South Alabama vs James Madison Prediction, Picks & Odds | 22 Jan 2026

College Basketball Betting Preview: South Alabama vs James Madison

The South Alabama Jaguars face the James Madison Dukes, with tip-off scheduled for 19:00 on Thursday, January 22.

We’re sweet on South Alabama putting up a fight against James Madison and that compels us to back the underdogs against the spread. You can get -115 when it comes to the +3.5 that is available.

Confident in our spread pick? Unlock the best BetMGM promo code and take a moment to read our expert site review before you commit to your play.

South Alabama Jaguars lost their previous game, being beaten at home to Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 59-56.

James Madison Dukes were beaten last game and this was on the road. Marshall Thundering Herd claimed a 77-72 win.

Head-to-Head Statistics

It was a 77-49 win for South Alabama when they last played James Madison. The previous 4 H2H meetings have involved South Alabama winning three times.

NCAAB	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
South Alabama	13-6	1405	1292	113	7-2	6-4	1L
James Madison	9-10	1409	1458	-49	7-1	2-9	2L

View Full Standings

South Alabama vs James Madison Prediction & Picks

Get the edge with our South Alabama vs James Madison betting tips: our expert match prediction, most likely correct score outcome and a bet builder tailored for value.

Game Prediction

Our best pick is that South Alabama can outperform their odds in this college contest. It leads us to a bet on the spread lines considering that +3.5 has been chalked up at -115.

To deliver the best possible basketball picks, we start by locking in the team news and taking time to review the latest form. There’s also no shortage of data to crunch from the most up-to-date college hoops stats available.

Key South Alabama vs James Madison stats:

• The +3.5 line has been covered by South Alabama in 17 of their last 20 games.
• The +3.5 line has been covered by South Alabama in 8 of their last 10 games.
• The +3.5 line has been covered by South Alabama in 3 consecutive games.
• The -3.5 line hasn’t been covered by JMU in 4 consecutive games.
• The -3.5 line hasn’t been covered by JMU in 8 of their last 10 games.
• The -3.5 line hasn’t been covered by JMU in 13 of their last 20 games.
• The -3.5 line hasn’t been covered by JMU in 3 of their last 4 games against South Alabama.

South Alabama +3.5 Probability

If you go by the top sportsbooks, our pick has a 53.5% chance of winning. Based on our analysts research, we calculate the actual probability to be closer to 60%. It is the reason why we are recommending this college basketball wager.

It’s good to explore all avenues and you might prefer bigger odds about the selection you want to make. Go ahead and move the line until you’re happy with the price.

Thinking about placing a wager? Explore our updated guide filled with top betting offers, free bets, and promotions.

Our Game Prediction

South Alabama +3.5 @ -115 Bet Now

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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (23:56, 21 January 2026). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

South Alabama 72 - 71 James Madison

For a fun bet, consider backing the Jags to claim a 72-71 win. Although it’s a speculative wager, we are expecting things to be close between the two teams.

South Alabama vs James Madison Odds

The odds and lines are updated on a frequent basis. You might therefore find that they are different to the ones listed for the above betting predictions.

The sportsbooks make this game uncompetitive, with James Madison expected to comfortably win. Therefore, the Moneyline might not be available and it’s better to instead play the spread to assess the various options.

The spread currently stands at 3.5 and the total points line is 138.5. The Totals offers basketball fans an alternative way of getting involved. If you’re going for Over 138.5, then the odds are -115.

The good news is that you’ll find a strong selection of game lines and team props for most college contests. The best basketball betting sites provide a wide range of pre-game and in-game wagering options.

Moneyline

South Alabama

-

JMU

-

Point Spread

South Alabama +3.5

-115

JMU -3.5

-105

Total Points

Under 138.5

-105

Over 138.5

-115

The gambling sites also allow you to place player prop bets such as Points, Assists, Steals and Rebounds. This means you can focus on an individual player’s performance rather than wager on the actual outcome of the game in question.

For those looking to enjoy a thrilling in-game wager, college basketball micro betting could be up your street. You are now able to wager on the Next Field Goal, with the options being for a two-pointer or a three-pointer.

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

South Alabama Stats

James Madison Stats

Moneyline

• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 games
• 8 wins and 2 defeats in the last 10 home games

Point Spread

• +3.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 8 of the last 10 games
• +3.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 7 of the last 10 games on the road

Point Spread

• -3.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 2 of the last 10 games
• -3.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 home games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 140.80 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 141.70 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 138.5: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games
• Over 138.5 on the Road: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 71.40 pts and allowed 69.40 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 71.10 pts and allowed 70.60 pts in the last 10 games on the road

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 148.90 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 142.40 pts in the previous 10 home games
• Over 138.5: Covered in 7 of the previous 10 games
• Over 138.5 at Home: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 71.80 pts and allowed 77.10 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 73.00 pts and allowed 69.40 pts in the last 10 home games

NCAAB Table Select Season 2025/20262024/20252023/20242022/20232021/20222020/20212019/2020

Sun Belt	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Troy	14-6	1734	1524	210	7-2	7-4	4W
South Alabama	13-6	1405	1292	113	7-2	6-4	1L
Georgia Southern	13-7	1668	1599	69	8-2	5-5	1L
Marshall	12-7	1510	1436	74	9-2	3-5	1W
Arkansas State	12-7	1577	1516	61	7-1	5-6	2L
Southern Miss	11-9	1499	1468	31	8-1	3-8	2L
Appalachian State	11-9	1457	1341	116	7-3	4-6	1L
Texas State	11-9	1481	1420	61	10-2	1-7	2W
Coastal Carolina	11-9	1468	1451	17	4-3	7-6	3W
James Madison	9-10	1409	1458	-49	7-1	2-9	2L
Georgia State	7-12	1342	1404	-62	4-3	3-9	2W
Old Dominion	6-15	1557	1629	-72	4-4	2-11	1L
Louisiana	5-15	1204	1381	-177	3-6	2-9	1W
UL Monroe	3-16	1384	1564	-180	3-7	0-9	9L

• Overall = Overall Wins-Losses
• PF = Total Points For
• PA = Total Points Against
• N. Pts = Point Differential
• Home = Home Record
• Away = Away Record
• Strk = Current Streak

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