James Madison Dukes vs Louisville Cardinals Prediction & Picks - NCAA

USA - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
9/5/25 19:00
Louisville Cardinals

Prediction:

 

James Madison Dukes +14.5 Alternate Spread

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 by Matt Lowrimore in NCAA Picks

Week 2 of the college football season will kick off on Friday with a handful of games, one of which will see the James Madison Dukes, out of the Sun Belt, take on the Louisville Cardinals, out of the ACC. Let’s take a look at the match statistics and predictions for this game between the Dukes and the Cardinals.

James Madison enters this game with a record of 1-0, having beaten the Weber State Wildcats in Week 1 of the season by a score of 45-10. The Dukes were dominant in all phases, totaling 458 yards, while allowing just 148 yards. James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III threw for 130 yards and one touchdown, while George Pettaway was the leading rusher with 99 yards on 10 carries.

As for Louisville, they enter this game with a record of 1-0, having beaten the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in Week 1 by a score of 51-17. The Cardinals totaled 545 yards of offense, while allowing just 150 yards. Louisville quarterback Miller Moss threw for 223 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while Isaac Brown led the team in rushing with 126 yards and two touchdowns.

James Madison Dukes vs Louisville Cardinals Form

Table

Teams % P W D L
48
Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
1000 1 1 0 0
75
James Madison Dukes
James Madison Dukes
1000 1 1 0 0

James Madison Dukes and Louisville Cardinals Latest Matches

James Madison Dukes
James Madison Dukes Latest matches
W W L L W W
Victories

4/6 (67%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA

Weber State Wildcats
10 :  45
James Madison Dukes

Dec 18, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
17 :  27
James Madison Dukes

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Marshall Herd
35 :  33
James Madison Dukes

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
20 :  34
Appalachian State Mountaineers

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
35 :  32
Old Dominion Monarchs

Nov 9, 2024 - NCAA

Georgia State Panthers
7 :  38
James Madison Dukes
W W W L W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA

Weber State Wildcats
10 :  45
James Madison Dukes

Dec 18, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
17 :  27
James Madison Dukes

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Marshall Herd
35 :  33
James Madison Dukes

Nov 9, 2024 - NCAA

Georgia State Panthers
7 :  38
James Madison Dukes

Oct 26, 2024 - NCAA

Southern Miss Golden Eagles
15 :  32
James Madison Dukes

Oct 10, 2024 - NCAA

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
7 :  39
James Madison Dukes
W W L L W L
Victories

2/5 (40%)

Draw

0/5 (0%)

Defeats

3/5 (60%)

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
20 :  34
Appalachian State Mountaineers

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
35 :  32
Old Dominion Monarchs

Oct 19, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
14 :  28
Georgia Southern Eagles

Oct 5, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
19 :  21
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Sep 21, 2024 - NCAA

James Madison Dukes
70 :  50
North Carolina Tar Heels
Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals Latest matches
W L W W W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA

Eastern Kentucky Colonels
17 :  51
Louisville Cardinals

Dec 31, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Louisville Cardinals
35 :  34
Washington Huskies

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
41 :  14
Kentucky Wildcats

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

Pittsburgh Panthers
9 :  37
Louisville Cardinals

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
35 :  38
Stanford Cardinal

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
33 :  21
Clemson Tigers
W W L L W W
Victories

4/6 (67%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Aug 30, 2025 - NCAA

Eastern Kentucky Colonels
17 :  51
Louisville Cardinals

Nov 23, 2024 - NCAA

Pittsburgh Panthers
9 :  37
Louisville Cardinals

Oct 19, 2024 - NCAA

Miami (FL) Hurricanes
52 :  45
Louisville Cardinals

Oct 5, 2024 - NCAA

SMU Mustangs
34 :  27
Louisville Cardinals

Sep 21, 2024 - NCAA

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
19 :  31
Louisville Cardinals

Sep 7, 2024 - NCAA

Jacksonville State Gamecocks
14 :  49
Louisville Cardinals
W W W L W W
Victories

5/6 (83%)

Draw

0/6 (0%)

Defeats

1/6 (17%)

Dec 31, 2024 - NCAA Division I, FBS, Playoffs

Louisville Cardinals
35 :  34
Washington Huskies

Nov 30, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
41 :  14
Kentucky Wildcats

Nov 16, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
35 :  38
Stanford Cardinal

Nov 2, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
33 :  21
Clemson Tigers

Oct 25, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
31 :  27
Boston College Eagles

Oct 12, 2024 - NCAA

Louisville Cardinals
24 :  20
Virginia Cavaliers

James Madison Dukes - Louisville Cardinals Key Points

  1. The Dukes forced three turnovers in Week 1
  2. The Dukes committed 6 penalties for 75 yards in Week 1
  3. The Cardinals turned it over three times in Week 1
  4. The Cardinals committed 12 penalties for 106 yards in Week 1

Our James Madison Dukes vs Louisville Cardinals Prediction

While both teams easily won their Week 1 matchups, two areas could be the difference in this matchup in Week 2. That being turnovers and penalties. In both cases, Louisville struggled in these areas. 

The Cardinals’ quarterbacks threw a total of three interceptions against Eastern Kentucky, which includes two by starting quarterback and USC transfer Miller Moss. Secondly, Louisville committed 12 penalties for 106 yards, which could be a major problem going forward if they cannot clean this up.

James Madison, on the other hand, has had some recent success when playing teams from the ACC. Though this was a full season ago, the Dukes made headlines by beating North Carolina by a score of 70-50. This game is unlikely to produce a similar score; however, with Louisville having already shown some problems with turnovers and penalties, our James Madison Dukes vs Louisville Cardinals prediction is: James Madison Dukes +14.5 Alternate Spread.

Prediction:

 

James Madison Dukes +14.5 Alternate Spread

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James Madison Dukes vs Louisville Cardinals Picks