Jacksonville State set to face UCF in highly anticipated season opener at FBC Mortgage Stadium

In this upcoming matchup between Jacksonville State and UCF, both teams are entering the season with 0-0 records. The Gamecocks are coming off a successful 2024 season, finishing with a 9-5 record and winning the Conference USA title, while the Bulls struggled with a 4-8 record and finished 14th in the Big 12 standings. This will be the first meeting between the two teams, and the game will take place at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando on Thursday night at 7 PM ET. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this Gamecocks vs. Bulls prediction.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Gamecocks +738 | Golden Knights -1200
Spread: Gamecocks +20.5 (-110) | Golden Knights -20.5 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 53 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Central Florida will win straight-up is 92%.

Jacksonville St. Gamecocks

Jacksonville State University's football team had a successful season last year, winning the Conference USA Championship in just their second year in the FBS. Head coach Rich Rodriguez departed to return to West Virginia, with former Auburn defensive coordinator Charles Kelly taking over. The team is hoping to repeat as conference champions under Kelly's leadership. The Gamecocks had a strong offensive showing last season, ranking sixth in the nation with an average of 36.1 points per game. However, they will be without key players such as Tyler Huff, the 2024 Conference USA Player of the Year. Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt is expected to take the lead, with former TCU running back Cam Cook expected to play a major role in their rushing game. On defense, Jacksonville State gave up an average of 26.1 points per game last season, ranking 65th in the country. They will need to improve their defense, particularly against the run, in order to maintain their success this season.

Central Florida Golden Knights

The UCF Knights recently parted ways with Gus Malzahn and welcomed back Scott Frost, who led the team to a perfect season in 2017. Despite only winning four games last season and 10 total games since the 2023 season, there is hope that Frost can restore the team to its past glory. Last season, the Knights averaged 28 points per game, ranking 53rd in the country. They also threw for 199.7 yards and rushed for 248.1 yards per game. With a quarterback battle during Spring, former Florida Atlantic and Marshall starter Cam Fancher, along with former Indiana backup Marshall Jackson, are favored for the starting job. Miles Montgomery is expected to lead the backfield, with Jaden NCAAF Predictions also in the mix for carries. Defensively, UCF gave up an average of 29.1 points per game, ranking 84th in the country. They were 29th against the run and 73rd against the pass.

UCF's Strong Ground Game Presents Challenge for Gamecocks Defense

Despite the Knights' limited success in the previous season, they demonstrated strong offensive prowess, largely due to one of the nation's top ground games. With the return of a key rusher and the addition of depth through Nixon, the team has bolstered their offensive capabilities. On the other hand, the Gamecocks struggled defensively against the run in the last season. While improvements are expected under defensive-minded Kelly's leadership, they will likely face challenges containing the Knights' formidable ground attack. With significant turnover in offensive starters for the Gamecocks, they are anticipated to rely heavily on their running game. However, they will be up against a stout defense that excelled in stopping the run. Given the potential quarterback transition issues, UCF is poised to capitalize on the Gamecocks' struggles and neutralize their running game, making them the favorable choice to cover the spread.

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