- CUSA champ Jacksonville State (9-4) takes on MAC champ Ohio University (10-3) in the Cure Bowl in Orlando Friday at noon on ESPN.
- The Bobcats have won six in a row against the spread and are favored by 4.5 points.
- Check out our full preview of the 2024 Cure Bowl between the Gamecocks and Bobcats, including a look at the best lines, players to watch and a prediction.
In just its second year of the FBS, Jacksonville State (9-4, 7-6 ATS) is back in a bowl game when it faces Ohio (10-3, 9-4 ATS) in the 10th annual Cure Bowl in Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
It’s two teams whose coaches both jumped in the transfer portal after the regular season. Rich Rodriguez left the Gamecocks to go back to West Virginia, while Tim Albin went to Charlotte. Rod Smith is the Gamecocks interim coach, while Brian Smith, no relation, was named Bobcats head coach on Wednesday.
Schools move to hire coaches quickly, or else the transfer portal will eat them alive. Everyone hates it when the kids do it, but coaches get a free pass when they opt out before bowl games.
We’re moving quick on our Cure Bowl preview, with a look at the best lines, our locked-in prediction and things to watch for when you’re not working Friday afternoon.
Ohio vs Jacksonville State odds
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | -5.0 (-108) | -185 | O 56.5 (-108) |
| Jacksonville State | +5.0 (-112) | +154 | U 56.5 (-112) |
Odds as of Dec. 18 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to check the top DraftKings Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any college football playoff or bowl game action.
The line on this one started with the Bobcats as 1.5 or two-point favorites, but that has shot all the way up to 4.5, or even five points, at DraftKings. It’s probably a reflection of the coaching changes at both schools.
Ohio has been one of the hottest teams in college football against the books, winning six in a row. The Gamecocks haven’t been as strong, they’re just 2-3 against the number in their last five.
The total is 56.5 at all our favorite sportsbooks. Ohio is 6-7 over/under this season, four of its last five games have hit the under. Jacksonville State is 8-5 over/under, but it’s trending the opposite way with three of its last five games going over.
FanDuel has the best moneyline odds on Ohio at -184. If you want to cash in on a moneyline upset, Caesars is your pick with the Gamecocks at +158 on the moneyline.
Rich Rodriguez doing the G5 version of Pat White and Steve Slaton at West Virginia with Tyler Huff and Tre Stewart at Jacksonville State has been one of the most delightful aspects of this college football season pic.twitter.com/rMiPxPrzrO
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) December 7, 2024
Fast, Faster, Fastest
The offense Rich Rodriguez built at Jacksonville State knows one speed: Go. The Gamecocks run a play every 22.9 seconds, which is the eighth fastest in the country. They have wide splits offensively and spread the field, and then….they run the ball.
Senior running back Tre Smith, a transfer from Limestone (a D-2 school in South Carolina) is a 5-foot-10 wrecking ball. He ranked third in the nation in yards at 1,604 and was over six yards a carry. Senior QB Tyler Huff (transfer from Furman) was the CUSA Player of the Year. He ran for 1,364 yards.
Defense? Eh. The Gamecocks want to outscore you. They gave up 25.8 points a game, but scored 36.7. Safety Antonio Carter II leads Jax State with 103 tackles. It’s sometimes not good when a safety leads you in tackles.
By the way, Jacksonville State is not in Florida. It’s a school in Northeast Alabama.
Gang Green
There’s history on the line here for Ohio. A win Saturday gives them 11 victories for the first time. They’ve also won five straight bowl games. They won the MAC title for the first time since 1968.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1968, THE OHIO BOBCATS ARE MAC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS!!! 🏆🏈 pic.twitter.com/OXDOkyQFRW
— Ohio University (@ohiou) December 7, 2024
Ohio is led by quarterback Parker Navarro who threw for 2,169 yards and run for 935. He’s a transfer from UCF, so this is a big revenge game for him, sorta. It’s a balanced offense with wide receiver Coleman Owen who went over 1,000 yards this season.
Defensively, Ohio allows 17.5 points a game and has a beast at defensive end in Bradley Weaver, who has 12.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
Ohio vs Jacksonville State Prediction
- Ohio -4.5 at FanDuel
- Over 56.5 at FanDuel
It’s hard to ignore how much this line has moved since it was first posted. Ohio seems like a more complete team than the Gamecocks. They clearly have a better defense, although they’re in for a challenge stopping Smith and Huff. The weather for this one is supposed to be perfect. We see sunshine and a lot of points.
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The 2024 Cure Bowl is set to be an exciting matchup between the Ohio Bobcats and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Both teams have had successful seasons leading up to this bowl game, and fans are eager to see which team will come out on top.
The Ohio Bobcats, representing the Mid-American Conference, have had a strong season with a record of 9-3. Led by head coach Tim Albin, the Bobcats have shown a balanced offense and a solid defense throughout the season. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a standout player for Ohio, throwing for over 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. Running back De’Montre Tuggle has also been a key player for the Bobcats, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Bobcats will look to continue their success in the Cure Bowl and come out with a victory.
On the other side, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, representing the Ohio Valley Conference, have also had a successful season with a record of 8-4. Head coach John Grass has led the Gamecocks to an impressive season, with quarterback Zerrick Cooper leading the offense with over 3,000 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. Running back Uriah West has also been a key player for Jacksonville State, rushing for over 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Gamecocks will look to continue their strong play in the Cure Bowl and come out with a win.
As for the prediction and line for this matchup, oddsmakers have the Ohio Bobcats as slight favorites with a line of -3.5. This indicates that Ohio is expected to win by at least 4 points in the game. However, both teams are evenly matched and it could be a close game that comes down to the wire.
In conclusion, the 2024 Cure Bowl between the Ohio Bobcats and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks is shaping up to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. Fans can expect a competitive game with both teams giving it their all to come out on top. It will be interesting to see which team will prevail in this bowl game and take home the victory.