Under the leadership of head coach Tyson Helton, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are going to a bowl game for the sixth consecutive year. Meanwhile, first-year head coach Bob Chesney is leading the James Madison Dukes to a bowl game for the second consecutive year. Specifically, James Madison is in its third College Football Betting season as an FBS program. Western Kentucky and James Madison will clash in the Boca Raton Bowl from FAU Stadium, home of the Owls, in Boca Raton, FL. Current Indiana coach Curt Cignetti exceptionally built James Madison.
Boca Raton Bowl WKU Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes
| Date and Time: | Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 5:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky | +9 -110 | 52½ -110 | +255 |  |
| James Madison | -9 -110 | 52½ -110 | -310 | |
| ||||
Boca Raton Bowl Overview
At the onset, this bowl was founded in 2015. The Boca Raton Bowl is played at Florida Atlantic University Stadium, home of the FAU Owls.
Previously, The Boca Raton Bowl is where BYU quarterback Zach Wilson became the second-ranked quarterback for the NFL Draft. In the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl, Wilson was 26-34 passing, good for 425 yards and three touchdowns. Subsequently, Wilson was the second player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, following Trevor Lawrence of Clemson.
In 2022, Toledo beat Liberty 21-19, holding after taking a 21-7 lead. Liberty failed on a 2-point conversion with 3:40 to play, falling just short of forcing overtime. IN sum, Jacquez Stuart ran for 111 yards to lead Toledo. Dequan Finn threw for 133 yards and a TD to pace the Rockets. Correlate that Finn was the game’s MVP.
In 2023, Byrum Brown threw three touchdown passes. Also, he became the second USF quarterback with 4,000 total yards in a season. Brown led the Bulls to a 45-0 rout of undermanned Syracuse. Brown, a redshirt freshman, closed out his outstanding season with 4,101 total yards. Previously, Quinton Flowers had 4,339 for the Bulls in 2016. USF finished above .500 for the first time since 2018. The shutout was the Bulls’ first since 2009 against Charleston Southern.
WKU Hilltoppers Team Overview
Last game, the WKU Hilltoppers lost 52-19 against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks as 4-point road dogs. The game went over the sportsbook total of 59.5. WKU has a record of 8-5 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the total. WKU ranks 76th for total offense, 32nd for passing, 109th for rushing, and 88th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 95th overall, 11th against the pass, 130th against the rush, and 65th for points allowed. Also, WKU ranks 107th for fewest turnovers lost and 62nd for takeaways.
James Madison Dukes Team Overview
Last game, the James Madison Dukes lost 35-33 to the Marshall Thundering Herd as 3.5-point home favorites. The game went over a College Football Betting total of 52.5. James Madison has a record of 8-4 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 4-8 over/under the total. James Madison ranks 49th for total offense, 79th for passing, 30th for rushing, and 24th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 25th overall, 37th against the pass, 33rd against the rush, and 27th for points allowed. Also, James Madison ranks 13th for fewest turnovers lost and 7th for takeaways.
Boca Raton Bowl SBG Free Picks
As mentioned earlier, James Madison has superior metrics on both sides of the line.
Boca Raton Bowl SBG Best Bet: James Madison Dukes.