College Bowl Picks 2023-24: Recent Odds and Predictions Against the Spread

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks and James Madison Dukes are two of the hungriest teams to prove a point during college football bowl season.

Jacksonville State and James Madison both recorded the requisite number of six wins to qualify for a bowl, but they had to wait to earn bowl berths because they were ineligible for automatic qualification due to their transition from the FCS to the FBS.

The Gamecocks and Dukes got into their respective bowl games because there were not enough six-win teams to fill the 82 bowl positions.

Jacksonville State gets to showcase its team first on the bowl schedule, as it plays the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in the New Orleans Bowl on December 16.

James Madison takes on the Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 23, and despite a coaching change, it is expected to have its best players on the field.

Jacksonville State (-3) vs. Louisiana

Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 25: Jacksonville State Gamecocks running back Ron Wiggins (26) his rushing touchdown in the first quarter during the game between the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and the Florida International (FIU) Golden Panthers on Wednesday, October 25, 202 at Ricardo Silva Stadium, Miami, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Saturday, December 16 (2:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Jacksonville State carries some of the most motivation into bowl season of the Group of Five participants.

The Gamecocks went 8-4 in their first season in Conference USA, but had to wait until the final day of the regular season to learn their postseason fate.

Head coach Rich Rodriguez built Jacksonville State into a strong FCS side and that skill showed off in its first FBS season.

The Gamecocks did lose two of their last three games, but they were competitive with the South Carolina Gamecocks in a buy game and lost by three points to the New Mexico State Aggies, a C-USA title game participant.

Quarterback Zion Webb recorded just under 2,000 total yards and he could hurt the Louisiana defense on countless occasions in the New Orleans Bowl.

Louisiana allowed over 30 points in five of its six losses, three of which occurred over its final four games.

The Ragin' Cajuns beat the UL-Monroe WarHawks in their season finale to become bowl eligible, but that is not much of an achievement given ULM's struggles this season.

Jacksonville State was the more consistent team this season, owns more motivation and will not be affected by the transfer portal, like other successful Group of Five teams.

Air Force vs. James Madison (-3)

Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 25: Jordan McCloud #2 of the James Madison Dukes celebrates with Chauncey Logan #2 of the James Madison Dukes after defeating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, 56-14, at Brooks Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Conway, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

Saturday, December 23 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Most teams in James Madison's position would not be looking forward to the bowl game.

However, the Dukes appear to be keeping their core in tact for one more contest before key pieces go separate ways.

Quarterback Jordan McCloud, who announced his intentions to transfer, will play in the Armed Forces Bowl. Most transfer quarterbacks will sit out their postseason contests.

That appears to be the case for all of JMU's impending transfers, so they could rally around each other to finish off an incredible season.

Head coach Curt Cignetti, who took the job at Indiana, will not be on the JMU sidelines for the game against Air Force, but the majority of his staff will still be there.

JMU finished the season with an 11-1 mark with its single loss coming in overtime against the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

The Dukes would be viewed as the better team in most matchups against Group of Five opposition, but in this instance, they should be the only team to trust.

Air Force finished the regular season on a four-game losing streak in which it was outscored 108-62.

The strong Falcons team that we saw in September and October disappeared and they could be susceptible to a large concession of yards against McCloud and the JMU offense.

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