Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State Prediction & Betting Picks (November 15th, 2025)
The battle for the Conference USA title is officially on this Saturday, when visiting Kennesaw State will be -156 favorites to wrestle sole possession of first place from Jacksonville State.
The Kennesaw State Owls come in with a strong 7-2 record and are undefeated in Conference USA play, while they are red hot behind a seven-game winning streak.
Jacksonville State is a 3.5-point underdog despite being perfect at home on the year. The magnitude of this game and how good both teams have been set up for a tense battle that could go down to the wire.
That makes coming away with a Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State prediction difficult, but I’ll inspect the latest odds and key matchups to point you to some winning picks.
Game Basics & Context
- Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls (7-2) vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks (6-3)
- Date & Time: Saturday, November 15th, with kickoff at 7:00 pm CT (8:00 pm ET)
- Venue: AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, AL
- How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Betting Odds
Check out the latest Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State odds, per FanDuel:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Kennesaw State | -3.5 (-104) | -156 | O 55.5 (-110) |
Jacksonville State | +3.5 (-118) | +132 | U 55.5 (-110) |
Rivalry & Venue Context
This rivalry is not an extensive one, as these two sides have only faced off five times. Kennesaw State holds the narrow edge (3-2) in what has been a series of runs.
Kennesaw State claimed the first three wins, with a 2018 battle producing an insane 60-52 thriller. Jacksonville State bounced back with wins in the last two meetings, winning a 35-28 shootout in 2022 and then obliterating the Owls 63-24 in last year’s meeting.
Saturday’s tense Conference USA tilt goes down at AmFirst Stadium, where the GameCocks (3-0) have yet to lose in 2025. The home team is just 3-2 so far in this limited series, however.
Why This Game Matters
This one is as big as it gets. There is no major bad blood between two teams that haven’t played each other that much, but there’s no doubt Kennesaw State wouldn’t mind some revenge after getting stomped by the Gamecocks last season.
More than that, of course, this game is for sole possession of first place in the Conference USA. Both teams enter with strong overall records, but share equally perfect (5–0) marks within the conference.
Western Kentucky University (5-1 in the conference) is breathing down both of these team’s necks, putting the loser at a major disadvantage with these three teams vying for the top spot.
Nobody here can make a push for the CFP, but the top three teams in Conference USA will be jockeying for position when it comes to bowl games. The conference title is the big thing these teams want, though, and a win on Saturday could secure it.
Team Profiles
Kennesaw State Owls
The Owls have been very good all year. They lost to Wake Forest by one point in a defensive battle back in week one, and they got crushed by Indiana, who have been one of the best teams in all of college football.
Their response? Ripping off seven straight wins and going perfect in Conference USA action. A big reason for their success has been running back Coleman Bennett (468 rushing yards), who leads a balanced ground game that ranks 54th in rushing yards per game.
Dual threat quarterback Amari Odom has been helpful on the ground as well, while he’s kept defenses guessing with big plays down the field. He leads a run-heavy attack that is capable enough, but really hangs its collective hat on ball control and mistake-free football.
Kennesaw State is more impressive on defense, where they allow just over 22 points per game (35th) and average 1.1 takeaways per game. A decent pass rush allows them generate solid pressure, while they don’t give up big plays down the field very frequently.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
The Gamecocks have one more loss than the Owls, but they are also 5-0 in the conference and come in plenty hot, having won their last four contests.
Jacksonville State is an interesting home dog in this spot, especially since they completely destroyed the Owls the last time they ran into them. The Gamecocks are a similar offensive team, but they want to run more than almost anyone in college football.
The Gamecocks have an absurd 66% rush rate (6th in the nation) and are very good at enforcing their will on the ground. Volume is certainly part of it, but they rank 17th in yards per rush en route to the country’s 5th most productive rushing attack.
That unit is paced by the electrifying Cam Cook, who is having a sensational season with 1,181 rushing yards and 12 scores. Operating at a 5.9 yards per carry clip, he is definitely a major problem for Kennesaw State to solve.
