James Madison’s head coach Curt Cignetti looks at the scoreboard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia on Saturday, August 31, 2019, in Morgantown, West Virginia. (AP Photo / Raymond Thompson)
- James Madison (4-0) will face Richmond (3-0) at Robins Stadium in Virginia on Saturday
- Despite important questions in the quarterback position, the Dukes remain the best-placed team in the FCS Top 25
- Check out the odds, the spread, and a look at the game in the story below
Get ready for a battle of the undefeated at Robins Stadium this weekend. Richmond welcomes James Madison in a game aired on NBC Sports Washington in the DMV area. The dukes are considered convincing favorites and have won the last four games between the two teams.
While the term “rivalry game” can sometimes be tossed around too generously in college football, this fits the description.
It’s such a good game that it hosted ESPN College GameDay in 2015. James Madison has a 19-18 lead.
James Madison versus Richmond odds
| team | Spread the word at DraftKings | Moneyline | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison | -10.5 (-105) | -385 | O 52.5 (-110) |
| Richmond | +10.5 (-115) | +290 | U 52.5 (-110) |
Chances of winning from April 1st
James Madison Looking for Answers at Quarterback
It’s not often a top-ranked, unbeaten team that is undecided in such an important position. James Madison’s head coach Curt Cignetti hasn’t announced who will start at the quarterback and this doesn’t seem like a trick.
Here’s the rundown for the Dukes when it comes to QB1. Cole Johnson lost the starting job to Junior Gage Maloney. The program was then hit hard by COVID-19 and two games were postponed.
When they returned to William & Mary, Maloney was not available and Johnson was exceptional. He finished 16 for 22 for 220 yards and a touchdown. With both quarterbacks now available, the coach can’t seem to decide who deserves the gig.
JMU got all 23 votes in first place to stay in first place in the @ WeAreAFCA trainer survey. https://t.co/2gU8t1xzaB
– JMU Football (@JMUFootball) March 30, 2021
Anyone who gets the job at quarterback has a full stable of running backs to lean on. JMU defeated William & Mary 38-10, despite missing out on running back Perci Agyei-Obese and his two substitutes Latrele Palmer and Soloman Vanhorse. All three defenders are expected to play this weekend which is good news for the Dukes.
Once Cignetti has decided on the staff, he can use the full game book with the team’s COVID-19 problems in the rearview mirror.
2021 Heisman Trophy Odds Tracker
Expect spiders to lean heavily in the run game
Richmond loves to play soccer. For quarterback Joe Mancuso, who has been more than usable this season, that’s no disrepute. He has completed 53 of 88 passes for 581 passes, six touchdowns and no interceptions.
The desire to let the ball run comes from Mancuso’s ability with his legs. He has completed 171 yards and one touchdown in three games this season. Mancuso is also complemented by two other athletes in the back field in Aaron Dykes and Savon Smith. The trio has run at least 45 meters in all three games this season.
Still perfect.
Spiders go 3-0 with a 31:17 win over Elon!
Tristan Wheeler leads UR’s defense with 14 tackles while Kobie Turner adds 2.5 tackles for one loss.
Joe Mancuso throws for 251 yards and 2 points. #OneRichmond pic.twitter.com/8zhHCMQNsq
– Richmond Spider Football (@Spiders_FB) March 27, 2021
Opposing coaches may know the spiders will run, but not knowing who will have the ball creates big problems. With Richmond listed as a major underdog, it stands to reason that they will try to control the clock as best they can by leaning on their three-headed monster.
Trust Richmond to keep this rivalry game close
Let’s go over what we know. This is a rivalry game between two undefeated teams. James Madison has questions with quarterback, to the point that their head coach hasn’t decided who will start mid-week.
Even so, do the odds makers still demand that they win double digits? It looks like the spiders are a great choice when playing at home. Bet that you will cover a smaller bet on the money line and consider that you have a chance to win it instantly.
- The choice: Richmond +10.5 (-115)
This article may contain links to external sports betting services. SBD may receive advertising revenue from these links. However, the editors selected each individual link based on their relevance to the article without having any influence on the reporting.
Ryan Bolta
Sports journalist
Ryan has been with TSN for over eleven years and is now the lead author and content producer for That’s Hockey. Over the years he started and hosted TSN’s first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and has appeared on TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That’s Hockey 2Nite, among others.
Ryan has been with TSN for over eleven years and is now the lead author and content producer for That’s Hockey. Over the years he started and hosted TSN’s first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and has appeared on TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That’s Hockey 2Nite, among others.