Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-5) vs. James Madison Dukes (8-4)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes December 18 2024 – A great match-up and quite possibly the game to look out for is the one between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the James Madison Dukes; in the end, it is the turn of the Boca Raton Bowl. Western Kentucky and James Madison will both be looking to go into this game with a lot of great scoring and a solid defense game plan. Western Kentucky’s ending record stands at 8-5 due in large part to the great performances from Caden Veltkamp at Quarterback. James Madison comes in with a record of 8-4, which is different as Alonza Barnett III managed to put up decent performances throwing the ball, and George Pettaway complemented him very well with a great running game. With both teams keen to end the season on a high note, it will be interesting to see who will come out on top at FAU Stadium.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes December 18 2024 Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 5:30 PM ET |
| Where: | FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Western Kentucky | +195 | +7 (-110) | Over 53.5 (-110) |
| James Madison | -230 | -7 (-110) | Under 53.5 (-110) |
The Dukes are the favorite to win the match, with a deficit of seven points, which shows their level of instruction during the whole season. At the same time, Dukes are at odds of -23,0, which shows that they stand a better chance at winning. This rate shows Western Kentucky’s fans their moneyline of +19,5, which is a good return on risk for them. The total of 53.5 also shows that a high number of goals are anticipated, and therefore, whether to bet on the over and under will be a difficult decision to make.
Caden Veltkamp QB vs. Alonza Barnett III QB
Western Kentucky’s Caden Veltkamp has had quite the year, as he amassed 23 touchdowns, completed 66.6% of his passes and racked up a total of 2806 passing yards this season. He has shown a knack for being able to figure out how to throw the deep ball as he recorded a passing touchdown with a distance of 74 yards, but the 10 interceptions he recorded on the other hand, raised questions about his ball security. Veltkamp is likely to face a steady Dukes defense, which means that he will have to be careful or rather perfect in his passing as well as ensure he does not fumble the ball.
On the other hand, Alonza Barnett III of James Madison threw for 2598 yards and was able to get 26 touchdowns while only throwing 4 interceptions. His interception rate was lower at 60%, but his passing decisions were easily his best feature. In the passing game, under constant pressure, he has shown some weakness, as he has suffered 34 sacks, something that the Hilltoppers would attempt to take full advantage of. Expect Barnett’s performance in the red zone to determine the outcome of the game.
Western Kentucky’s Offensive Spark Amid Inconsistencies
The Hilltoppers come into this bowl with a mixed bag of results, beating Jacksonville State (19-17) and New Mexico State (41-28) but succumbing to Liberty and Louisiana Tech. Running back Elijah Young has been solid with 846 rushing yards and hitting the air; receiver Kisean Johnson has seven touchdowns to his name. While Western Kentucky continues to struggle with finding consistency, their offense can explode out of nowhere.
James Madison’s Resilience in Tough Contests
The Dukes are refusing to quit, even after their recent defeats to Marshall and Appalachian State by final scores of 35-33 and 34-20 respectively. Dukes’ victories over Old Dominion and Georgia State showed the offensive potential of Pettaway, who rushed for 880 yards and Knight, who caught four touchdowns. To defeat Western Kentucky, James Madison will need to maintain the same balanced approach while continuing to improve their defensive backs.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends
The Hilltoppers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games, a troubling trend for bettors. However, they are 10-3 SU in December games, showcasing their postseason grit. The total has gone over in five of their last six games against Sun Belt opponents, suggesting a high-scoring affair.
James Madison Dukes Betting Trends
The Dukes are 2-4 ATS in their last six games but boast a solid 15-5 SU record as favorites. Their games often trend under the total, hitting this mark in six of their last eight matchups. Bettors should consider the Dukes’ reliability when laying points.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes Betting Previews
The game features two teams that are able to score from anywhere and will make this match entertaining. James Madison is a safer bet since they have a good record as favorites but Western Kentucky at +195 offers some value to punters as they are an underdog and their offense might turn up in this match.
Given how good both teams are offensively, the over 53.5 is attractive with props putting the ball in the hands of Johnson or Pettaway also making sense to some extent. Even though James Madison is the favorite, the match is expected to be close.
Score Prediction: James Madison Dukes 31, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 27..
