After a three-game slate on Tuesday, the midweek college football action continues on Wednesday with a pair of battles in the South, including Delaware vs. Jacksonville State.
The Blue Hens have looked quite comfortable in their first season in the FBS ranks, scoring wins over Delaware State, UConn, and FIU, while dropping games against Colorado and Western Kentucky.
The Gamecocks know that game quite well, as they bumped up from the FCS in 2023.
Jacksonville State was pegged for a down year after Rich Rodriguez departed for West Virginia, but the Gamecocks have clawed their way to a 2-0 start in Conference USA.
Delaware is a slight favorite on the road on Wednesday evening.
Delaware vs. Jacksonville State odds, prediction
There is an intriguing storyline for this game, and the rest of the Conference USA season, emerging. Jacksonville State made a switch at quarterback, replacing Gavin Wimsatt with freshman Caden Creel, midway through a loss to Southern Miss on Sept. 27.
So far, it looks like a stroke of genius from the coaching staff.
Not only did Creel complete 13 of his 17 passes for 129 yards in a win over Sam Houston State last week, but he also chipped in 132 yards with his feet. He ran for 162 yards against the Golden Eagles in JSU’s previous game.
It’s a small sample, and Sam Houston State is one of the worst teams in the country, but Creel’s emergence does raise the ceiling for Jacksonville State in what should be a wide-open race to secure a spot in the Conference USA Championship Game.
Betting on College Football?
Delaware comes into Wednesday night in an advantageous schedule spot since the Blue Hens are coming off a long break, while Jacksonville State played less than a week ago, but I think the road team is getting a little bit too much respect in this one.
The Blue Hens have put together an encouraging three-game run with wins against UConn and FIU, plus a hard-fought loss to C-USA favorite Western Kentucky, but it’s hard to trust this defense as a road favorite, especially against a potential game-breaker at quarterback.
There should be plenty of points in this one, but I like the value on Jacksonville State at home in what projects to be a coin flip.
The Play: Jacksonville State moneyline (+116, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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