James Madison vs Charlotte prediction, odds, picks for week 1 of college football

It’s time to continue our college football odds series with a prediction and pick for James Madison-Charlotte. Find out how to watch James Madison-Charlotte.

James Madison has enjoyed phenomenal success in recent years, playing for FCS national championships, then making the jump to FBS competition and quickly showing it could hold its own. JMU thrived last season as an FBS program, going 11-2 and rising to the top of the Sun Belt Conference. Coach Curt Cignetti, the architect of a thriving football force, had another magnificent season and continued to build on what he had established.

The big twist is coming, and a potential problem presents itself for James Madison: Cignetti has been so successful that he has left his career and left for a Power Four program, the Indiana Hoosiers. James Madison must hope that new coach Bob Chesney, who previously coached at Holy Cross of the FCS, is up to the task of not only replacing Cignetti but also maintaining the same level of consistency his predecessor established. This Week 1 road game at Charlotte will be an early and immediate test of Chesney’s coaching abilities in a position where much is expected of him. James Madison has represented football excellence in recent years; Chesney doesn’t want to be remembered as the guy who let a thriving program decline under his watch.

Charlotte enters a new season under coach Biff Poggi, whose team has been competitive but hasn’t finished games as well as it could have. The 49ers played 35- and 45-minute games last season. The trick this year will be to play the full 60 minutes at a higher level and not have slumps that turn winnable games into losses.

Here are the James Madison-Charlotte College Football odds, courtesy of FanDuel.

College Football Odds: James Madison-Charlotte

James Madison: -8.5 (-115)

Moneyline: -365

Charlotte: +8.5 (-105)

Moneyline: +285

Over: 48.5 (-110)

Less than: 48.5 (-110)

How to Watch James Madison vs Charlotte

Time: 8pm ET/5pm PT

Television: ESPNU

Stream: fuboTV (free trial)

Why James Madison Could Cover the Spread/Win

James Madison has been very, very strong over time. Granted, Curt Cignetti is no longer the head coach, which could negatively impact the program in the long run, but in the short term, this is a team that won 11 games last year. There are a lot of guys in the locker room and on the practice field who are used to winning and know what it takes to win. That winning DNA will propel James Madison to a strong season in 2024, and it will be the ingredient that helps JMU win this game and cover the spread. JMU just needs to win by 10 points to cover. A 31-21 or 24-14 win seems like a natural fit for this game, with the Dukes taking a minus 8.5 point ticket.

Why Charlotte Could Cover the Spread/Win

Biff Poggi has built a competitive team in Charlotte. Winning games has been a challenge, but being competitive and controversial has not been an issue. If Charlotte can maintain its identity as a gritty team that doesn’t make life easy for its opponent, the 49ers – playing at home – can stay close and eventually cover the spread. The fact that James Madison no longer has Curt Cignetti as its head coach could be the central and defining factor in this game.

James Madison-Charlotte Prediction and Final Choice

A season opener with a rookie head coach is exactly the kind of game to avoid. Don’t bet on this game.

James Madison-Charlotte Final Prediction and Pick: Charlotte +8.5