Boca Raton Bowl Preview: James Madison Dukes vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024

The Boca Raton Bowl is a great college football betting opportunity that will feature the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-5) and the James Madison Dukes (8-4) on Wednesday, December 18 at 5:30 PM ET at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. The Boca Raton Bowl betting odds reveal the Dukes favored with a point spread at -7.0 (-105).

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Preview

The Hilltoppers have gone 2-3 in their latest five matchups, with a recent 52-12 thrashing defeat against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Prior to that battle, they played the same Gamecocks the first time and won 19-17.

They were a huge disappointment in the Conference USA Championship, especially after defeating the Gamecocks the week prior. With a 28-3 deficit heading into the third quarter, you could tell the Gamecocks were not done adding up points. Caden Veltkamp completed 18 of 30 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, but he will need to be sharper here.

Offensively they produced 229 yards, 17 first downs, and had two turnovers. Their defense allowed 562 yards and 26 first downs without forcing a turnover. They also allowed the Gamecocks to have the ball for just under 35.5 minutes.

The Hilltoppers have a narrow margin of victory, which starts with their offense at 25.5 points a game and ranks 88th in the nation. Defensively, they are allowing 24.5 points a game, ranking 65th.

James Madison Dukes Betting Preview

The Dukes have lost their last two games, both of which they have allowed 30-plus points from their opponents. Their latest loss was a 35-33 double-overtime thriller against the Marshall Thundering Herd.

They were down 17-0 after the first half, but funny enough, the Dukes put up a 17-0 run to end the third quarter to tie it up leading into the fourth. Alonza Barnett III only missed five of his 19 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, but also had an interception.

Surprisingly, the Dukes were better on paper for total yards (382), first downs (22), and had possession of the ball for about 35.5 minutes. As you can see, missed opportunities getting close to the endzone affected them since they were not able to convert more opportunities.

The Dukes are producing 33.8 points a game and rank 24th. Their defense has allowed 20.8 points a game and currently ranks 27th. This is a much more appealing margin of error in comparison to the Hilltoppers.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie has the Boca Raton Bowl odds for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes showdown, which has the Dukes as seven-point favorites. In addition, market insights suggest the Dukes have a 72.5 percent chance of winning.

The Dukes have a slightly better strength of schedule ranking to compare them against the Hilltoppers and a more appealing spread from their wins. Look for the Dukes to cover the spread. 

Final Pick: James Madison Dukes -7.0 (-105)

Note: This pick and article has been written by one of our Spooky Express writers. This is NOT the legendary “Spooky Express Bowling for Dollars Picks”.  Those picks can be found in the link posted above, normally on the day of the bowl game. Leverage the knowledge of seasoned pro “Spooky” and elevate your sports betting experience to a new level!