Jacksonville State faces Kennesaw State in a Wednesday night Conference USA showdown as both teams look to settle their ongoing rivalry.
The lights at Fifth Third Stadium will hum to life this Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET as Jacksonville State travels to Kennesaw, Georgia, to face the Kennesaw State Owls. It is a pivotal moment for both programs. arriving as Kennesaw State opens its Conference USA slate and the Gamecocks look to maintain their recent momentum.
Jacksonville State enters the matchup with a 3-2 record. riding a two-game winning streak that includes a 23-13 victory over Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 26. Despite their form, the Gamecocks remain winless on the road at 0-2 this season. Conversely, Kennesaw State sits at 1-3 overall and 1-1 at home. The Owls are searching for a reset after a narrow 17-14 loss to Arkansas State on Sept. 26, a result that marked their third consecutive defeat.
The history between these two programs is as close as the stakes suggest. Kennesaw State holds a slim 4-3 edge in the all-time series. Last year, the two schools split their meetings, though Kennesaw State claimed the defining victory with a 19-15 win in the conference title game.
On the field, the game pits two dual-threat quarterbacks against one another. Jacksonville State’s Caden Creel has been the engine for his team. completing 69% of his passes for 1. 112 yards and nine touchdowns against four interceptions. He is just as dangerous on the ground, leading the Gamecocks with 375 rushing yards and three scores on 76 carries. Kennesaw State counters with Rickie Collins. who has completed 68.1% of his passes for 749 yards. two touchdowns. and one interception. while contributing 185 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 40 attempts.
The betting line reflects the tight margin expected, with the Gamecocks sitting as 3-point road favorites. With an over/under set at 48.5. analysts point to recent trends: the over has hit in two of the last three head-to-head meetings and in three of the last four Jacksonville State games. Statistical projections indicate a high-scoring potential, with models forecasting a total of 54 points in this matchup.
Both teams carry identical records of three against-the-spread wins this season. As the Gamecocks look to secure their first road win of the year, the Owls hope to lean on their home-field advantage to spark a turnaround in their conference debut.
Jacksonville State Kennesaw State CFB Wednesday night football Caden Creel Rickie Collins Conference USA