Coastal Carolina vs Jacksonville State NCAAF Week 1 Betting Preview and Prediction August 29, 2024

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Coastal Carolina vs Jacksonville State August 29, 2024 @ Jacksonville, AL

Opening Betting Odds

Spread: Coastal Carolina +4, Jacksonville State -4
Moneyline: Coastal Carolina N/A. Jacksonville State N/A
Total: 57

Preview

The Gamecocks will host Coastal Carolina in Week 1, and Jacksonville State was 5-1 at home last season. The bookmakers have their season win total set at 7.5 (juiced -140 to the over). They are priced at 5-1 to win Conference USA.

Coastal Carolina is projected for finish near the bottom of the Sun Belt this season, priced at 20-1 to win the conference. Their season wins total is set at 6.5 (juiced -130 to the under).

These teams played last September in Conway South Carolina, and it was a close game in the first half. The Chanticleers blew it wide open in the second half and won by a score of 30-16. The Chanticleers only had an edge of 399-393 in total yards.

Coastal Carolina

• 8-5 Overall in 2023
• 5-3 in the Sun Belt in 2023
• 9-4 ATS in 2023

The Chanticleers winning eight games despite the departure of head coach Jamie Chadwell and the fact that QB Grayson McCall only played in seven games was an indication that this program isn’t going to fall off the map with a new QB and 2nd year head coach Tim Beck for the 2024 season.

Ethan Vasko threw for 199 yards, three TDs and no picks on 20-of-33 passing in a double digit win over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl. He started four games at quarterback last season, and the Chanticleers were 3-1 in those contests. He is the favorite to win the starting job ahead of Noah Kim who transferred from Michigan State. Whoever is at QB will hand off to last year’s leading rusher Braydon Bennett.

The defense struggled against the run last year, allowing opponents average 4.6 yards per carry and 169 yards per game. Their strength was defending the pass, ranking 3rd in the Sun Belt holding opponents to 211 passing yards per game.

Jacksonville State

• 9-4 Overall in 2023
• 5-2 in the C-USA in 2023
• 8-4-1 ATS in 2023

You know what you’re getting with Rich Rodriguez, and that proved to be true again in 2023 with the Gamecocks. Jacksonville State ranked 3rd nationally averaging 236 rushing yards per game. They also ranked dead last in the C-USA in passing, averaging just 171 yards passing per game.

Senior QB Zion Webb ran for 708 yards and 7 TDs last season, but he’s since graduated. He split time with Logan Smothers last season, including the New Orleans Bowl versus the Ragin’ Cajuns. Smothers threw for just 80 yards and an INT on 5-of-9 passing, but ran for 39 yards and a TD in a 34-31 win in overtime.

With plenty of talent returning on the offensive line and a healthy stable of running backs, this team should pick up right where they left off in 2023.

Relevant Trends

• The Chanticleers are 14-6 SU in their last 20 games on the road.
• The Under is 7-3 in the Chanticleers last 10 games.
• The Gamecocks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games at home.
• The Gamecocks are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games.
• The Over is 4-1 in the Gamecocks last five home games.

PREDICTION: COASTAL CAROLINA 24 – JACKSONVILLE STATE 33

This doesn’t look like a great matchup for Coastal Carolina, as their weakness lines up directly with the Gamecocks strength. The Jacksonville State rushing attack that ranked 3rd nationally a season ago might just run all over a Coastal defense that struggled to stop the run. Grayson McCall isn’t walking through that door, and the Chanticleers might be due for some regression.

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