JMU vs. Oregon Prediction, Odds & Picks: Do the Dukes Have Any Chance at an Upset?

• Both teams only lost one time all year

• JMU had the highest rush rate over expected in the CFP and allowed the third-fewest yards per carry

• Oregon’s only losses the last three seasons were to teams that competed for the national championship or were ranked number one

The James Madison Dukes will represent the G5 in the College Football Playoff when they head to the West Coast to face the Oregon Ducks on Saturday evening.

The 12-1 Dukes’ only loss came in the second week of the season at the hands of Louisville, 28-14. Coach Bob Chesney accepted a new job at UCLA, but he will coach his team of Davids as they look to take down Goliath on Saturday.

On the other side, Oregon’s lone defeat this year was at home against Indiana in the middle of the season. They haven’t beaten many impressive teams, but they have an extremely talented roster and were never given a chance in last year’s bracket, as they lost to the eventual national champions, Ohio State.

Here, we will review the JMU vs. Oregon matchup and discuss the best bets for the first-round CFP action.

JMU vs. Oregon Odds

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JMU vs. Oregon - My Pick

• My pick: JMU +21.5 (-110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

JMU’s ability to clog up the running lanes should coax the Ducks into throwing the ball more than they’re accustomed to. That will still probably work out for them, but JMU has a dual-threat quarterback and a do-it-all running back that could get this team to 14 points, which should be enough for them to cover.

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JMU vs. Oregon Prediction

The 21.5-point spread indicates that the expectations for JMU are small. They didn’t beat a single P4 team all year, and Oregon’s only defeat came at the hands of the number-one team in the country. Still, this is college football, where upsets are an ever-present danger.

James Madison Dukes Preview

The Dukes closed their regular-season campaign by winning 11 straight games, including a 31-14 victory against Troy in the Sun Belt Championship Game. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III can sling it from the pocket, but he can also get loose and take off downfield, racking up 3,077 total yards and 35 total touchdowns to eight interceptions. 

Meanwhile, running back Wayne Knight led the team with 1,263 rushing yards (6.6 yards per carry) and 37 receptions, which he took for 379 yards and a touchdown.

JMU is one of two teams in the CFP that had a rushing rate over expected (RROE) greater than zero, running 5.8 percent more than expected. For context, Oregon is the other team, and they were at 0.8 percent.

While the visitors might be small in stature, they were a commendable 18th in net EPA per play. That was heavily influenced by their defense, which ranked 12th in the category and allowed the third-fewest yards per carry (2.5).

There’s also a proof of concept that JMU players can handle P4 competition, seeing as Curt Cignetti took a bunch of his guys with him to Indiana when he made the move a couple of seasons ago.

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Oregon Ducks Preview

Dan Lanning is one of the most intensely prepared coaches in America. His passion carries over to every game, and he won’t overlook the opportunity to embarrass an opponent and fill his team with confidence before they get into the meatier portion of the playoff bracket.

Oregon was fifth in the country in yards per carry (5.8), a quality that has allowed them to control the majority of games they played. It comes as no surprise that in their only loss, they averaged only 2.7 yards per carry.

Even in the moments when the running game has sputtered or the offense has needed a source of life, QB Dante Moore has been there to deliver. The former UCLA transfer went for 2,733 passing yards, 24 TDs, and six INTs, favoring his 6-foot-3 tight end, Kenyon Sadiq.

The Ducks finished the year fourth in EPA per play, balanced between their fifth- and sixth-place finishes on defense and offense. 

One of the most impressive aspects of Oregon is their team speed. They won’t necessarily win with power, but they fly sideline-to-sideline and play sticky coverage on the back end.

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JMU vs. Oregon Best Promos and Sportsbooks

All of the best online sportsbooks are offering a variety of betting markets for the JMU vs Oregon CFP showdown.

While the odds might be similar or even match, each sportsbook offers something unique to its users. So, always cross-reference odds and offers across multiple sports betting sites to find the best deal for your bet of choice.

Find the latest sportsbook promos and bonuses in our table below. Make sure to apply a valid sportsbook bonus code to maximize your value at top online betting sites.

*21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.

JMU vs. Oregon Injury Report

JMU

• DL Immanuel Bush – Probable

• LB Brandon Fique – Out

• LB Lee Johnson – Out

• OL Cam McNair – Out

• DB Roddrey McWilliams – Probable

• DB Jamal Olford – Out

Oregon

• WR Gary Bryant Jr. – Questionable

• DB Solomon Davis – Out

• WR Kyler Kasper – Out

• DB Sione Laulea – Questionable

• WR Justius Lowe – Out

• DB Trey McNutt – Questionable

• WR Dakorien Moore – Questionable

• RB Da’Jaun Riggs – Out

• WR Evan Stewart – Questionable

• OL Gernorris Wilson – Out

How to Watch JMU vs. Oregon

• When: Saturday, Dec. 22 @ 7:30 p.m. ET

• Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR

• How to Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max