Weber St. at JMU Preview
The Basics
Matchup: Weber St. Wildcats (0-0, Big Sky) at JMU Dukes (0-0, Sun Belt)
Kickoff: 6 p.m., Bridgeforth Stadium, Rocktown
Weather: Sunny, high 75, low 55. Are you kidding me?! Great anytime, outrageously good for Labor Day.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Boys in the Desert: JMU -24.5 (also worth noting, attractive lines of JMU +14.5 for next week have already been posted at some outlets)
How We Got Here
Three Things to Know About Weber St.
This does not appear to be the Weber we remember – For a Big Sky team from Ogden, Utah, it’s kind of crazy that JMU and the Wildcats have what could almost be described as a bit of a rivalry having played three times in the last eight years, all in important games. The two playoff wins at Bridgeforth, including the epic JMU comeback in 2017 capped off by the Ratke bomb at the buzzer and what felt like an important game at the time in when the Dukes visited the Beehive State in JMU’s last FCS season in 2021. But Weber hasn’t been the same since losing former Coach Jay Hill to the money cannon in Provo a couple years ago. The Cats have scuffled along at 10-13 the last two years, including a 4-8 record last year (though that did include a win over Montana in Missoula). No disrespect intended (particularly given JMU’s “performance” against Gardner-Webb this time last year) but this team probably isn’t quite the meat-grinder many of us remember from FCS.
Offensive Line is Weber’s Strength – Like most programs in the G6/FCS ranks coming off a couple middling seasons, Weber has lots of turnover all over the roster. But not on the O-Line, where they return basically their entire two-deep from last year, including their best player, senior Gavin Ortega. And with their other preseason all Big-Sky standout being Fullback Colter May, the matchup with JMU’s revamped D-Line should be the one to watch tomorrow.
Semi-Local Leader on Defense – Unsurprisingly, nearly Weber’s entire roster is from out west, with most of their players coming from Utah, Cali, and Texas. But surprisingly, one of their best defensive players is DE Josh Hardy from Bowie, MD. He transferred to Ogden from North Carolina A&T State University (shoutout to the Aggies) for who knows what reasons, but we like to think it’s cause being in a conference led by Joey D is miserable for everyone.
How JMU Can Win
Don’t do Gardner-Webb. Just get off the ball and nail someone. That’s it. No more anxiety, no more brotherhood talk, no more best-shape-of-my-life platitudes. If ‘Zo starts, don’t sail your first three passes over people’s heads. If Sluka starts, don’t even call passing plays till required by down and distance. And no game-planning that is meant for next week’s opponent unless the Dukes really gain control. Respect the opponent, but there is no built-in excuse like the first couple games last year and it’s time to finish what the Dukes started when they first announced the move to the SBC by actually working towards some hardware.
JMUSB Beer of the Week
Time in the Sun IPA, Ghost Harbor Brewing, Elizabeth City, NC – Surprising place to find a surprisingly good brew from but needless to say, this one’s aptly named for an August game where JMU is going with a Bridgeforth Beach theme.
Official JMUSB Prediction
JMU 49, Weber St. 7 – In the very modern era of JMU football, when the Dukes were really good, here’s how the home openers went.
2023 – 38-3 over Bucknell
2022 – 44-7 over MTSU
2019 – 44-7 over St. Francis
2017 – 52-10 over ETSU
2016 – 80-7 over Morehead St.
In other words, when they’ve been great, they’ve shown it early against overmatched competition. Let’s ride!
