Saturday, September 30, 2023
South Alabama vs. James Madison (NCAAF) - 12:00 PM EDT Premium Pick
Pick: Money Line: -140 James Madison Rating: 8* Mike's CFB Saturday Strongest Play On The Board (WIN)
Here's a matchup between HC Curt Cignetti's 4-0 Dukes versus Kane Wommack's 2-2 Jaguars in a Sun Belt Conference East versus West tilt. Wommack's crew has been under-achieving & is coming off a last-minute 34-30 loss to a 2-TD underdog & an 0-4 ITS (In The Stats) Jim McElwain's Central Michigan Chippewas' squad who ranks a next to last 132nd versus the pass. In that game, CMU recorded 5 TD drives of 55+ yards & erased a 14-0 Jaguars' lead which raises a red flag for us. On the flip side, James Madison (off a 45-38 win over Utah State where they amassed 512 total yards) has shown some resilience winning 3 straight one-score games all on the road. This is their 1st meeting with South Alabama & come in with a Sun Belt home record of 6-1 SU since joining the FBS last year. What stands out for me in this one is DC Bryant Haines' swarming 3-4 alignment with a STUD back that's produced a whopping 18 sacks thus far this young season. My bottom line says Haines will employ constant pressure against SA QB Carter Bradley (6/3 TD/INT ratio) & force him into some crucial drive-ending turnovers. Look for JM 5th-year OC Mike Shanahan to continue to pile up points (34 PPG) on that side of the ball & force the Jaguars' into a track meet that'll be tough to contend. The Dukes opened up Sun Belt play @ home last season with a convincing 40-13 win over Texas State. Look for playmakers Jordan McCloud QB (9-2 TD/INT ratio), RB's Kaelon Black (5.6 YPR), RB Ty Son Layton (6.0 YPR) & WR & WR Reggie Brown (23.6 YPC) to run up their numbers. Since Cignetti is a stellar 45-8 SU as the skipper of the Dukes, let's call their number as we rocket into Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, VA to play the JAMES MADISON DUKES for 8 Stars on the ML -140 as my CFB Saturday Strongest Play On the Board!
Mike Handzelek's 2023-24 CFB Overall Record: 6-2 for 75% +950 units
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