NCAA Football
2025-12-20 - James Madison Dukes at Oregon Ducks
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Playoff First Round
Saturday 20th December 2025 - Scheduled 7:30pm
12:30am (British Time)
Preview
There is no reason to be angry with James Madison Dukes (12-1) for making it through to the College Football Playoff at the expense of surprising ACC Champions Duke Blue Devils. Are the Dukes one of the best twelve teams in College Football? No, but they are a Conference Champion and the current selection policy means they have every right to be involved in the First Round.
Of course they have been set as the biggest underdog of the Round as they prepare to travel to face the Oregon Ducks (11-1) who are one of three Big Ten teams that are playing in the Playoffs.
They are the only one involved in the First Round, but the Oregon Ducks may feel that gives them a chance to play themselves into positive form having been given a Bye into the Quarter Final last year, but losing the opening game.
The Bracket also presents an opportunity with the winner of this game facing the Texas Tech Red Raiders- there is no doubting how good the Big 12 Champions are, but it feels eminently more winnable than facing the Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State Buckeyes or Georgia Bulldogs and that is something the Oregon Ducks will consider.
Oregon are hosting and they have won six in a row, while covering in three straight, which suggests they finished the season in confident form.
The Ducks are very balanced on the Offensive side of the ball and that is going to make it very difficult for James Madison Dukes, especially as they will not have faced teams with the talent and speed of Oregon very often. The sole defeat this season was a 14 point loss at the Louisville Cardinals, but James Madison upset North Carolina Tar Heels last season and will feel they have 'nothing to lose'.
Stopping this Oregon team will be extremely challenging, but the Dukes will have to see if they can put up enough Offensive output of their own to keep this competitive.
Everything will depend on the Line of Scrimmage when the Dukes have the ball- James Madison's Offensive Line have been very good at the Sun Belt Conference level and controlling the clock and the tempo has to be the plan for the big underdog.
However, they are facing an Oregon Defensive Line which has been very strong all season and while playing a higher class of opponent.
Alonza Barnett III has played well at Quarter Back to back up the strong running game, but it is a very different challenge if he is playing from behind the chains and against a top Big Ten opponent on the road.
It is simply not being used to facing competition of this level that is one challenge and this Oregon Secondary are giving nothing away.
Trying to find an upset on the road just feels too tall a task and the Oregon Ducks should have enough to pull clear and cover as the big home favourite.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite.
The Pick :
Oregon Ducks 38-14 James Madison Dukes
