NCAAF Armed Forces Bowl No. 24 JMU vs Air Force FREE PICK
Matt Dominique | December 20, 2023
It’s the 24th-ranked James Madison Dukes (11-1 7-1 Sun Belt) making their bowl debut Saturday afternoon, opposing the Air Force Falcons (8-4, 5-3 Mountain West) at the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth.
JMU was one of the best stories in college football this season, only stumbling against Appalachian St. in overtime at home in the 11th game.
Air Force would have been in line to get a better bowl bid, but losing four games in a row after an 8-0 start relegated the Falcons to Fort Worth.
Something has to give, as the Dukes can stop the run, which is the Academy’s bread and butter.
James Madison is a 2½-point favorite (total of 41), according to college football odds.
Moneylines is Dukes -130, Falcons at +110.
It’s the first meeting between the programs.
Introducing the Dukes
The James Madison Dukes, just two seasons as a major college program, offer one of the more potent offenses in the nation (34.9 points per game, 15th in NCAA). They’ve done the bulk of their work through the air (297.3 yards/game, 14th in nation).
Quarterback Jordan McCloud (3,400 yards, 32 touchdowns, nine interceptions) has a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Elijah Sarrett (1,076 yards and Reggie Brown (1,010 yards). The tandem had a combined 125 receptions and 17 touchdowns.
Teams don’t run on JMU, which surrenders a nation’s-stingiest 61⅕ yards/game, Herein lies the theme of the game, as the Falcons of Air Force live by the rush.
Falcons Faltered Late
As was mentioned, the Air Force Falcons began the season 8-0, but plummeted with four losses in a row. The skid started with a poor, 20-point home loss to Army, then at Hawaii, home against UNLV and at Boise St.
It’s no secret what the Academy does, 266.8 rush yards/game (second in nation). Emmanuel Michel (747 yards, nine touchdowns) leads the way on a team with 33 ground touchdowns.
Quarterback Zachar Larrier has more than 1,300 air/ground yards (11 touchdowns).
Defensively, it’s a top-15 outfit (18.9 points/game), though the Falcons have been much more porous late in the season, having surrendered 85 points in the last three.
Dukes of All
There are any number of props, as per James Madison vs. Air Force wagers.
Having struggled mightily late in the season, it’s difficult to endorse the Air Force Falcons, even in the aptly-named Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force wasn’t making stops and blew leads, even against mediocre teams in the Mountain West.
James Madison University is no longer a surprise, as the Dukes emerged as a solid all-around team this season.
Figuring this first-ever bowl game means more to the Dukes than it does the reeling Falcons, JMU -2½ is the choice in Texas. Go over as well.
