The Ohio Bobcats and Jacksonville State Gamecocks will meet for the first time in the Cure Bowl this year. However, one side is at a notable disadvantage.
Who will come out on top? Our Ohio vs. Jacksonville State prediction breaks down everything you need to know — from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they battle in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl.
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State Cure Bowl Betting Preview
All Ohio vs. Jacksonville State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Ohio -1 - Spread
Ohio -3 - Moneyline
Ohio -162, Jacksonville State +136 - Over/Under
54.5 points - Game Time
Noon ET, Friday, Dec. 20 - Location
Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Fla. - Predicted Weather at Kick
61 degrees, 6 mph winds, partly cloudy - How To Watch
ESPN
Both of these teams are hot against the spread, with Ohio going 6-0 ATS in its last six games and Jacksonville State producing a 6-3 ATS record in its last nine.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
The two are also tied at the hip in terms of the total, with the under hitting in four of the Bobcats’ previous five contests and four of the Gamescocks’ past six.
Ohio’s Winning Probability
Tim Albin has been with Ohio since 2005. Apparently, 19 years is enough in one place. With Albin off to the Charlotte 49ers, the Bobcats will turn to just its third head coach since 2004. But first, they have one game left in the 2024 season.
- at Jacksonville State: 50.8%
Jacksonville State’s Winning Probability
Rich Rodriguez may be with the West Virginia Mountaineers now, but that doesn’t dilute what he did in his two years with the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State went 8-4 in back-to-back regular seasons and went so far as to win the CUSA championship in only its second year at the FBS level. They’ll need a steady hand to maintain that success, but the foundation is set.
- vs. Ohio: 49.2%
Prediction for Ohio vs. Jacksonville State
The Gamecocks completed their dream season with a 42-12 drubbing of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the CUSA Championship Game, but how much gas in the tank do they have left with Rodriguez gone?
The Bobcats are in a nearly identical situation. They crushed the Miami RedHawks 38-3 for their first-ever MAC title, but Albin is elsewhere, and a cloud of uncertainty looms over the program.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
At least neither squad has been decimated by the transfer portal, meaning the depth charts and schemes should remain the same for the rest of the season. So, how does the matchup break down?
Both sides rank in the top 10 in rush rate (Jacksonville State 67.3%, fourth; Ohio 60.8%, 10th), but only one has been able to slow opposing ground games: the Bobcats.
- Defensive EPA per rush: Ohio 58th; Jacksonville State 93rd
- Defensive rush success rate: Ohio 27th; Jacksonville State 91st
- Defensive net points per drive: Ohio 11th; Jacksonville State 54th
Prediction: Ohio 34, Jacksonville State 20
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