It’s Friday, and we are diving into some prime college football action. With conference championships on deck, I’m here to break down the best Western Kentucky-Jacksonville State pick. Be sure to head to OddsShopper for more FREE expert CFB picks and best bets, college football betting advice and +EV college football bets!
Free College Football Expert Pick Today: Western Kentucky-Jacksonville State
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Quick look back at yesterday: Detroit Lions. What a game. Unfortunately, we got hooked, but if you were lucky enough to grab +3, at least you got a push. We’re sitting at 2-3 for the month, but let’s aim to flip that to 3-3 with tonight’s pick.
Free CFB Expert Pick: Jacksonville State -4.5 (-110)
Jacksonville State has been my ride-or-die all season, for better or worse. I started the year betting on it against Coastal Carolina, and it promptly got blown out by 30 points. After an 0-3 start, I figured I’d misread it completely.
But how about this? Jacksonville State has since gone 8-1, rattling off eight straight wins before a narrow 19-17 road loss to Western Kentucky last week. This team has turned it around in a big way, and I’m sticking with it tonight.
There’s a lot to unpack here, especially with Jacksonville State’s quarterback situation. Starter Tyler Huff got banged up last week, leaving Logan Smothers potentially stepping in. Smothers is a capable backup, and while Huff’s status is a game-time decision, I’m not overly concerned.
This team thrives on its ground game. Huff is a key part of that attack, but even without him, Jacksonville State can move the ball effectively against Western Kentucky. Last week’s game was sloppy — field goals, turnovers — but that’s not representative of what we’ll see tonight.
Another key factor is homefield advantage. This game is in Jacksonville, Alabama, giving the Gamecocks a significant edge.
The Hilltoppers have been up and down this season, posting an 8-4 record. They opened the year with a blowout loss to Alabama and dropped a few other games along the way. Their quarterback play is solid, but their rushing attack doesn’t scare me.
This game will come down to whether Jacksonville State can establish the run and control the game flow.
The line is moving in Jacksonville State’s favor, which suggests Huff might play. But even if he doesn’t, I’m confident Smothers can manage the game well enough for the Gamecocks to get the job done. This reminds me of last week’s Virginia Tech bet — another quarterback uncertainty situation — and we still cashed.
Best Western Kentucky-Jacksonville State Bet: Jacksonville State -4.5 (-110) at DraftKings
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