The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are set to take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in a Tuesday night showdown on Oct. 17. It will be the first meeting between the two programs as members of Conference USA. To make the action even better, you can claim several Kentucky sports betting welcome bonuses with our promo codes.
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Western Kentucky vs Jacksonville State preview
Despite playing on the road, oddsmakers have the Hilltoppers listed as 7.5-point favorites on most Kentucky sportsbooks. The total, or over/under, is listed at 60 points. Let’s take a closer look at this matchup to see who has the edge.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Aiming For Third Straight Win
Western Kentucky has had a few extra days to prepare for Jacksonville State, as the Hilltoppers were last in action on Oct. 5 against Louisiana Tech. Jacksonville State last played on Oct. 10, so WKU is looking to take advantage of the extra prep time. Led by QB Austin Reed, the Hilltopper offense has been formidable, but it has not been able to click like it has in years past. Perhaps the bye week enables them to get things going more efficiently on offense. Big plays could be available, as Jacksonville State ranks 120th in passing explosiveness allowed. Thus, converting on big plays down the field will be a big focus for the Hilltoppers in this one.
Defensively, opposing rushing attacks have given the Hilltoppers fits so far this season. WKU ranks 122nd in rushing success rate allowed, and are giving up 194 yards per game on the ground. For context, only 12 teams at the FBS level are allowing more rushing yards per game. Jacksonville State loves to run the ball, so if the Hilltoppers want to come out on top, the run defense is going to have to step up in a big way.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks: Can The Gamecocks Overcome Injuries?
Jacksonville State has surprised people, posting a 5-2 overall record so far in its first season at the FBS level. The Gamecocks are coming off a home loss at the hands of undefeated Liberty. The Gamecocks scored 13 points, and although WKU’s defense is far from elite, a plethora of injuries could make it tough for Jacksonville State to light up the scoreboard in this one.
Quarterbacks Zion Webb and Logan Smothers both went down with injuries against Liberty, and their status for Tuesday is in doubt. Running back Malik Jackson was also injured last week, putting the Jacksonville State rushing attack in a tough spot. As previously mentioned, the Gamecocks prefer to run the ball, but they will be playing this one potentially without their top three rushers. That is a tough hill to climb for any offense, let alone a run-first offense against a well-rested defense.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks Prediction
There are a lot of question marks surrounding both of these offenses. Western Kentucky is a pass-heavy attack, but Reed has been inconsistent all season long. The Hilltoppers haven’t been able to find a groove, and the big plays haven’t been there. On the other side, even without their top rushers, it’s hard to imagine the Gamecocks straying from their run-first identity. If that is the case, the clock could be moving and the total number of possessions for each team could be limited. Look for this to be a lower-scoring game and consider the Under 60. The Under on Jacksonville State’s team total of 25.5 could also be worth a look.
