James Madison at Georgia Southern
STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — James Madison will put its unbeaten record on the line Saturday when the Dukes visit Georgia Southern for an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.
James Madison enters at 5-0. Georgia Southern is 2-3. The weather forecast for game time is 66 degrees.
The Dukes are coming off a 45-17 home win over Marshall on Saturday. Quarterback Camden Coleman completed 21 of 32 passes for 263 yards and accounted for three touchdowns while adding 45 rushing yards. George Pettaway ran 14 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and Nick Herman added 46 rushing yards, one reception for 5 yards and a touchdown.
Coleman has been productive throughout the season. He completed 24 of 42 passes for 243 yards and accounted for four touchdowns while rushing for 17 yards against Old Dominion. At San Diego State, he completed 19 of 27 passes for 246 yards and accounted for three scores while rushing for 25 yards. James Madison also has wins over Old Dominion, San Diego State, Wagner and Liberty.
Georgia Southern will look to quarterback Max Johnson. In the Eagles’ 31-24 win at Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Johnson completed 18 of 29 passes for 233 yards, rushed twice for 13 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Against Houston, he completed 26 of 38 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Weston Bryan added 88 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries against Coastal Carolina, while David Mbadinga ran eight times for 55 yards and caught two passes for 9 yards.
James Madison opened the season with a 20-13 win over Liberty, then beat Wagner 87-3, San Diego State 26-13 and Old Dominion 46-20 before the Marshall win. Georgia Southern beat Charleston Southern 31-0, lost at Clemson 22-7, lost 31-27 at Jacksonville State and lost to Houston 42-28 before winning at Coastal Carolina 31-24. James Madison has outscored opponents 224-66 this season. Georgia Southern has scored 124 points and allowed 119. The Dukes have scored at least 20 points in every game and have reached 45 points three times. Georgia Southern has scored at least 27 points in four games.
James Madison’s defense has allowed 20 points or fewer in all five games. The Eagles’ next game is at Old Dominion, while James Madison next hosts Georgia State.
The Interstat game simulator projects a final score of James Madison 53, Georgia Southern 26. Georgia Southern has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -7.5. The over/under for the game is 51.5.