James Madison vs. Troy prediction, odds: 2026 Week 9 college football Thursday picks from proven model — SkimNews
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- James Madison hosts Troy at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday at Zane Showker Field at Bridgeforth Stadium; the Dukes enter at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Sun Belt play, Troy at 3-4 and 1-2, with James Madison a 19.5-point favorite and the over/under at 50.5 in the latest odds.
- SportsLine Projection Model selects Over 50.5 after 10,000 simulations, projects 52 combined points and assigns the over a 58% hit rate, arguing that the market has not fully adjusted to the Dukes’ scoring pace.
- SportsLine Projection Model also finds one side of the spread hitting in nearly 60% of simulations, but the article does not name that side; the surrounding paragraph inconsistently says the model is “going Under” on the total.
- James Madison tops Sun Belt scoring at 41.4 points per game, and four of its past five games have cleared the total.
- Troy has scored at least 14 points in two of its past three games and 17 against Missouri earlier this year, though the Trojans do not have James Madison’s same level of firepower.
- Camden Coleman has led James Madison to a 7-1 record and a 4-1 Sun Belt mark, with the Dukes coming off a tough road loss to Appalachian State.
- SportsLine entered Week 9 on a 68-59 run with its top-rated college football picks and returned nearly $400 for every $100 staked.
Why it matters: For bettors, the Over 50.5 carries a 58% simulation rate and a 52-point projection; SportsLine’s college football record stands at nearly $400 returned per $100 staked. James Madison’s 41.4-point scoring average and Troy’s two recent 14-point-or-better outings are the stated numbers behind the selection.
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