech (7-12) which highlight inconsistencies. The rushing game is led by Elijah Young with a total of 846 yards and Kisean Johnson has 855 receiving yards. Together, they ensure that Western Kentucky’s offense remains versatile and effective.
Dukes’ Battle-Tested Roster
James Madison comes into this matchup with three victories in their last five but did not enjoy considerable success when matched against stronger opponents like Appalachian State and Marshall. Last time out, they suffered a narrow defeat against Marshall, losing 33-35. George Pettaway leads the team in rushing yards with 880, while Yamir Knight adds 567 receiving yards. Balanced and composed, their offense is expected to take advantage of Western Kentucky’s defensive woes.
Trends
Western Kentucky Betting Trends
1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of their last 9 games.
11-4 SU in their last 15 games.
10-3 SU in their last 13 December games
James Madison Betting Trends
2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of their last 8 games.
14-6 SU in their last 20 games.
15-5 SU when playing as favorites.
Western Kentucky vs. James Madison Betting Prediction
This game has the potential of being a fast paced show as Western Kentucky will look to execute the air raid offense while James Madison will focus on a more efficient style. The performance of the Hilltoppers’ offense can fluctuate, which may give the Dukes opportunities. Nevertheless, the Dukes have a better record when backed as the favorites, and their defense is formidable. Therefore, James Madison, to win, is the pick to go with.Â
Considering the -7 spread, James Madison is the favorite on the odds offered by the bookmakers. However, Western Kentucky’s performance in December is all that might make the +7 bet worth it. 53.5 as the revenanted is on the higher side, but considering James Madison’s defense, one would suggest toward the under.
Score Prediction: James Madison 27, Western Kentucky 20.
