Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston Prediction: Will the Gamecocks Run Wild?

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 4:39 AM ET

Just when it seemed like Sam Houston was ready to get the season going, it got shoved around too easily by New Mexico State last week in a 37-10 loss.

It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Bearkats, and it's proving to be just that. The schedule hasn't helped with four road games in the first five, but now they finally get a winnable home game.

Jacksonville State is also in a rebuild mode, but its ground game has been great. It has a good win over Liberty, but it's 0-3 on the road so far. If there's any realistic hope of going bowling, the Gamecocks have to steal a win here.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Sam Houston Bearkats Preview

How To Watch Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston

Thursday, October 9, 2025
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Location: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX

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Why Jacksonville State Will Win

The ground game is still amazing.

It's not quite the same as it was with Rich Rodriguez around, but head coach Charles Kelly has kept around many of the same things that worked.

The ground game is sixth in the nation, averaging 216 yards per game; it's relentless, and Sam Houston should have a hard time stopping any aspect of it.

The Bearkat front held up against New Mexico State, but overall, the team can't get any control. The offense is among the worst in the nation on third downs, the defense is equally bad at stopping teams on third downs, and nothing is moving.

Why Sam Houston Will Win

The Bearkats have to start converting on their third-down chances, and this is the game to do it.

Jacksonville State doesn't have a pass rush and can't get behind the line. Sam Houston needs to grind away from the start, try to control the clock a little bit, and keep on pounding.

On the road, the Gamecocks couldn't do anything when Southern Miss and Georgia Southern kept on feeding their respective ground attacks, combining to run 92 times. Sam Houston should get results if it can push past 35 carries.

Can Sam Houston do anything to control the Lines?

The Bearkats have a wildly inconsistent passing attack, but it'll stress test the Gamecock secondary enough to make this a fun back-and-forth fight.

The problem is a Jacksonville State ground game that will be too good and too effective, even on the road. Sam Houston doesn't have enough firepower to push through in the fourth quarter when it needs to get the ball back.

Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston Prediction, Betting Lines

Jacksonville State 34, Sam Houston 26
Line: Jacksonville State -7, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 2

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

- CFN Rankings

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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