Two programs that were both in the FCS just five years ago will be competing in an FBS conference championship.
Jacksonville State will take on Kennesaw State for the Conference USA title. And both teams have been impressive up until this point.
The Gamecocks (8-4, 7-1 CUSA) didn’t start the season the way they hoped to after winning the league title in 2024. They were 2-3 overall with close losses to UCF and Georgia Southern while also losing to Southern Miss by 17 points.
But Jax State rebounded and proceeded to win six of its next seven games, all of them being against CUSA opponents.
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Maybe the most noteworthy contest during that stretch was a 36-26 win against Kennesaw State. Cam Cook ran for 132 yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Caden Creel ran for 127 yards and two TDs to power the Gamecocks offense. Deondre Johnson also added 112 yards and one touchdown receiving.
Defensively, Walker O’Steen (14 tackles and one interception), Caleb Nix (11 tackles and two interceptions), and Malcolm Jones (10 tackles and one tackle for loss) all rose to the occasion for Jax State.
But Kennesaw State is ready for a rematch.
The Owls (9-3, 7-1) have been pretty dominant against Group of Five competition this year. After losing to Wake Forest 10-9 and Indiana 56-9, the Owls won nine of their last 10 games during the regular season.
Of course, that one loss was against the team they will face next with a conference title on the line.
Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State Betting Odds
Jacksonville State is a +2.5 college football betting odds underdog against Kennesaw State, with the Over/Under being 60.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for Kennesaw State is -140, while it’s +115 for Jacksonville State.
Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State On TV
The matchup between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will be televised on CBSSN.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 5. The contest is taking place at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State Prediction
I predict Kennesaw State will win and cover the 2.5-point spread. I also project the game to go Over 60.5 total points.
I expect this to be a close battle, even closer than it was last time. And I think both offenses are going to shine, even if they’ll do so differently.
Jax State leads CUSA with 30.2 points per game while the Owls are fifth with 29.1 PPG. And they’ve moved the ball in different ways.
Jax State leads Conference USA and is third in the country with 262 rushing yards per game. CUSA MVP Cam Cook leads the country with 1,581 rushing yards and is tied for seventh with 15 TDs on the ground.
Meanwhile, Kennesaw State is second in CUSA in passing offense efficiency. Owls quarterback Amari Odom, a first-team All-CUSA selection, has thrown for 2,139 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions while rushing for 379 yards and seven scores. All-CUSA first-team wide receiver Gabriel Benyard has caught 54 passes for 877 yards and nine scores.
Ultimately, I think Kennesaw State’s passing game finds a rhythm on the road. And I believe CUSA Coach of the Year Jerry Mack will have the Owls fully prepared for a game with so much at stake.
