The Jacksonville State Gamecocks will look to continue their early success at the FBS level as they take on the Ohio Bobcats in the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando today. Kickoff comes your way at Noon ET on ESPN.
A generous total in this game has me looking at betting the Under, as I’ll explain in my Ohio vs. Jacksonville State predictions below.
Read on for a full analysis of the Cure Bowl and my free college football picks for Friday, December 20.
Ohio vs Jacksonville State prediction and best bet
Who will win Ohio vs Jacksonville State?
This should be an excellent matchup between two conference champions who both come into this game on a roll. Ohio has the better track record of success, has been absolutely dominating its opponents over the past couple of months, and has one of the best defenses in the country – factors that I think will make the difference in this matchup. I’m predicting that the Bobcats get the win in this one.
My best bet
Under 56.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.
My analysis
The Ohio Bobcats won the Mid-American Conference this season on the back of its outstanding defense, which allowed just 17.5 ppg on the season, and had a habit of shutting teams down early in games. They’ll need that defense to show up strong on Friday against a Jacksonville State Gamecocks team that scored 36.7 ppg on its way to capturing the Conference USA title.
The biggest matchup will come in the running game. Tre Stewart was a monster out of the backfield for Jacksonville State, averaging 6.1 yards per carry and scoring 23 touchdowns on the year, while quarterback Tyler Huff contributed 14 more scores on the ground. But Ohio allowed only 3.1 yards per rush this year, proving to be one of the tougher defensive units to get going against in the country.
But while Jacksonville State’s offense looked formidable for most of the season, it showed signs of weakness against some of its strongest opponents. In particular, the Louisville Cardinals held the Gamecocks to just 14 points earlier this season, a potential warning sign as they now face a stout defense. We’ve seen Ohio at least hang in there defensively against high-powered offenses like the Syracuse Orange and Kentucky Wildcats, and the Gamecocks don’t have the talent — especially in the passing game — of those Power 4 squads.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio hasn’t been a powerhouse offensively, putting up just 29.2 ppg on the season against their mid-major schedule. So while Jacksonville State was merely adequate defensively — allowing a reasonable 5.5 yards per play and 25.8 ppg — the Bobcats shouldn’t be able to run up the scores against the Gamecocks, even if they’ve occasionally gone for 30+ against some of their weakest opponents.
With the Ohio defense likely to keep the Jacksonville State running game in check, and the Bobcats unlikely to pose an explosive threat themselves, this should be a tightly played game. We’re getting a pretty generous total here, and I’m taking the Under, as both teams have generally been playing lower-scoring football down the stretch.
Ohio vs Jacksonville State same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 56.5
Ohio -4.5
Parker Navarro anytime touchdown
The Ohio defense should be the difference in this showdown of conference champions, and that’s why I’m taking the Bobcats to cover this small spread to go along with the Under. Ohio has covered in six games in a row, and while this may be a close game, they should ultimately be too much for an up-and-coming Jacksonville State squad, pulling away in the second half.
One player who will likely score is Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro, who has 15 rushing scores on the year. Navarro has scored in five straight games – and has at least two touchdowns in each of his last four outings – so barring a complete change in the Bobcats offensive approach, he should be able to find the endzone again.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Ohio vs Jacksonville State odds
Ohio vs Jacksonville State live odds
Ohio vs Jacksonville State opening odds
- Ohio vs. Jacksonville State spread: Jacksonville State +4.5
- Ohio vs. Jacksonville State moneyline: Ohio -190, Jacksonville State +220
- Ohio vs. Jacksonville State Over/Under: 56.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
Ohio vs Jacksonville State spread and Over/Under analysis
- Ohio is 9-4 against the spread this season, while Jacksonville State has gone 7-6 ATS.
- The Bobcats come into the Cure Bowl having covered in six straight games.
- The Over has the 8-5 advantage when the Gamecocks have played this season, while the Under has the 7-6 edge in Ohio’s games.
- Jacksonville State is playing to an average total of 62.5 ppg, while Ohio is playing to an average total of 46.7 ppg.
- Covers Consensus data reveals that 64% of picks are taking Ohio to cover while 57% of picks like the Over.
Ohio vs Jacksonville State betting trend to know
The Under is 4-1 in Ohio’s last five games overall. Find more college football betting trends for Ohio vs Jacksonville State.
Ohio vs Jacksonville State game info
| Location: | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL |
| Date: | Friday, 12-20-2024 |
| Kickoff: | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Ohio vs Jacksonville State latest injuries
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Ohio vs Jacksonville State weather
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