James Madison vs. Troy prediction, odds: 2026 Week 9 college football Thursday picks from proven model — SkimNews
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- SportsLine simulated James Madison vs. Troy 10,000 times and landed on the Over 49.5, projecting 52 combined points with the over hitting in 58% of simulations.
- James Madison enters at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Sun Belt play as a 19.5-point favorite, hosting Troy at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday at Zane Showker Field at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va.
- Camden Coleman has quarterbacked the Dukes to that strong start, though James Madison comes off a tough road loss at Appalachian State last week.
- Troy arrives 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play and has scored at least 14 points in two of its last three games, including 17 against Missouri earlier this year.
- James Madison leads the Sun Belt in scoring at 41.4 points per game and has cleared the 49.5 total in four of its last five games, a pace the source says the market hasn't fully adjusted to.
- SportsLine entered Week 9 on a 68-59 run against top-rated college football picks, returning nearly $400 for every $100 wagered, while the spread side hitting in nearly 60% of simulations is withheld behind a SportsLine link.
Why it matters: James Madison's 41.4 points per game tops the Sun Belt, and four of its last five games cleared 49.5, so the model's 52-point projection rests on the league's best offense rather than a hunch. For bettors, the 58% over rate and a 68-59 record worth nearly $400 per $100 are its case, while the spread pick stays behind a SportsLine link.
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