A bowl game wasn’t guaranteed for Jacksonville State in 2023, the second year of its FBS transition. Fortunately for the Gamecocks, a strong season coupled with some outside luck opened up a bowl spot for them.
They gladly accepted the invitation and will face Louisiana on Saturday in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the first bowl game in program history. College football betting odds list the Gamecocks as about a 3-point favorite in the contest against a Sun Belt foe.
While a loss won’t spoil a special year for Rich Rodriguez and company, a win would cap off a historic season for a promising CUSA program.
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Interesting Bowl Matchup
Jacksonville State was picked to finish seventh in CUSA, and many pundits had the Gamecocks falling short of six wins. Instead, they rattled off an 8-4 record with a near upset of South Carolina.
The Gamecocks far surpassed expectations in 2023, in part due to their strong defense. Jacksonville State led CUSA in scoring defense, allowing just 20.3 points per game. On six occasions this season, the Gamecocks held an opponent to fewer than 20 points.
That defense could be the difference Saturday against a Louisiana team that scored the ball effectively this year, averaging 32.3 points per contest. The fourth-highest scoring offense in the Sun Belt was not Louisiana’s problem, but rather a defense that struggled to get off the field on third downs and some brutal finishes in close games.
Louisiana went 2-4 in one-possession games this season, losing two of their final three games by a combined 10 points. At times this season, Louisiana looked like one of the best teams in the Sun Belt West. In other instances, the Cajuns looked like a mediocre team in danger of missing a bowl game.
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Plenty At Stake
Not every bowl game offers meaningful stakes, but it’s safe to say Saturday’s contest holds plenty of value for each side.
For Jacksonville State, the Gamecocks are looking to wrap up a strong transition season with the first bowl win in program history. That will be remembered for a long time by Jacksonville State fans, and it would provide an obvious boost for Rich Rodriguez and his staff on the recruiting trail.
A bowl win could signal that Jacksonville State is about ready to threaten Liberty atop the CUSA standings in future seasons.
For Louisiana, there’s a desire to return to relevance in the Sun Belt after a strong stretch under Billy Napier. In the two seasons since his departure, the Cajuns are 12-13. They went 6-7 last year, so a bowl win and a 7-6 record this year would suggest at least a small bit of progress.
Louisiana wants to be competing for New Year’s Six bowl appearances and league titles on a regular basis. Beating Jacksonville State and winning a bowl matchup would help propel the program in a better direction going into 2024.
There’s plenty at stake this weekend, and casual viewers will likely be attracted to Jacksonville State’s story. The bowl-bound Gamecocks are a feel-good story as an FBS transitioning team. Can they cap off a sweet season or will one-time Sun Belt powerhouse Louisiana rain on their parade?
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
