The final game of the opening round in the College Football Playoff takes place out west in Eugene when the 12-1 Sun Belt Champion James Madison Dukes head to Autzen Stadium to play the 11-1 Oregon Ducks. The ball will fly at 7:30 pm ET on TNT, and the winner will advance to the Orange Bowl to play the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
To get you set for this playoff matchup, here are my favorite bets for James Madison vs. Oregon.
James Madison Dukes vs. Oregon Ducks odds
Money line: James Madison +1000 / Oregon -2000
Spread: James Madison +21 (-115) / Oregon -21(-105)
Total: Over 46.5 (-110) / Under 46.5 (-110)
James Madison Dukes vs. Oregon Ducks best bet #1: James Madison +21 (-115)
Some would argue that James Madison doesn’t belong on the same field as Oregon, and while that may be true in some capacity, this game profiles as one in which the Dukes can hang around. Both James Madison and Oregon are methodical in their offensive approach, ranking outside the top 100 in seconds per play this season while deploying top-40 rush rates since Week 9. Both teams also perform admirably on standard downs, which sets their respective offenses up for more manageable third-down opportunities.
As such, I’m expecting fewer possessions in this matchup compared to the average college football game, as well as a running clock for a majority of the contest. Grabbing the points with this big of an underdog in a game with a total in the mid-40s is already attractive enough, but when you add in the playing style of each team, grabbing the key number of +21 makes a ton of sense.
James Madison Dukes vs. Oregon Ducks best bet #2: Braeden Wisloski anytime touchdown scorer (+450)
If we like James Madison to cover the number, we have to like the Dukes to score at least one or two touchdowns on Saturday. The issue is that while JMU is a run-heavy team, Oregon has a great run-stopping defense. The Ducks haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown to a running back since their Week 8 game against Rutgers, and they have succeeded at containing mobile quarterbacks for the most part. Therefore, the Dukes are going to have to produce through the air if they want any chance at covering –much less of pulling off the upset. That’s where Braeden Wisloski comes in. The junior wide receiver’s target share is fairly low, but he makes the most of his opportunities to say the least. His four touchdowns were all scored from the beginning of November on, and that number leads the team over that stretch.
It’s not going to be easy for the Dukes to get into the red zone — but when they do, they will have a great opportunity to score. Oregon is 126th in red-zone scoring allowed, surrendering 18 touchdowns on 24 opposing red-zone trips. That may not even come into play if Wisloski can break one for a long touchdown. He does have big-play upside, producing a catch of at least 25 yards in six games despite only 20 receptions this year.