James Madison vs. Appalachian State CFB picks: Upset loss Thursday would derail Dukes' playoff hopes — SkimNews
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- James Madison is one of six FBS unbeatens entering Week 8 and an 11.5-point DraftKings favorite at Appalachian State; it draws 50% of bets but only 24% of handle, while heavy action sits on the Over 56.5.
- SportsLine Projection Model assigns James Madison a 12.2% playoff chance and a 29-21 win projection; a win raises that chance to 17.8%, while a loss drops it to 3.3%.
- George Pettaway leads the Sun Belt with 767 rushing yards and four straight 100-yard games; James Madison ranks third nationally in scoring offense at 42.9 points per game and 19th in scoring defense at 16.0 allowed.
- Appalachian State needs a win to reach the Sun Belt title game and is +1400 to do so against James Madison at -1400; in 2023, it upset the then-No. 18, 10-0 Dukes 26-23 in overtime.
- Malachi Singleton is questionable after leaving last week’s 35-32 road win injured; he has 1,429 passing yards and seven touchdowns, while Henry Hasselbeck threw for 112 yards with a touchdown and rushed for 125 yards in relief.
- Appalachian State leads the Sun Belt and ties for seventh nationally with nine interceptions, while its 11 takeaways rank among the top 20; James Madison ranks second in the conference at 114.3 rushing yards per game.
- FanDuel prices the recommended same-game parlay at +127, subject to change: Mountaineers alternate +15.5 and alternate Under 61.5, even as the model projects a 29-21 James Madison victory.
Why it matters: James Madison has the sharper postseason stakes: the model assigns a 12.2% playoff chance now, with a win lifting it to 17.8% and a loss dropping it to 3.3%. For Appalachian State, only a Thursday win opens a route to the Sun Belt title game.
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