This one could get a little tricky! After a stellar season and a victory over Jacksonville State to go to the Conference USA title, Western Kentucky was thrashed in the rematch just a week later. Even though it was a successful season, the team is headed to a bowl game after defeating Old Dominion in the Historic Toastery Bowl, which was the biggest cliffhanger of the previous season. Since 2014, the WKU program has won seven of its previous nine bowl games and its last three. Now, it’s time to go after James Madison.

James Madison is playing in its second bowl game, but the memory of their brutal 31-21 loss to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl last year still stings. But this year, the team comes with a strong 8-4 season despite losing head coach Curt Cignetti and the majority of its best players to Indiana. However, now winning the first bowl would be an enormous victory for the program, which has two defeats to close. Safe to say, the Boca Raton Bowl game’s gonna be way better with the crew broadcasting it.

Meet the Boca Raton Bowl’s newscaster crew

In addition to sideline reporter Coley Harvey, ESPN’s play-by-play commentator Chris Cotter and analyst Mark Herzlich will call the James Madison vs. WKU game. Cotter and Herzlich have been doing this job gracefully for more than ten years, keeping the whole atmosphere with sharp excellence. They were included in the illustrious lineup of ESPN’s 2024 CFB coverage, which led the sports industry. Moreover, they stood out among a thousand in the trade thanks to a combination of emotions, a thorough analysis, and a remarkable voice. Consequently, they will brighten your day. That’s guaranteed!

Chris Cotter, a native of Georgia, has a natural talent for the fast-paced world of sports. Cotter always had a passion for sports, which blossomed into a career after he earned his MBA from Georgia Tech. He honed his skills covering NBA and college basketball, but football eventually took center stage. After exploring various media outlets in the early 2000s, Cotter found his home at the ACC Network.

Throughout his long career, Cotter encountered several well-known on-air identities, but none could ever top his legendary pairing with Super Bowl winner Mark Herzlich, who, in contrast to Cotter, had a unique football career. After an incredible run with the Boston College Eagles, he rose to prominence as an LB in the NFL. Although he has an advantage over the analysis due to his extensive on-field experience, he performs best when Chris Cotter is beside him.

The Boca Raton Bowl is about to get exciting! You can feel the energy building as the broadcast crew gets ready. Before you dive into the action, check out what the experts are predicting for the James Madison vs. WKU matchup.

Analysts prediction for James Madison vs. WKU game

The James Madison, in their 3rd FBS season, were once again placed above .500 and qualified for their 2nd straight bowl game. After their lackluster bowl game performance against the Air Force last season, JMU will try their best to recover.

Conversely, the Hilltoppers will try to end the season on an upbeat note with their 5th bowl victory under Tyson Helton after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Jacksonville State 52-12. And in their last action, the Dukes defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd, 35-33. Both teams have experienced a mix of highs and lows this year. The main worry for now, though, is who analysts prefer.

Experts predict that the WKU will be 6.5-point underdogs when they play the Dukes in the Boca Raton Bowl on December 18. The competition has a 51.5-point cap. However, CFP is unpredictable, so anything can happen. The forecast alone won’t be enough to determine the outcome of the James Madison vs. WKU bowl game. Therefore, wait a few more hours to view the full game.