The Louisville Cardinals (1-0) host the James Madison Dukes (1-0) at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday, September 5, 2025.

The Cardinals are very heavy favorites (currently -14.5) in their matchup against the Dukes, with the over/under being 55.5 points. (On the moneyline, the Cardinals are -662 and the Dukes are +468.)

Below you can find our betting primer for this this game between the Cardinals and the Dukes, and find all of our betting picks here, too!

Louisville vs. James Madison betting lines

• Spread favorite: Cardinals (-14.5)
• Moneyline: Cardinals (-662), Dukes (+468)
• Total: 55.5 points
• TV Channel: ESPN2
• Live Stream: Fubo

Louisville vs. James Madison betting info and stats

Louisville, through one game with a spread so far this season, has gone 0-1-0 against the spread. Louisville has yet to cover the spread when serving as favorites by at least 14.5 points (a 0-1 ATS record). In one game as the moneyline favorite, Louisville won. James Madison has won just one game against the spread so far this season (1-0-0). James Madison has not played as the underdog on the moneyline so far this season.

Louisville vs. James Madison key players

Louisville Cardinals

• Last season Tyler Shough produced 3,195 passing yards (266.3 per game), a 62.7% completion percentage, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
• Last year, Isaac Brown rushed for 1,173 yards on 165 attempts (90.2 yards per game) and scored 11 times.
• Duke Watson churned out 597 yards on 67 carries (49.8 yards per game), with seven rushing touchdowns last year.
• In the previous year, Ja’Corey Brooks grabbed 61 passes (on 98 targets) for 1,013 yards (92.1 per game). He also found the end zone nine times.
• Chris Bell tacked on 737 yards on 43 grabs with four touchdowns. He was targeted 67 times, and averaged 56.7 receiving yards per game.
• Mark Redman reeled in 23 passes on 35 targets for 251 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 22.8 receiving yards per game.
• Ashton Gillotte’s hard work last season put together a stat line of 4.5 sacks, 8.0 TFL and 36 tackles.
• Last season TJ Quinn tallied 77 tackles, 1.0 TFL, and 1.5 sacks.
• Corey Thornton collected two interceptions while adding 36 tackles and two passes defended last year.

James Madison Dukes

• Alonza Barnett III averaged 216.3 passing yards per outing and completed 26 touchdowns last season. In addition, he added 459 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns.
• George Pettaway racked up five rushing touchdowns on 75.1 yards per game last season. Pettaway was also productive in the passing game, accumulating 24 catches and two touchdowns over the course of the year.
• Omarion Dollison averaged 48.7 yards on 2.8 receptions per game and racked up six receiving touchdowns in 2024.
• Yamir Knight averaged 46.5 receiving yards on five targets per game in 2024, scoring four touchdowns.
• Taylor Thompson averaged 34.5 receiving yards per game on 3.9 targets per game a season ago.
• Last year Eric O’Neill put pressure on opposing quarterbacks with 13.5 sacks, and added 13.0 TFL, 37 tackles, and one interception.
• Jacob Dobbs was all over the field last season with 69 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and three sacks.
• A year ago Terrence Spence recorded 26 tackles, 1.0 TFL, and seven passes defended as well as five interceptions.