Washington State Cougars vs. JMU Dukes Picks and Prediction for Saturday, November 22nd, 2025
Use Code WWWC The Washington State Cougars (5-5) are making a long trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to face the James Madison Dukes (9-1) on Saturday.
Read more about this Washington State vs. James Madison prediction. This will be the first-ever head-to-head meeting between these schools. Check out more college football winners at Winners and Whiners, along with free picks in the other major sports this weekend.
Stingy on defense
Following a disappointing and dull 10-7 road loss to Oregon State, Washington State got back on track last weekend with a dominant 28-3 win over Louisiana Tech. They outgained the Bulldogs 303 to 167 total yards in the win and allowed just 60 passing yards. The Cougars are now close to getting in position for a bowl game with two games remaining.
Offensively, Washington State hasn’t been explosive, ranking 121st nationally in total offense (309.9 yards per game) and just 116th in scoring (20.7 points per game). Senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus has thrown for 1,392 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, completing 65.6% of his passes. The Cougars rely heavily on Eckhaus not making mistakes and their defense, as their rushing attack ranks 120th in the FBS with just 110.3 yards per game.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
On the other side of the ball, the Cougars rank 16th in total defense (304.1 yards allowed per game) and 12th against the pass (168.9 ypg). They’ve held opponents to just 21 points per game, ranking 31st nationally.
Strong season for JMU
The James Madison Dukes are quietly having an outstanding season. The team is on an eight-game winning streak following their only blemish which came in a 28-14 loss to Louisville on September 5. The Dukes have gone 3-1 against the spread in their last four wins, most recently dominating Appalachian State 58-10 as a 21-point favorite.
On the season, the Dukes are 22nd in the country, averaging 457.3 yards per game of total offense. The rushing attack leads the way with 241.6 yards per game (8th) and they are 15th scoring 37.1 ppg. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III has thrown for 2,089 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also added 12 touchdowns and 396 yards on the ground. Leading the rushing attack is Wayne Knight with 840 rushing yards.
The defense has been elite as well, ranking 11th with 16.2 ppg and fifth with 257.1 yards per game allowed. They are almost equally dominant against the run and pass.
Washington State Cougars at JMU Predictions
Washington State vs JMU ATS Pick:
-
JMU -13.5 (4 units)
Although JMU is the better team, and even though the Pac-12 is basically down to two teams and no longer a real power conference, the prestige of Washington State still carries weight. That alone will give the Dukes some extra motivation. They’re sitting at 9-1 and still flying under the radar, fighting for national respect.
As for Washington State, they’ve got Oregon State at home next, and you can tell that’s the game they’re looking ahead to. This is also a tough spot travel-wise with the trip back to Virginia. And while the Cougars are solid defensively, so are the Dukes. The difference is that James Madison also brings an elite offense to the table.
I like JMU to cover.
Washington State vs JMU Total Pick:
-
Over 42.5 (3 units)
Although both teams don't give up much, this total is too low for me to go under. The Washington State defense has been extremely stingy lately, and this James Madison team at home is going to be tough for them to slow down. Washington State has managed to score
Betting on College Football?
- Bet with other College Football fans at the best sportsbooks
- Sign up today and get started with the latest college football sportsbook promos
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
