Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State Picks and Prediction for Friday, December 5, 2025
Two newish FBS members are ready to battle in this Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State prediction. The Kennesaw State Owls play the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Friday in the Conference USA championship game at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama. Kennesaw State completed its regular season with a 48-42 victory over Liberty in double overtime. The Owls won each of their last two and 9 of the last 10 to finish tied for first with Jacksonville State. Rain is in the forecast and the temps are expected to be in the mid-40s.
The Gamecocks defeated Western Kentucky 37-34 to finish tied for first in conference play, but won the tiebreaker by defeating Kennesaw State during the regular season to host the conference championship game. Jacksonville State won six of its final seven games. Make sure to read this in-depth Kennesaw State Owls vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks prediction. Check out our top NCAAF picks on more big games at Winners and Whiners.
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Kennesaw State is solid on both sides of the line of scrimmage
During the regular season, the Kennesaw State Owls averaged 31.7 points per game on 448.9 yards of total offense, which were 57th and 43rd, respectively. Kennesaw had the 48th-best passing attack and 60th-best rushing game in the nation. The Owls’ defense allowed an average of 27.4 points and 448.7 yards per game, which were 72nd and 113th, respectively. The Owls were 102nd in rushing yards allowed and 106th in passing yards allowed per game.
Kennesaw State quarterback Amari Odom passed for 2,139 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, including 4 touchdown passes in the final game of the regular season versus Liberty. Coleman Bennett was the leading rusher with 634 yards and three touchdowns, while Odom scored seven touchdowns on the ground. Kennesaw State’s leading receiver is Gabriel Benyard, who had 877 yards with nine touchdown receptions. Linebacker Baron Hopson was the leading tackler with 120, which was 53 more than any other teammate. Kennesaw State’s defense finished the regular season with 29 quarterback sacks and seven interceptions
Key Injuries for Kennesaw State
no key recent injuries
Jacksonville State is strong on offense, while its defense needs to tighten up
During the regular season, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks were 46th in scoring, averaging 32.9 points per game, and 27th in total offense, averaging 467.5 points per game. The Gamecocks were third in rushing and 117th in passing yards per game. Jacksonville State’s defense allowed an average of 29.2 points per game, which was 87th, and was 97th in total yards allowed at 433.5 per game. The Gamecocks were 79th in rushing and 112th in passing yards allowed per game.
Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel passed for 1,245 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Cam Cook is the leading rusher with 1,588 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Creel rushed for 973 yards and six touchdowns. Jacksonville State's leading receiver was Deondre Johnson with 564 yards and six touchdown receptions. Linebacker Walker O’Steen was the leading tackler with 69. Jacksonville State's defense ended the regular season with 21 quarterback sacks and 12 interceptions.
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Key Injuries for Jacksonville State:
- WR Brock Rechsteiner (undisclosed) is questionable. Has 33 catches for 356 yards.
Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State Pick
Spread Pick for Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State
- Jacksonville State Gamecocks -2 (5 units)
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks defeated Kennesaw State during the regular season 35-26 at home and will do so again in the Conference USA championship game on Friday. Jacksonville State has the third-best running attack in the nation, averaging 285.8 yards per game, and will use that against a Kennesaw State defense that is 102nd against the run, allowing an average of 188.3 yards per game on the ground. Jacksonville State will give up plenty of yards to Kennesaw State, as the Gamecocks did not have a strong defense, but in the end, the ground game will eat enough time off the clock and give Kennesaw State fewer possessions to keep pace. Jacksonville State has covered the spread in four of its last six games. The Gamecocks have covered the spread in each of the last three meetings versus Kennesaw State, including this season's 9-point victory when 3.5-point home chalk.
Over/Under Pick for Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State
- Over 59.0 ( units)
These two combined to score 61 points during the regular season, and last season, when playing head-to-head, the two combined to score 87 points. The total has finished over five of Kennesaw State's last six games and in six of Jacksonville State's last eight games. Kennesaw State averages 31.7 points per game and allows an average of 27.4 per game, while Jacksonville State averages 32.9 points per game and allows an average of 29.2 per game.
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