Boca Raton Bowl Preview: A Clash Between Western Kentucky and James Madison
On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. EST, the Boca Raton Bowl will feature a matchup between Western Kentucky (8-5) and James Madison (8-4). The current betting odds from BetMGM favor James Madison with a 7-point spread.
One of the key encounters to watch is the running game. James Madison boasts the 28th-ranked rushing offense in the FBS, averaging 191.7 rushing yards per game. In contrast, they will be up against a struggling Western Kentucky defense that ranks dead last at 130th, allowing an average of 221.9 yards per game on the ground. Furthermore, the Hilltoppers are ranked 104th in terms of rushing efficiency, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, while James Madison’s defense is performing well, giving up only 3.7 yards per rushing attempt, placing them 28th in the nation.
Looking at their most recent performances, James Madison faced a narrow defeat on November 30, losing 35-33 to Marshall. In that game, quarterback Alonza Barnett III completed 14 out of 19 passes for 138 yards, adding two touchdown passes against one interception. He also rushed 14 times for a modest total of 24 yards. Jobadiah Malary stood out in the rushing department, accumulating 106 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown, while Omarion Dollison contributed significantly with four catches for 46 yards and a score. Meanwhile, Western Kentucky was dealt a heavy blow on December 6, suffering a 52-12 loss to Jacksonville State. Caden Veltkamp threw for 141 yards, completing 60% of his passes with one touchdown and no interceptions. Elijah Young managed 108 rushing yards but had a negative reception figure with three catches totaling -9 yards.
Several players from both teams will be key to their chances of success. For James Madison, Alonza Barnett has accumulated a total of 2,596 passing yards this season, averaging 216.3 per game with a completion rate of 59.9%. He has thrown 26 touchdown passes, ranking 14th in the FBS, while also boasting 459 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. George Pettaway has contributed significantly in the running game with 149 carries and 876 yards, alongside two receiving touchdowns. Additionally, Yamir Knight has made his presence known, catching 48 balls for 567 yards and four touchdowns. On the other side, Western Kentucky’s Caden Veltkamp has recorded 2,806 passing yards for an average of 215.8 per game. He has thrown for 23 touchdowns but has also been intercepted 10 times this season. Elijah Young has made a notable impact as well, with a total of 846 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
A few statistics highlight the performances of both teams this season. James Madison has outscored its opponents by an average of 13 points per game, while Western Kentucky has a much narrower margin, outscoring opponents by just one point on average. In terms of their passing games, James Madison sits at 79th place overall, with 218.8 passing yards per game, while its defense is considerably stronger, ranking 37th by allowing only 198.4 yards. Western Kentucky, however, ranks 88th in scoring offense with an average of 25.5 points per game and holds a defensive ranking of 65th, allowing 24.5 points per game.
