The first round of the College Football Playoff kicks off next weekend, with a pair of Group of Five teams taking on some of the best programs in the nation. That includes a Saturday night matchup between the James Madison Dukes and Oregon Ducks , a game that should deliver plenty of highlights.
Let's dive into our College Football Playoff predictions for James Madison vs Oregon.
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The Oregon Ducks have found different ways to win this season, including three since Oct. 25 where they've scored fewer than 27 points. On Saturday at home against James Madison, Dante Moore and the Ducks will have little trouble putting up a 30-burger. The Dukes haven't faced anyone near Oregon's caliber this season, with Louisville probably the toughest competition they faced. James Madison won't have the pass rush to disrupt Moore, which is a problem since the Ducks' quarterback has a 74.8 percent completion rate and 21 passing touchdowns on 258 pass attempts (8.14 percent touchdown rate) from a clean pocket this season.
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James Madison has had one of the best offenses in college football this season, averaging 448.3 total yards per game with a 6.4 yards-per-play average with a 47.7 percent third-down conversion rate. However, in matchups versus Louisville and Washington State , the Dukes offense averaged just 291.5 total yards per game with a 36 percent third-down conversion rate. Oregon's defense is unlike anything James Madison has faced this season, allowing the sixth-lowest yards per play (4.16) and the fourth-fewest total yards per game (251.6). Scheme, speed, and talent will be just far too much for Dukes quarterback Alonza Barnett III to handle.
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Heading into the College Football Playoff, opponents have averaged just 76.2 rushing yards per game with a 2.48 yards-per-carry average against James Madison. Louisville's Isaac Brown and Marshall's Antwan Roberts have eclipsed the 100-yard mark, with the Thundering Herd's 248 rushing yards against James Madison showing that Oregon can have success on the ground. Noah Whittington has handled 17-plus carries in three of his last four games, and he's eclipsed 95 rushing yards in four of his last six games. Whittington might not rip off one 40-plus yard run, but his ability to get chunks of yards on nearly every touch will get him over the 100-yard mark.
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In the College Football Playoff last season, Oregon lost its only game with a 20-point loss in the quarterfinal to Ohio State . For Dan Lanning, Saturday's home playoff game against James Madison is an opportunity to show just a glimpse of what this program is capable of. The Ducks are going to win every quarter, even giving their backups some extended playing time in the fourth.
Prediction:Oregon Ducks 31, James Madison Dukes 7
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