One of the biggest tragedies of the college football season was James Madison making the playoff. Well, at least if you hate the sport. The Dukes are big underdogs against Oregon, and they’re looking to overcome the odds.
Our James Madison vs. Oregon prediction explores how PFSN’s grading system frames this matchup, breaking down unit-by-unit strengths and weaknesses, reviewing the recent history between the programs, and mapping out how various game scripts could unfold without actually naming a specific winner or final score.
James Madison vs. Oregon Details
- Date:Â Saturday, Dec. 20
- Game time:Â 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location:Â Autzen Stadium | Eugene, OR
- Predicted weather at kick: 50°, Clear
- How to watch:Â TNT, HBO Max, truTV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Fubo TV
James Madison vs. Oregon Head-to-Head Record
While it’s only been four seasons for James Madison at the FBS level, they’ve wasted little time finding success. The Dukes are 44-10 in their four seasons, so it’s not a huge surprise to see them in the College Football Playoff.
Even as an FCS team, the Dukes and Ducks haven’t played each other. The first meeting between these two shouldn’t be a surprise given their geographical separation, and the stakes couldn’t be higher to start the series.
James Madison vs. Oregon Grades
- James Madison (77.5, C+)
- Oregon (86.6, B)
- James Madison (88.4, B+)
- Oregon (85.1, B)
- James Madison (80.8, B-)
- Oregon (91.4, A-)
- Alonza Barnett III (79.2, C+)
- Dante Moore (85.9, B)
- Wayne Knight (79.6, C+)
- Jordon Davison (82, B-)
- Landon Ellis (74.8, C)
- Malik Benson (79.2, C+)
- Lacota Dippre (75.5, C)
- Kenyon Sadiq (82.2, B-)
- Sahir West (74.4, C)
- Teitum Tuioti (81.9, B-)
- Immanuel Bush (71.4, C-)
- A’Mauri Washington (79, C+)
- Trent Hendrick (72.4, C-)
- Bryce Boettcher (79.2, C+)
- DJ Barksdale (81.6, B-)
- Brandon Finney Jr. (84.9, B)
- Tyler Brown (88, B+)
- Dillon Thieneman (85.5, B)
James Madison vs. Oregon Prediction
Everyone expects Oregon to win this game, and they expect them to win by a lot. The Group of Five continues to be a topic of discussion, and the Dukes have pressure to show they belong in the playoff.
It won’t be easy, but Alonza Barnett III must play his best game. The Ducks’ defensive line is the best unit the Dukes faced this year, so Barnett’s mobility helps tremendously. If Oregon swarms the pocket, it could be a long night.
One of the forgotten units in the playoff is James Madison’s defensive line. The Dukes are one of the best teams at getting to the quarterback (ninth in the country in sacks), and must continue that trend against one of the best offensive lines in the country.
This is a massive opportunity for the Dukes, and they have nothing to lose. Oregon’s a formidable opponent, and the Ducks are a motivated team. After last year’s disappointing playoff performance, Oregon’s ready to make a statement even against a big underdog.
Prediction: Oregon 34, James Madison 13
