Western Kentucky vs James Madison prediction & betting tips - Dec. 18 - Boca Raton Bowl

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are set to play the James Madison Dukes on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET in the Boca Raton Bowl. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Western Kentucky (8-5) finished the year with a 52-12 loss to Jacksonville State. James Madison (8-4) finished the season with a 35-33 loss to Marshall.

Western Kentucky vs James Madison: Prevew

Western Kentucky is a 6.5-point underdog while the over/under is set at 52 points.

The Hilltoppers ended the season going 1-3 as Western Kentucky struggled to end the year. In the Boca Raton Bowl, the Hilltoppers will be without plenty of key players including starting quarterback Caden Veltkamp, starting wide receiver Easton Messer, starting defensive end Deante McCray, starting defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler, starting safety Demarko Williams and starting kicker Lucas Carneiro among other key players.

Backup QB and third-string QB TJ Finley and Turnher Helton are both in the transfer portal. Meaning, Western Kentucky will be down to its fourth-string QB. The Hilltopper will look to run the ball a ton as they will be led by Elijah Young who rushed for 846 yards and three touchdowns this season.

"We'll rebound and go get a big bowl win," Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton said, who holds a 4-1 bowl record, via CBS. "It's an honor to play in a bowl game, and it's an even greater honor to go win a bowl game."

James Madison doesn't have as many key players in the portal. However, starting QB Alonza Barnett III will likely miss the game with an injury, meaning redshirt junior Billy Atkins will start.

"He's ready to go, and he has taken a ton of reps," JMU coach Bob Chesney said. "He has been here the whole time. I'm excited for Billy to get his shot. He's an old soul in there. ... Billy has been preparing like he's the starter."

Atkins attempted just one pass during the regular season. The Dukes will rely on the run game as George Pettaway rushed for 880 yards and five touchdowns.

Both teams will rely heavily on their run game due to the uncertainty around the quarterback position. However, JMU has the better run game and weapons as Western Kentucky has been decimated by the transfer portal.

Expect the Dukes to get out to an early lead and JMU cruise to a lopsided win.

Prediction: James Madison 27, Western Kentucky 17

Western Kentucky vs James Madison: Betting Tips

Tip 1: JMU -6.5 (-115)

Tip 2: Under 52 (-112)