This hasn’t been the year either one wanted so far, but the Conference USA season gets going with both teams playing with a clean slate.
Fresh off the wildly successful first season in the FBS - complete with a bowl appearance - Jacksonville State was supposed to come out roaring, but it’s only win is over a struggling Southern Miss program. The next two games are at home, and they’re a must with road dates at Liberty and WKU ahead.
Kennesaw State is just getting up to speed. It could use a little time off, but it won’t get it after losing to UT Martin by 11 last week. Again, it starts now - the FBS newbie gets its first Conference USA game, and …
Jacksonville State Gamecocks quarterback Tyler Huff (6) scrambles during their game against the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
© Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State Preview
Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State How to Watch
Date: Friday, October 4, 2024
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
Venue: Fifth Third Stadium, Kennesaw, GA
How to Watch: CBS Sports Network
Kennesaw State (0-4), Jacksonville State (1-3)
- Week 6 Schedule, Predictions
- 5 Biggest College Football Surprises
- 5 Biggest Disappointments
- Bowl Projections | CFN 1-134 Rankings
- College Football Playoff Projections: Week 6
Predicting the Rest of the Season
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC
Why Jacksonville State Will Win
Kennesaw State is having way too much trouble keeping things moving.
The running game is bad, the passing attack has left, and overall the team has yet to hit the 260-yard mark in total offense. The turnovers have been a problem, but the biggest issue might finally allow Jacksonville State to catch a break - third downs.
The Owl defense hasn’t even been close to coming up with enough key stops - it’s been consistently bad. Jacksonville State isn’t finding the same offensive efficiency of last year, but it should finally start to move, but …
Why Kennesaw State Will Win
Jacksonville State goes really, really fast. The idea is to control the tempo and keep defenses worrying, but when it doesn’t work, it gets off the field really, really fast.
There’s a bad mix happening here. The O can’t convert on third downs, the team is among the worst in the nation time of possession, and the secondary is getting roasted too easier.
Kennesaw State was able to throw against UTSA to start the season. If it can crank up one big downfield play and get to 200 yards, it has a shot, but …
Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State: Who Will Win
When everything was humming last year the Jacksonville State offense was running up crazy numbers on the ground. It went so fast that 55 carries weren’t outside of the norm - the team ran 74 times in the bowl win over Louisiana.
For the first time all year the Gamecocks ran more than 33 times, and it finally won - 48 carries against Southern Miss for 273 yards. They’ll keep that ground game momentum going.
Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State Prediction, Betting Lines
Jacksonville State 34, Kennesaw State 13
Line: Jacksonville State -17.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State Must See Rating: 2
Week 6 CFN Expert Picks
Houston at TCU | Michigan St at Oregon
Syracuse at UNLV | UCLA at Penn State
Missouri at Texas A&M | SMU at Louisville
Iowa at Ohio State | Auburn at Georgia
Ole Miss at So Carolina | Rutgers at Neb
Clemson at Florida St | Tenn at Arkansas
Michigan at Washington | Miami at Cal
Texas Tech at Arizona
Latest News
