Two of the top teams in CUSA this fall come together under the Tuesday night lights as the 4-2 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers travel to Alabama to take on the 5-2 Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
Who emerges victorious? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky prediction.
Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Western Kentucky -7 - Moneyline
Western Kentucky -305, Jacksonville State +245 - Over/Under
61 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Burgess-Snow Field, Jacksonville, AL - Predicted Weather at Kick
46 degrees, 3-5 mph winds, mostly clear - How to Watch
ESPNU, FuboTV
Can you trust Western Kentucky to get you a win on Tuesday night?
Going to place a little stake on Jacksonville State?
If you’re going to take advantage of the Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Undefeated through two CUSA games, Western Kentucky comes into this Tuesday night conference matchup as a moneyline favorite. The Hilltoppers were most people’s bet for the CUSA title ahead of the season, with this game with Jacksonville State earmarked as an easy win.
Now, we think it’ll be far from easy, but Tyson Helton’s team has what it takes to get the road win.
MORE: Midseason Conference USA Honors
If you use the past to dictate the future, Western Kentucky should also cover the spread. The Hilltoppers are 4-2 against the spread this season, and have covered every game where they’re a less than two-score favorite. Jacksonville State is 2-2 as an underdog, adding fuel to that feeling. However, this game has the potential to feature a push on the spread.
Despite losing offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Washington State, the Western Kentucky offense still has high-power potential. They’ve scored 30+ points in four of six games this season. Meanwhile, the defense has allowed 20+ points in all-bar-one game. What we’re getting at here is prepare for a high-scoring affair, with the distinct possibility of covering the line.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Jacksonville State Depth Chart | Western Kentucky Depth Chart
- QB Austin Reed, Western Kentucky ($10,500)
- QB Logan Smothers, Jacksonville State ($8,000)
- QB Zion Webb, Jacksonville State ($8,000)
- QB Ashton Frye, Jacksonville State ($8,000)
- RB Malik Jackson, Jacksonville State ($8,000)
- RB Markese Stepp, Western Kentucky ($6,100)
- RB Anwar Lewis, Jacksonville State ($6,000)
- RB Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Western Kentucky ($5,700)
- RB Elijah Young, Western Kentucky ($5,400)
- RB L.T. Sanders, Western Kentucky ($5,000)
- RB J’Wan Evans, Jacksonville State ($4,400)
- WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky ($9,800)
- WR Easton Messer, Western Kentucky ($7,600)
- WR Perry Carter, Jacksonville State ($7,500)
- WR Jimmy Holiday, Western Kentucky ($5,700)
- WR Quinton Lane, Jacksonville State ($5,600)
- WR Dalvin Smith, Western Kentucky ($5,400)
- WR Michael Pettway, Jacksonville State ($5,200)
- WR Moussa Barry, Western Kentucky ($5,100)
- TE Sean Brown, Jacksonville State ($5,500)
- TE River Helms, Western Kentucky ($5,300)
There are three college football games on Tuesday to compile your DFS team from in Week 8. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “superflex” that can be any of the above. Or you can also select a tight end for the Superflex spot.
There are a couple of “must make” Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky picks for both your fantasy and DFS teams/lineups. Hilltoppers WR Malachi Corley is hot off a hat-trick of touchdowns against Louisiana Tech and is the highest-scoring CUSA fantasy WR in action on Tuesday night.
It’s not an easy matchup, but he’ll lead the Western Kentucky offense.
Jacksonville State running back Malik Jackson is the other “must-start” playmaker in this game. The Gamecocks offense has very much gone how he goes, and there’s a decent matchup for him to exploit on the ground against the Hilltoppers.
He’s the highest-scoring CUSA RB for fantasy purposes, bar none.
Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed is also likely to scoop a spot on your DFS lineup, whether at QB or superflex. Unless values completely force your hand, tight end isn’t really a consideration for your DFS lineup.
However, for pure college football fantasy football purposes, Jacksonville State tight end Sean Brown is a reliable scoring option as a top-50 TE.
Prediction for Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Can Jacksonville State get back to winning ways after their defeat to Liberty last time out?
Is Western Kentucky going to walk over the Gamecocks as they cakewalk their way through their CUSA schedule?
Well, I certainly don’t think that the Hilltoppers will walk all over the Gamecocks in this highly-exciting matchup. With running back Jackson leading the offense — not to mention the dual-threat capability of both quarterbacks who’ve taken the start this fall — the offense can capitalize on a defense that ranks in the bottom half of CUSA for most major run defense metrics.
Similarly, the Jacksonville State defense has the potential to cause some issues for the Western Kentucky offense.
Their edge rushers are potent, and with Quae Drake and Kolbi Fuqua flying downhill, the Gamecocks can be a ferocious menace to contend with. Western Kentucky hasn’t the ground game to cause the same issues that Liberty did one week ago.
However, the Gamecocks have now given up 28+ points in four of their last five games, with three of 30+. Despite a defense that’s nabbed the second most interceptions in CUSA, they’ve allowed 7.7 yards per play to the passing game without facing a QB/WR duo on the same level as Reed/Corley.
That could prove the difference maker in what should be a great midweek game.
Prediction: Jacksonville State 28, Western Kentucky 35