Pinnacle  +21 -115   BET365   +21 -115  Sportsinteraction  +21 -115 888port  +21 -115

Posted at 9:00 AM ET. Odds are subject to change

James Madison +21 over OREGON

Autzen Stadium – Eugene, OR

College Football Playoff – First Round

7:30 PM ET. The Dukes’ path to the College Football Playoff has been dissected and criticized from every angle. When Duke upset #13 Virginia in the ACC Championship, it triggered a chain reaction that elevated multiple Group-of-Five champions into playoff spots under the current format. James Madison meanwhile did exactly what it was supposed to do: it went out and won the Sun Belt Championship, beating Troy to cement its résumé. The end result sparked outrage, debate, and a widespread belief that the Dukes are only here because of protocol and technicality. That belief is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here.

Oregon is garnered as a national title contender — and maybe they are. The Ducks have speed, depth, and one of the most intimidating home environments in college football. But this spread isn’t just about Oregon being good; it’s about James Madison being dismissed. When a team is written off as undeserving, the number attached to the favorite tends to grow beyond what’s necessary. And James Madison isn’t some wide-eyed newcomer. This is a program with a pedigree of excellence in the FCS and has shown repeatedly it can handle hostile settings and elevated competition. Earlier this season, the Dukes went into Louisville and lost by 13 — a game that remained competitive throughout. Louisville, at the time, was firmly in the ACC title picture and was ranked inside the Top 15 at one point this season. That’s evidence that this team can roll up its sleeves and not bat an eye. But we don’t need James Madison to win this game. We don’t need them to shock the world or validate the playoff committee. We need them to do something far more realistic: play disciplined football and show why they have that ranking to begin with.

Oregon can still win comfortably. They may even advance deep into this tournament. But this idea that James Madison will be overwhelmed simply because of the logo on the helmet ignores what this team has already proven. The Dukes will be motivated, they are battle-tested, and catching an inflated number driven by perception, not substance. That’s value. Grab the points.

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