Neither the Jacksonville State Gamecocks nor the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have been FBS programs for very long. However, both are making a good first impression during their early tenures. The Gamecocks made the move from the FCS level prior to last season and won nine games under Rich Rodriguez. The Chanticleers, meanwhile, have been at this level for seven seasons now and have a conference title and a pair of 11-win campaigns on their résumé.
Ahead of their Week 1 matchup, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Jacksonville State vs. Coastal Carolina prediction.
Jacksonville State vs. Coastal Carolina Betting and DFS Preview
- Spread
Jacksonville State -2.5 - Moneyline
Jacksonville State -130, Coastal Carolina +110 - Over/Under
55.5 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
AmFirst Stadium (AL), Jacksonville, AL - Predicted Weather at Kick
71 degrees, 7-10 mph winds, partly cloudy and humid - How to Watch
CBS Sports Network
The Week 1 slate in college football features only two FBS vs. FBS matchups on Thursday night. One is North Carolina visiting Minnesota. The other is this non-conference tilt between Coastal Carolina out of the Sun Belt and Jacksonville State out of Conference USA.
The Chanticleers will have to replace quarterback Grayson McCall, who threw for over 10,000 yards and 88 touchdowns before departing for NC State this offseason. Tim Beck’s offense will be in the hands of redshirt freshman Ethan Vasko, who appeared in eight games for Coastal Carolina last season, or Michigan State transfer, Noah Kim, who began the season as the Spartans’ starter.
The Gamecocks didn’t struggle in their maiden FBS voyage last season like most other programs do. They pieced together a 9-4 record and a New Orleans Bowl win over Louisiana — their first time playing a Conference USA schedule.
Jacksonville State runs the ball just as much as the service academies do, and that’s not an exaggeration. They averaged 49.8 rush attempts per game last season, more than Army and Navy, and only fewer than Air Force among all FBS teams.
The Gamecocks were a betting darling as well, covering eight of their 12 regular-season games in 2023, which included a 5-1 mark against the number when playing at home.
Coastal Carolina had the same ATS success (8-4-0) and was even better when the house had doubts about them. The Chanticleers went 6-2 against the spread as an underdog.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Ethan Vasko (CCU)
- QB Noah Kim (CCU)
- QB Logan Smothers (JST)
- RB Braydon Bennett (CCU)
- RB Anwar Lewis (JST)
- WR Jameson Tucker (CCU)
- WR Malick Meiga (CCU)
- WR Brannon Spector (JST)
- WR Samario Rudolph (JST)
- TE Kendall Karr (CCU)
- TE Sean Brown (JST)
Now that we know the Gamecocks like to run the ball, keep an eye on Anwar Lewis, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season in nine games for JSU. The senior running back never rushed it more than 17 times in a single game in 2023 but should have an expanded role behind an offensive line that returns three starters.
Prediction for Jacksonville State vs. Coastal Carolina
With each team playing to their strengths — which tends to happen more in early-season contests — the contrasting styles between the Chanticleers’ love to pass and the Gamecocks’ persistence to run should be on full display.
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Rodriguez has a long history of playing ball-control football, and he has the horses to do just that. The Gamecocks’ stable of running backs might be too much to handle in this one, and opening the season at home in front of their fans should only help.
Prediction: Jacksonville State 27, Coastal Carolina 21
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