Coastal Carolina VS James Madison Preview
Coastal Carolina hosts James Madison on November 29, 2025, at Brooks Stadium in Conway, SC, with kickoff set for 3:45 PM EST. This NCAA showdown pits a 6-5 Chanticleers squad against a No. 20 ranked Dukes team sitting at 10-1 and riding serious momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
James Madison arrives unbeaten in its last nine contests against non-AP-ranked opponents, a streak that underscores their dominance against mid-tier competition. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina has dropped each of its last three matchups with AP-ranked foes, raising questions about how the home side can contain a surging visitor that thrives in these exact scenarios.
Expect a fast tempo with James Madison likely to dictate possession and field position early, testing whether Coastal Carolina can leverage home-field advantage to stay within striking distance. This Coastal Carolina VS James Madison game preview zeroes in on the spread, where Coastal Carolina VS James Madison betting odds reflect a significant gulf in current form and historical resilience.
Key Factors for Coastal Carolina VS James Madison
James Madison’s 10-1 record and ranking come with a perfect 9-0 mark against non-ranked teams, while Coastal Carolina has struggled badly in recent clashes with AP-ranked opposition. The Dukes’ consistency at this level is clear, but their 1-4 against-the-spread record in the last five as double-digit favorites introduces a wrinkle worth noting for sharp bettors.
Coastal Carolina has covered the spread in four of its last five games and won three of the last four November home games as an underdog, showing a tendency to compete well in familiar late-season territory. The Chanticleers are 3-2 straight-up in their last five but only 2-3 ATS, suggesting they win close games yet fail to exceed modest market expectations consistently.
The betting context here hinges on James Madison’s ability to blow out overmatched opponents versus Coastal Carolina’s knack for staying competitive at home in November. This Coastal Carolina VS James Madison betting forecast balances raw talent disparity with situational trends, while the Coastal Carolina VS James Madison prediction leans on historical edges and recent spread behavior to identify true value.
Recent Trends for Coastal Carolina VS James Madison
The Over has cashed in five straight games for Coastal Carolina, and the Over is 4-1 in James Madison’s last five outings, pointing to high-scoring environments whenever these teams take the field. Both offenses have been productive, and defensive lapses on both sides have kept totals climbing in recent weeks, making the scoring environment a focal point for this matchup.
James Madison’s perfect run against non-ranked teams contrasts sharply with their poor ATS performance as large favorites, a pattern that suggests motivation issues or conservative game management once leads balloon. Coastal Carolina’s home underdog success in November adds another layer, as the Chanticleers have historically played their best football late in the year when backed against the wall on their own turf.
These habits feed into a narrative where James Madison should win comfortably but may not annihilate, while Coastal Carolina keeps it closer than the spread implies. The Coastal Carolina VS James Madison matchup trends reveal a visiting favorite prone to letdowns and a home underdog built for gritty, close finishes, offering Coastal Carolina VS James Madison betting insights that cut against the obvious read.
Our Prediction is James Madison -21.5
James Madison’s dominance over non-ranked opponents and elite 10-1 record make them the rightful favorite, but the 1-4 ATS mark as a big favorite raises red flags. Coastal Carolina’s recent spread success at home and its proven ability to win as an underdog in November suggest the Chanticleers will keep this game competitive enough to cover a large number.
The Dukes have the firepower to control tempo and field position, yet their tendency to ease off the gas once ahead has repeatedly cost them against the spread. Coastal Carolina’s offensive tempo and five straight Overs indicate the home side can score enough to prevent a blowout, even if they ultimately fall short on the scoreboard.
We believe the outcome of the match will be James Madison -21.5, backing the home underdog to cover in a high-scoring affair. Coastal Carolina’s home resilience, situational strength as a November underdog, and James Madison’s poor recent ATS performance converge to create genuine value on the Chanticleers plus the points in Conway.
The spread reflects public perception of James Madison’s quality rather than situational reality, as the Dukes have repeatedly failed to bury opponents when installed as heavy favorites. Coastal Carolina’s knack for staying within the number at home in late-season spots makes this the clearest edge available in this Coastal Carolina VS James Madison fixture, offering a strong Coastal Carolina VS James Madison betting picks angle for savvy bettors seeking contrarian value.
