Boca Raton Bowl, Western Kentucky vs James Madison: NCAA Football Best Bets (12/18)

The Boca Raton Bowl is going down early this evening as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers take on the James Madison Dukes at 5:30 eastern tonight. Both teams finished 8-4 in the regular season, with WKU losing in the CUSA Championship game to add another loss to their record. However, both teams are coming off losses, and as always with these bowl games, motivation might be scarce.

The Dukes were 8-2 before losing back to back games to Appalachian State and Marshall (Double OT), to go 8-4 and miss the Sun Belt Championship. However they are in this bowl game tonight, but are missing starting QB Alzona Barnett, leaving Billy Atkins to guide the offense tonight.

The Hilltoppers list of transfers is much longer than JMU’s, however plenty will probably see the field. Five offensive and defensive starters are in the portal for WKU, including QB Caden Veltkamp, but he has indicated he will play in the bowl. Many WKU players have been in the portal and played in the bowl before, so I don’t see it being much different tonight. Let’s get into it and find our best bets in Boca Raton!

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Western Kentucky vs James Madison: Boca Raton Bowl

Matchup Information – Western Kentucky vs James Madison

• Venue & Location: FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, FL)
• Date: Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
• Kick Off: 5:30pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN

Betting Odds

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Spread

• Western Kentucky +7.5 (-115)
• James Madison -7.5 (-105)

Money Line

• Western Kentucky +240
• James Madison -285

Total

• Over 50 (-110)
• Under 50 (-110)

Hilltoppers and Dukes Meet in Boca Raton

Head Coach, Tyson Helton, confirmed that Veltkamp will play in the bowl game. Their back up QB, TJ Finley, has already committed to Tulane, while the starter is undecided, leaving me to think we see Veltkamp for nearly all of this ball game. Now along with the potential opt outs, WKU is suffering from a couple key injuries as well.

Offensive linemen, Travon Taylor was injured in the last regular season matchup, and was not there to protect the blind side in the CUSA Championship. Top CB Anthony Johnson Jr also missed the title game and his status is up in the air. Defensively for the Dukes, top LB Jacob Dobbs who leads the team in tackles despite sitting the past four games is likely to return for this one.

Ultimately, I do see James Madison being the much more motivated team, which is a key factor in betting bowl games for me. However that thinking certainly didn’t workout with Memphis yesterday.

Western Kentucky vs James Madison Best Bets

Western Kentucky vs James Madison Prediction: No Side, Over 50

Best Bets: WKU/JMU Over 50 (-110) BetOnline

There is very little reason to like either side in this game, but I see no reason to back the defenses. Against the Top teams in the Sun Belt conference, James Madison has given up 28, 32, 34, and 35 points in those games. They’ve allowed 30+ in 3 straight and with Veltkamp playing, WKU should be able to move the ball.

As for Western Kentucky, they have not looked solid their past few weeks. They gave up 38 points to Liberty, won an essentially meaningless game for Jacksonville State against the Gamecocks, and then got killed by Jax State in the conference championship, giving up 52 to a not very good offense. I see little defense being played tonight and instead the focus being on letting whomever takes the field show out in the season finale.

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