In their first season in both Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision, Jacksonville State comes ready to play with the infamous Rich Rodriguez as their head coach. The current college football odds are kind to the newcomers, putting the Jacksonville State win projections at five total wins.
Can they make some waves in the new-look C USA this season?
College Football Odds – Jacksonville State Win Projections: O/U 5 Total Wins
The Gamecocks are officially in the FBS, and C USA is going to be interesting this fall.
Both Jacksonville State and Sam Houston join the conference from the FCS, along with the Liberty Flames from the Independents. Starting quarterback Zion Webb was given a seventh year of eligibility and that will give the Gamecocks a good baseline to transition into the higher level of competition.
MORE: FBS College QB Rankings, 1-133
Last season, the Gamecocks finished 9-2 in the Atlantic Sun conference but were ineligible for postseason play due to the transition up a level. Their only losses were to SE Louisiana, 31-14, and Tulsa, 54-17. That’s a good baseline for what they will look like in 2023 in the Conference USA.
The defense struggled last season in the FCS, but they do have some returning talent.
Edge rushers J-Rock Swain and Chris Hardie give them a solid pass rush, while linebacker Kolbi Fuqua transferring in from Auburn, should make an impact. Free safety Jeremiah Harris was granted an extra year of eligibility and returns as a veteran leader.
Should You Bet on the Gamecocks this Season?
This offense isn’t going to be like the West Virginia Mountaineers’ offenses of yesteryear. Pat White and Steve Slaton aren’t going to emerge out of the woods to lead this team.
What they do have is a baseline offensive scheme that will make them exciting, though.
Teams don’t often see success in their first year in the FBS, but most teams don’t have an experienced and seasoned head coach.
Five wins isn’t much, but for a team going up a level, it can be substantial. James Madison had a tremendous season last year finishing 8-3, but they were competing for and winning FCS titles prior to their transition.
The odds for over five wins on Draft Kings Sportsbook is +130 with the under of -160. This is another example of taking the over because five wins is a push.
The odds are nice for a possible gauntlet run for the Gamecocks’ whose only difficult games are at home back-to-back against Liberty and Western Kentucky, followed by a trip to South Carolina two weeks later.
It is plausible they already have four to five wins by the time that stretch hits.
Bet: Over 5 wins (+130)
