South Carolina State vs Jackson State Celebration Bowl Picks and Predictions: Overvalued Tigers

The South Carolina State Bulldogs face the Jackson State Tigers in the Celebration Bowl as part of a jam-packed college football bowl game schedule on Saturday, December 18, though it's technically not an FBS Bowl game.

Deion Sanders returns to Atlanta as he leads Jackson State against South Carolina State in front of a sell-out crowd in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’ll be the first sell-out in the event’s short history, as the 74,295-seat stadium will be packed to standing room only. 

Saturday marks the fifth edition of the Cricket Celebration Bowl, the only Bowl game between FCS schools and featuring the champions of the two D1 HBCU conferences, the SWAC and the MEAC. 

Will Jackson State continue its magical 11-1 season in the finale, or will South Carolina State shock the world?

See our full college football picks and predictions for the Celebration Bowl between the South Carolina State Bulldogs and the Jackson State Tigers to find out.

South Carolina State vs Jackson State odds

Odds courtesy of bet365 as of December 14, 2021.

Jackson State opened at -12 but the line quickly moved to -10. The total rose from 41.5 at open to 42.5 at current.

South Carolina State vs Jackson State predictions

• Prediction: South Carolina State +10 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 42.5 (-110)
• Best bet: First Half Under 21.5 (-110)

Predictions made on 12/14/2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

South Carolina State vs Jackson State game info

• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
• Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021
• Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC

South Carolina State vs Jackson State betting preview

Weather

This game will be played inside a dome at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, so the weather will not be a factor in our handicap.

Key injuries

South Carolina State: None.
Jackson State: None.
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.

South Carolina State vs Jackson State picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

All eyes will be on Deion Sanders' Jackson State squad during one of the most unique events during Bowl season: the Celebration Bowl. All that attention in front of a sold-out crowd leads us to believe that Jackson State is being slightly overvalued in the betting market, so we’re taking a look at the overlooked underdog in this spot.

We acknowledge that Jackson State has been impressive, finishing with an 11-1 in the first full season under Sanders, with the only loss coming to FBS school Louisiana-Monroe. They’ve primarily gotten things done on the defensive end, as they lead the FCS in sacks and tackles for a loss.

Sanders’s son Shedeur Sanders has looked great at quarterback en route to becoming the first player from an HBCU to win the Jerry Rice Award, given to the best FCS freshman. That being said, the offense has been somewhat hit or miss, finishing with under 30 points in eight games. It’s hard to cover a 10-point spread in a low-scoring affair, and this total sits at only 42.5. That’s too slim of a margin to expect Jackson State to cover.

South Carolina State struggled out of the gates with four losses in its first five games but went on a tear to end the season. The Bulldogs won five of their last six under legendary coach Buddy Pough and are no easy out. There’s legitimate NFL talent in the secondary in senior defensive back Decobie Durant, winner of the 2021 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. Clemson fans will remember the name after he picked off the Tigers twice back in September.

The Bulldogs are on a roll and they’re catching a few too many points in this spot. This should be a low-scoring game in a highly volatile matchup in a unique environment. That variance will ultimately favor the underdog.

Prediction: South Carolina State +10 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

If there’s one thing we can trust in this unusual handicap, it’s that Jackson State’s defense will come ready to play. The Tigers have completely suffocated opposing offenses to the tune of allowing only 13.5 points per game. They lead the FCS in sacks and tackles for loss per game while allowing only 2.8 yards per rush. This is an Under team if we’ve ever seen one.

Offensively, the Tigers have struggled to run the ball, averaging less than 100 yards per game on the ground. While Sanders has been great throwing the ball, it’s important to keep in mind that there will be a lot on his shoulders as a freshman playing in front of a sell-out crowd. If Sanders can light up the scoreboard against a solid team given all other conditions, it’s time we start talking about his NFL draft future. Until we see that happen, however, we’re going to bet on Decobie Durant and this Bulldogs defense to keep Jackson State in the 20s on the scoreboard, something that’s happened more than half the time this season.

Jackson State and its opponents have gone under 42.5 combined points in three straight games. We expect that to continue here.

Prediction: Under 42.5 (-110)

Best bet

We like the full game Under and South Carolina State against the spread, but our best bet is a play on the first half Under between two defensive-minded teams playing in an environment they are accustomed to. 

The atmosphere will be electric in front of a sold-out crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both teams will come to play, but neither is accustomed to playing in this environment. It’ll take a while for both teams to work out the nerves and re-calibrate, which plays right into a first half Under.

Pick: First Half Under 21.5 (-110)

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