James Madison Dukes Odds

James Madison Dukes 2025 Season Preview

Since joining FBS in 2022, James Madison football has been a problem for just about everyone they’ve faced. The Dukes went 11-1 in 2023, then followed that up with a solid 9-4 season in 2024, including a 31-24 win over Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl.

The 2024 season was Bob Chesney’s first as head coach after Curt Cignetti left for Indiana. Chesney didn’t just hold it together, he delivered. The offense found rhythm behind JC Evans and George Pettaway, while the defense did enough to keep the Dukes competitive across a tough Sun Belt slate.

Heading into 2025, James Madison is finally free of transition-year restrictions and fully embedded in the FBS landscape. They rank No. 52 nationally in our college football betting power ratings, with a power rating of 75.0, just behind Virginia Tech and just ahead of Tulane.

Here’s how to bet on James Madison football this year, alongside other information.

Betting on James Madison

There are several ways to bet on James Madison football this season, including game-to-game markets such as moneylines, point spreads and totals (the over/under).

For more odds, check out our college football odds page.

Betting James Madison Moneylines

Since joining FBS, the Dukes are a stellar 22–5 on the moneyline, including their bowl win. That's a lot of green for anyone backing them straight up over the past two years.

Here’s how a hypothetical moneyline bet might look at a sportsbook like DraftKings or FanDuel:

• James Madison ML: -120
• Louisiana ML: +100

The minus and plus signs distinguish the favorite from the underdog. In this example, James Madison is the favorite.

A $120 bet on JMU would return $100 profit if they win. A $100 bet on Louisiana would return $100 profit if the upset hits.

For more moneyline odds, check out our college football odds page.

Betting James Madison Point Spreads

Typically, bettors play the point spread when betting teams rather than the moneyline.

A point spread wager is a bet on a team’s margin of victory or defeat, making it the great equalizer in sports betting. Even top-tier teams hover around 50 percent against the spread.

Here’s how a point spread bet might look at sportsbooks like bet365 or BetMGM:

• James Madison -2.5 (-110)
• Louisiana +2.5 (-110)

JMU needs to win by at least 3 points to cover. At -110 odds, you’d need to wager $110 to win $100.

Louisiana would need to win outright or lose by two points or fewer to cover. Either way, your payout setup stays the same.

If you’re still not sure how to price your wagers, check our odds calculator to do the math for you. Also, we recommend you read up how to use American odds before placing any future wagers.

Betting James Madison Totals

There are three major markets in sports betting: the moneyline, spread, and over/under. Let’s talk totals.

A totals wager is simply a bet on how many total points both teams will score.

Take this real example from the end of the 2023 season: James Madison vs. Coastal Carolina. The total was set at 51.5 points.

• Over 51.5 (-110)
• Under 51.5 (-110)

JMU won the game 56-14. That’s 70 total points, so the over hit with ease. A $110 bet on the over would have returned $100 in profit.

The Dukes tend to score in bunches, but their defense is strong enough to keep opponents in check. That makes totals a fun market to follow, especially in matchups against high-tempo Sun Belt teams.

James Madison Player Props & More

College football player props vary depending on your state’s regulations, but when they’re available, expect to see:

• Passing yards for JC Evans
• Rushing yard totals for George Pettaway
• Anytime touchdown scorer odds for key skill players

If prop markets aren’t available where you live, check out PrizePicks, a DFS-style site (Daily Fantasy Sports) that lets you build entries around individual player stats.

Props are especially useful in JMU matchups with clear mismatches (think App State or ULM) where offensive starters may pile up yards early.