James Madison 2023 Future Odds: National Championship, Conference, Regular Season Wins and Player Props

Dukes Still Ineligible for Sun Belt Conference Crown

July 10, 2023 328 3 minutes readNCAAF Picks & Parlays

2023 James Madison Stats — EAKIN HOWARD / GETTY IMAGES

The 2022 season has to be considered a successful one for NCAA rankings by appearing in the AP Top 25. James Madison is still ineligible to compete for the Sun Belt Conference title due to the NCAA transition rules. The Dukes would be one of the favorites if allowed to compete for the conference championship. The 2023 James Madison stats could be hard-pressed to match 2022, but the pieces are in place for a successful season.

James Madison At A Glance

Odds to Win	Opening Odds	Current Odds
National Championship	N/A	N/A
Conference	N/A	N/A
Regular Season Win Total	8.0 (o-125, u-105)	8.0 (o-125, u-105)
To Make Playoffs (if applicable)	N/A	N/A

James Madison Reloads on Offense

There’s no doubt the Dukes were hit hard by offensive departures. Quarterback Todd Centeio, the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year, is gone. He threw for 25 touchdowns and rushed for seven more. Also gone is the team’s leading rusher Percy Agyei-Obese and leading receiver Kris Thornton.

But the offensive line returns intact and James Madison has one of the best, if not the best, lines in the conference. Nick Kidwell and Tyler Stephens are the team’s leaders up front.

Replacing Centeio won’t be easy, but the Dukes landed Arizona transfer Jordan McCloud and Brett Griffis, from Wake Forest. McCloud is the more proven of the two and will likely be the man to beat entering fall practice. Those two, along with redshirt freshman Alonza Barnett III and redshirt sophomore Billy Atkins played in the spring game.

Latrele Palmer was the team’s second-leading rusher last season and is back, as is Kaelon Black, who had 28 receptions out of the backfield. With an experienced offensive line, the 2023 James Madison stats for rushing could be just as good as last season.

Reggie Brown had 24 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns last season and he’ll get some help from the transfer portal. The Dukes added several wideouts, including Elijah Surratt, who had 13 receiving TDs for St. Francis.

Most of the defense returns and the Dukes were No. 5 in total defense in the country last year. The defense will again be the driving force behind the team. Linebackers Taurus Jones and Jailin Walker were the team’s leading tacklers a year ago.

The secondary is a bit untested, as many of the teams the Dukes played weren’t good throwing teams. Georgia Southern did throw for more than 550 yards against JMU. Nobody else gained more than 250 yards.

Regular Season Wins: More Games, More Tough Opponents

The South Alabama last season and that’s not the case this year. Both teams were 7-1 in conference games last year. The Dukes visit Troy to open conference play and then host the Jaguars two weeks later.

But there are also some games the Dukes should win without too much trouble. The season opener against Bucknell is one of those games. Games against Georgia State.

James Madison will have its hands full with Virginia, Troy, South Alabama, and NCAAF spreads last season and that could be a tough mark to match. But the Dukes look to be good for eight or nine wins this season.

For Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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July 10, 2023

328 3 minutes read