The Gamecocks do have an issue of their own, as they are not very effective through the air and they are obviously quite one-dimensional. If their running game doesn’t show up, they could be in serious trouble.
Defensively, the Gamecocks aren’t elite. They allow 28 points per game and don’t particularly excel at anything on that side of the ball.
Key Matchup Angles
Consider the following key matchups:
- Cam Cook vs. Kennesaw State’s run defense: The Gamecocks want (and need) to run the ball, so unleashing the fury of Cam Cook on a suspect Owls run defense is key. There isn’t much to suggest they will struggle in that plight, of course.
- Amari Odom vs. Jacksonville State’s pass rush: Odom does not take a lot of sacks, while he contributes to Kennesaw State’s ground game. If the Gamecocks can’t find a way to disrupt his flow, he could have a lot of success in this matchup.
- Red-Zone Battle: This could be the key to the game. The Gamecocks have an elite red-zone offense (25th), but they happen to be running into one of the top red-zone defenses (31st), too.
Betting Insights & Trends
This has been a series of runs, with Jacksonville State currently dominating the series with two straight wins. It’s a thin edge, but the home team is also 3-2 through five meetings.
Kennesaw State has been rock solid (6-3) against the spread in 2025. They are just 3-2 against the spread when favored, but they are 4-1 ATS in Conference USA games.
Jacksonville State has not been as good against the spread (4-5), but they are 3-2 ATS as the underdog and 2-1 against the spread as the home team.
Best Bets & Confidence Levels
Check out my favorite Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State picks:
| Bet | Recommendation | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Jacksonville State ATS +3.5 (-118) | The Gamecocks can really punish Kennesaw State on the ground and I think that matchup is the key. They are also at home, while they tend to play close games (3 of last 4 have been decided by 3 points or less). | 7/10 |
Under 55.5 (-110) | Kennesaw State limits teams to just 22.1 points per game, while Jacksonville State loves running at an insane rate. That combination – plus the stakes in this game – point to a low-scoring defensive battle. | 7/10 |
Kennesaw State ML (-156) | I like the Gamecocks to keep this close, but Kennesaw State is still the team that has the overall edge. They are far more balanced than Jacksonville State and they have the way better defense. | 6/10 |
- Primary Pick: Jacksonville State ATS +3.5 (-118)
- Secondary Pick: Under 55.5 (-110)
Both teams have been in fantastic form and there is a ton on the line. Jacksonville State gets credit for this game being in their own backyard, and also being able to gut out close wins.
Kennesaw State is more balanced with superior defense, though. I think they win a close game that is light on points. Both teams love to run, so we should be looking at a moving clock in a game that goes down to the wire.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
Sometimes even the best wagers can fail. Here are some reasons why my Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State bets could whiff:
- One-Dimensional: Kennesaw State doesn’t consistently blow teams out, but they do have some convincing wins and they have a clear path to dominance; stop the run.
- Suspect Defense: Usually one strong defense and two teams wanting to run the ball should lead to a lower scoring game. However, Jacksonville State does give up 28 points per game. It isn’t impossible for that to lead to the Over.
- Home Field Edge: Jacksonville State is 3-0 at home and the home team has gone 3-2 in this series. It’s possible the home field advantage could kick in and play a bigger factor.
Putting Our Pick on the Board: Here’s How It Plays Out
Final Score Prediction: Kennesaw State 27, Jacksonville State 24
I think we give Under bettors a good sweat, but the way these teams play suggests a tight, low-scoring game. This total is a bit ambitious in general, while it’s worth noting Kennesaw State’s last two games hit the Under.
The Gamecocks can absolutely dominate on the ground and they do carry a mild edge with this game being played in front of their fans. But if their running game doesn’t control this game, it could really blow up in their face. Look for a close game that very well could come down to a last second field goal, with the Gamecocks beating the spread and the Under delivering, but the Owls coming away with the win.
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