The first game today features the Celebration Bowl between the Jackson State Tigers and the South Carolina State Bulldogs.
My Jackson State vs. South Carolina State predictions and college football picks will focus on value before kickoff at noon ET on December 14.
Jackson State vs South Carolina State prediction and best bet
Who will win Jackson State vs South Carolina State?
Looking more closely, these are a pair of one-loss teams in that each of these FCS teams lost one game to an FBS team, Jackson State 30-14 at Louisiana-Monroe and SC State 42-14 at Georgia Southern.
The Tigers are on a nine-game winning streak, as emphasized by Timothée Chalamet last weekend, while the Bulldogs are on their own eight-game winning streak. Neither team is accustomed to losing, but only one of them has a distinct piece of revenge as motivation.
SC State beat Jackson State in this game in 2021, and the current Tigers seniors undoubtedly remember that loss. Expect them to win this weekend.
My best bet
Jackson State moneyline (+110 at BetMGM)
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.
My analysis
Advanced numbers set this game as a pick’em at worst, and with Jackson State as a field-goal favorite at best. Let your thought process be that simple, taking the plus-money bet on a team that could arguably be favored.
But when someone asks you for further justification, let them know that Jackson State beat Florida A&M, 35-21, while SC State lost at Florida A&M, 22-18. That is not the best measuring stick, the transitive property is rarely a viable piece of handicapping, but it is a start.
Then continue by acknowledging that while Georgia Southern is about two touchdowns better than Louisiana-Monroe is this season, it was still notable that Jackson State played Monroe rather even through three quarters this year, trailing only 21-14 well into the fourth quarter. When SC State played up a level, it was blown off the field entirely, falling behind 21-7 halfway through the second quarter and valleying at 35-7 early in the third.
If your Saturday conversation is still not convinced and the thought of revenge for the 2021 Celebration Bowl loss does not appease them, then cap the conversation by pointing out SC State has had two weeks off and this spread likely reflects that. That alone highlights our inflated value here.
If anything, Jackson State is riding higher after walloping Southern last week, 41-13, in the SWAC Championship game to earn this chance at Celebration Bowl revenge.
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Jackson State vs South Carolina State Over/Under analysis
Jackson State has averaged 39 points this season in FCS play, while SC State hangs 37.6. Those numbers alone are not logically enough to induce you to the Over 53.5 points (-110 at BetMGM), but what if I told you the Tigers have scored 39.4 points per game in their last four while the Bulldogs have scored 47.6 points per game in their last five?
Still not enough? Then here, one more tidbit.
Perhaps it is the fast grass of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or the stakes of this matchup drawing more adrenaline. The coaching staff might just trot out more aggressive schemes in this national championship matchup.
Whatever the reasoning, the last four Celebration Bowls averaged 59 points on the scoreboard.
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Jackson State vs South Carolina State odds
Jackson State vs South Carolina State live odds
Jackson State vs South Carolina State opening odds
- Jackson State vs. South Carolina State spread: South Carolina State -2.5
- Jackson State vs. South Carolina State moneyline: Jackson State +110, South Carolina State -130
- Jackson State vs. South Carolina State Over/Under: 53.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
Jackson State vs South Carolina State game info
| Location: | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA |
| Date: | Saturday, 12-14-2024 |
| Kickoff: | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ABC |
Jackson State vs South Carolina State latest injuries
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