Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Sam Houston Bearkats 9/28/2023 – Thursday night college football brings us an exciting matchup as the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (3-1) head to Elliot T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas, to take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats (0-3). Both teams have had their fair share of challenges this season, making this game a crucial one for both programs. The Week 5 college football predictions are updated with all the details of this anticipated game.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Sam Houston Bearkats 9/28/2023
| When: | Thursday, September 28, 2023 7:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Elliott T. Bowers Stadium |
| TV: | TV |
| Stream: | SofaScore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamecocks | -6.5 (-114) | -245 | 37 o (-105) |  |
| Bearkats | +6.5 (-106) | +205 | 37 u (-115) | |
| ||||
A dominant duo collects @ConferenceUSA weekly honors following Jax State's 21-0 victory on Saturday!
🔗 https://t.co/bRpUWkQjme pic.twitter.com/HHbM5SCaUJ— Jacksonville State Athletics (@JSUGamecocks) September 25, 2023
Rich Rodriguez vs K.C. Keeler
Jacksonville State’s 2023 campaign has kicked off on a promising note, with the team boasting a 3-1 record. They’re coming off an impressive 21-0 victory over Eastern Michigan, where they showcased their dominance on both sides of the ball.
In that game, Jacksonville State’s offense gained 388 total yards, while their defense held Eastern Michigan to a mere 152 yards of total offense. The Gamecocks also forced three turnovers by the Eagles, highlighting their defensive prowess. Quarterback Logan Smothers has been steady, throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Malik Jackson leads the ground attack with 376 yards and two touchdowns. Quinto Lane is the top receiver, contributing 140 yards and one touchdown reception. On the defensive side, Kolbi Fuqua leads the tacklers with 34. Impressively, Jacksonville State’s defense has recorded 14.0 quarterback sacks and seven interceptions this season.
In contrast, the Sam Houston State Bearkats are still in search of their first victory this season. They enter this game with a 0-3 record, with their most recent loss being a 38-7 defeat at the hands of the Houston Cougars. It was a tough outing for the Bearkats, as they were limited to just 178 yards of total offense while committing two turnovers. In comparison, they allowed Houston to rack up a whopping 538 yards of total offense. Quarterback Grant Gunnell struggled, passing for just 100 yards with one interception.
Sam Houston State’s offensive struggles have been a recurring theme this season. Quarterback Keegan Shoemaker has thrown for 191 yards but has been plagued by three interceptions. On the ground, Zach Hrbacek leads the team with only 43 yards, while Ife Adeyi is the top receiver with 74 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Trevor Williams has been a standout tackler with 34, but the Bearkats have struggled to generate turnovers, with zero interceptions and just 2.0 quarterback sacks.
NCAAF Latest Odds: JVST -5.5 ; O/U 37
Jacksonville State may emerge victorious on Thursday, but the betting play here leans toward the UNDER. In seven of Jacksonville State’s last eight games, the UNDER has been a winning bet. Furthermore, in four of the last five games Jacksonville State has played during the month of September, the UNDER has cashed.
The Bearkats have struggled mightily offensively this season, averaging a mere 3.3 points per game. Conversely, they’ve allowed an average of 21.7 points per game. Jacksonville State’s defense, on the other hand, has been impressive, allowing just an average of 11.7 points per game.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Sam Houston Bearkats Betting Pick
Looking at the betting trends for both teams, Jacksonville State has covered the spread in two of their two chances when playing as at least 6.5-point favorites this season. While Jacksonville State hasn’t hit the over in any of their games this year, they’ve managed to exceed the 36.5-point total more than once this season.
Sam Houston State, on the other hand, has won against the spread twice this season, covering when they were underdogs by 6.5 points or more. The Bearkats have also gone over the total once this season, surpassing the 36.5-point threshold.
In summary, Thursday night’s showdown between the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and the Sam Houston State Bearkats promises to be a compelling matchup. Jacksonville State looks to continue its strong start to the season, while Sam Houston State aims to secure its first win. With the Gamecocks’ impressive defense and the Bearkats’ offensive struggles, the UNDER appears to be an appealing betting choice. However, college football often delivers surprises, so fans can expect an exciting and unpredictable contest. The sports over/under betting picks are intact for the Gamecocks to secure a victory in this game.
Score Prediction: Gamecocks 24, Bearkats 7.
