Behold the biggest mismatch in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.
Sun Belt champion and Group of Five qualifier James Madison visits Big Ten powerhouse Oregon on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET).
Ahead of kickoff, let’s check out my James Madison vs Oregon predictions.
James Madison vs Oregon Odds
All NCAAF odds used for these James Madison vs Oregon best bets are current as of Friday, Dec. 19, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: James Madison (+1000) vs Oregon (-1800)
- Spread: James Madison +20.5 (-105) vs Oregon -20.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: Over 46.5 (-108) / Under 46.5 (-112)
James Madison vs Oregon Predictions
Score Prediction: Oregon 35, James Madison 10
These are two of four FBS teams to rank in the top 10 in scoring offense and defense. And that’s about where the similarities end.
James Madison and Oregon couldn’t be more different.
The Dukes are 12-1 with a loss to Louisville, the only Power Four team they’ve played this season. Eight of their wins have come by 17 points or more, including a 31-14 victory over Troy in the Sun Belt Championship.
But the Ducks, whose only blemish came against top-ranked Indiana, represent a significant step up in competition.
Are the plucky underdogs ready for the moment? Based on most College Football Playoff predictions, it’d make a fantastic story. However, Oregon is simply too talented.
James Madison vs Oregon Best Bets
Oregon -20.5 (-115)
With a spread of 20.5, this has been billed as the biggest mismatch of any first-round game in CFP history. It makes sense.
James Madison stands among the behemoths as the little engine that could. JMU was dominant in the Sun Belt and is maybe the best in the Group of Five. But it isn’t in the same class as Oregon.
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Autzen Stadium is traditionally a house of horrors for visitors, and Dan Lanning will have the Ducks ready to play after they fell flat against Ohio State in last season’s quarterfinals.
For my college football pick of the day, I’m taking Oregon to put this away early and cover the spread.
Under 46.5 Total Points (-112)
Oregon will score because that’s what Oregon does. The Ducks are ninth in the country in scoring (38.2 points per game) and 13th in total offense.
James Madison compares favorably on paper, albeit against much lesser competition in the Sun Belt.
It’s hard to envision the Dukes scoring enough to push the total above 46.5, especially if they fall behind big early.
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