The Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-3, 1-0 C-USA) will travel to Houston to face the Sam Houston Bearkats (0-5, 0-2 C-USA) on Thursday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Jacksonville State will look to stay perfect in conference play by getting their first road win of the season here. Sam Houston is simply looking for its first win of the 2025 campaign. Before kickoff in Conference USA, continue reading to get my Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston prediction below.
Our Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston Pick
- Pick: Under 55.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Sam Houston Bearkats
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
- Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston Odds
| Odds | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | -7.5 | -290 | Over 55.5 |
| Sam Houston | +7.5 | +240 | Under 55.5 |
Key Storylines
Quarterback Play
Jacksonville State quarterback Gavin Wimsatt has thrown for 576 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He will be more valuable in handing the ball off to workhorse running back Cam Cook than he will be throwing the football. Sam Houston’s Hunter Watson has accumulated 618 passing yards but has struggled with just one touchdown and three interceptions. Protecting the ball will be a key focus for both quarterbacks.
Sam Houston Searching For a Win
Sam Houston has yet to win a game so far this season. They are 0-5 and have an 0-2 record in CUSA play. The Bearkats deserve credit for not scheduling any FCS opponents early in the season, something that so many lower-tier programs do. But they haven’t won a game yet and will try to figure out a way to pull off an upset at home here.
Can Gamecocks Get It Done On the Road?
Jacksonville State is 2-3 so far this season. They have won both of their home games this year and have gone 0-3 on the road. This is the best opportunity for the Gamecocks to get a road win so far this year. The question will be whether or not Jacksonville State can take advantage of that opportunity on Thursday night.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks have gone 2-3 against the spread this season.
- Sam Houston: Sam Houston is 0-5 straight up and against the spread for the year.
- Over/Under: Both teams have gone over the total three times in five games so far this season.
- Head-to-Head History: Jacksonville State is 7-6 all-time against Sam Houston. The Gamecocks have won the last two meetings between these teams in 2023 and 2024.
Jacksonville State vs Sam Houston Model Projection
- Score Projection: Jacksonville State 28 – Sam Houston 21
- Win Probability: Jacksonville State 70%, Sam Houston 30%
Final Thoughts
We should see Jacksonville State win this game on the road to stay unbeaten in CUSA play. But I’m not sure that they will be able to cover the number as a favorite of more than a touchdown. Instead of betting this game against the spread, I’ll take the under, as the struggling Sam Houston offense should continue to have trouble in this contest.
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