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Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State Prediction & Picks Tonight: C-USA Championship

Philip Wood

Last Updated: December 6, 2024 5:19 PM EST • 3 min 55 sec read.

Jacksonville State's Tre Stewart tries to evade the tackle of FIU's JoJo Evans. We're backing the Gamecocks in our Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State prediction.
Jacksonville State's Tre Stewart tries to evade the tackle of FIU's JoJo Evans. Photo by Dave Hyatt/Hyatt Media LLC via Imagn Images.

The Conference USA Championship between Jacksonville State and Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET (CBSSN) from AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala. is a rematch of last week's regular-season finale. 

  • Even with Gamecocks QB Tyler Huff being a game-time decision, our Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State prediction is backing Rich Rodriguez's team
  • The Hilltoppers beat the Gamecocks 19-17 on a walk off field goal last week
  • Jacksonville State opened as a 1.5-point favorite and is now favored by as many as five points.

Our college football championship week predictions highlights all the championship matchups this weekend. 

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State betting splits: C-USA Championship

The Gamecocks opened as 1.5-point favorites across most of our best sportsbooks, and the line has plenty of movement with Jacksonville State favored by as many as five at one point.

The Gamecocks are now a 4-point favorite ahead of kickoff tonight. Bettors have been backing Jacksonville State all week with 68% of the money on Rich Rodriguez's team.

The total has seen some movement and is hovering around 58, with 55% of the money on the Under.

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State prediction & best pick: C-USA Championship

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: Jacksonville State -5 () vs. Western Kentucky ⭐⭐⭐
  • My best pick: Caden Veltkamp Under 273.5 passing yards () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State ATS prediction: Week 15

Jacksonville State to cover the spread: -5 ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -108 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 51.92%

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Home-field advantage defines the C-USA title game

While the Hilltoppers just ended the Gamecocks’ eight-game winning streak last Saturday, I don’t expect them to enjoy the same amount of success this week.

The Gamecocks were put in an impossible situation last week. Yet they still went on the road against a team that needed to win to advance to the Conference USA Championship and lost by two on a last-second field goal.

Now back at home, this is the Gamecocks' game to lose. They’re 5-1 at home this season, and they’ve yet to drop a game to a Conference USA foe at AmFirst Stadium. Their average margin of victory is greater than 20 points in those home contests, and they’re averaging 37.0 points per outing.

Gamecocks’ rushing attack will be too much

The Hilltoppers held the Gamecocks’ fourth-ranked rushing attack to just 229 yards last week. That result was quite shocking, especially considering the Hilltoppers boast the nation's 121st-ranked run defense.

The Gamecocks will enjoy more success this week on their home field, where they’re averaging 280 yards per game.

Caden Veltkamp’s arm will keep the Hilltoppers close. But the Gamecocks are the better team, especially when playing at home. The spread ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 at our best sportsbooks.

DraftKings is offering the best price-spread combo right now. Get in soon though for one of your college football championship week predictions, as 78% of bettors are backing the Gamecocks. 

Our Mike Spector also dove into the spread for this matchup as part of his college football championship week best bets, and his college football upset picks.

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State best pick

Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Caden Veltkamp Under 273.5 passing yards (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -115 via bet365 | Implied probability: 53.49%

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Veltkamp threw for 301 yards last week. The performance was impressive, but it marked just the second time this season he's recorded more than 300 yards in a game. He’s now thrown for over 273.5 yards in four of his 11 contests this year.

He’s playing the same opponent as last week, so it seems like a no-brainer to take this Over with the number listed 27.5 yards lower than his previous total.

But Veltkamp threw for 49 yards during the final drive of the game last week, and he entered the last two minutes with just 252 yards. This isn’t as favorable of a matchup as last week’s box score suggests, especially against the 67th-ranked pass defense.

FanDuel and BetMGM are both listing this total set at 265.5. To get this number eight yards higher for nearly the same price shows just how much value there is in wagering at bet365.

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State live odds

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State opening odds:

  • Western Kentucky: +1.5 (-105)
  • Jacksonville State: -1.5 (-115)

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State game info

  • When: Friday, Dec. 6
  • Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, AL
  • How to watch: CBSSN
  • Weather: 35 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind 5 mph NNW
  • Favorite: Jacksonville State -5 (-108 via DraftKings)

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Written By:
Philip Wood
Phil has covered sports betting since 2016, and he has been with SportsBook Review since 2022. He previously hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast for CanesInsight.com. He is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is that if a line doesn't make sense just assume oddsmakers know something you don't. He also loves in-season futures. There is so much value to be had as the public overreacts weekly. Bettors tend to forget just how long NFL and college football seasons are. After all, the Green Bay Packers were 2-5 in 2023 and they made it to the Divisional Round. When deciding where to bet, it comes down to value over everything. +100 is always better than -110. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. He is also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and is willing to forgive Dan Campbell for forgetting that a kicker can be useful.