Wednesday, Oct. 9: Preview of Odds, Lines & Predictions for New Mexico State vs Jacksonville State

• Jacksonville State is a 20.5-point favorite over New Mexico State in Week 7 College Football action on Wednesday, October 9
• The Aggies are allowing 277 rushing yards per game
• Check out the latest New Mexico State vs Jacksonville State odds, lines and predictions below

We are in the midst of 55 straight days with at least one college or pro football game to sweat. Wednesday night marks another mid-week Conference USA clash, as New Mexico State (1-4, 0-2 C-USA) faces Jacksonville State (2-3, 1-0 C-USA).

Oddsmakers are expecting a one-sided affair in favor of the Gamecocks per the College Football odds, and it’s hard to argue based on talent and recent form.

New Mexico State vs Jacksonville State Odds

The Gamecocks are currently 20.5 point favorites, in a contest with a total of 59. Jacksonville State opened at -21, but New Mexico State has been the more popular side to bet so far, forcing bookmakers to bring the line down half a point. As of Tuesday afternoon, 83% of the spread tickets are backing the Aggies, as is 87% of the ATS handle.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET at AmFirst Stadium, in Jacksonville, AL, with ESPN2 providing the broadcast coverage.

Odds as of October 8 at 12:30 pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any Week 7 College Football matchup.

Jacksonville State Will Pound the Rock Relentlessly

After starting the season with three straight losses, the Gamecocks run game has come alive the last two weeks. They’re fresh off rushing for 384 yards and 7 TD in a 63-24 drubbing of Kennesaw State, which followed a 273-yard, 5 TD performance on the ground versus Southern Miss in another blowout win.

Starting today, there are 55 straight days of football to bet on pic.twitter.com/sjCfWT57YK

— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) October 3, 2024

Dual-threat QB Tyler Huff, and lead back Tre Stewart led the charge in both victories, combining for 10 of the 15 rushing scores. Jacksonville State enters play averaging 204 rushing yards per game, which ranks top-21 in the country. They’re efficient when they do throw, averaging over 8 yards per attempt, but they’ll find little resistance on the ground from the Aggies on Wednesday.

That’s because the New Mexico rush defense is dreadful. The Aggies are coughing up nearly 6 yards per carry, and have already surrendered 16 rushing touchdowns. Enemy offenses are torching them for 277 yards per game on the ground, which is the 133rd-worst mark in the nation.

Can New Mexico State Punch Back?

On the other side of the ball, the outlook is not pretty for New Mexico State. They were far from a contender in the College Football Playoff odds last season, but they did shock Conference USA by making a conference championship game appearance. Unfortunately, this roster looks nothing like last year’s.

For starters, former QB Diego Pavia moved on to Vanderbilt, and all he did last week was lead them to a win over Alabama. Santino Marucci and Parker Awad have split quarterback duties evenly this season, with neither having much success. Both are completing less than 50% of their passes, and each has just as many interceptions as touchdowns. They say if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t really have one, and the Aggies are proving that theory correct.

“Those guys are still competing… we’ll see what ends up happening.”

Tony Sanchez spoke at length about New Mexico State’s QB problems. Parker Awad may start again if Hogan’s injury keeps him out, but Sanchez believes Santino Marucci has been making a stronger case to start pic.twitter.com/0n5V2gq8zR

— Nick Coppola (@Nick_Coppola__) September 16, 2024

Entering play this week, New Mexico ranks 104th in points per game, and 126th in total offense. In order to stay in this game, they’ll need to keep their defense off the field, and the best avenue for that will be running the football.

Lead back Seth McGowan has looked good in that department, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. The former Oklahoma Sooner should have plenty of room to maneuver, as the Gamecocks rush defense is far from elite. Also potentially working in their favor is the return of top lineman Shiyazh Pete. The 6-8, 320 pounder is considered a game-time decision after missing the first five games, and is a force to be reckoned with.

New Mexico State vs Jacksonville State Prediction

Regardless of whether Pete plays or not, stops on defense are going to be few and far between. Rich Rodriguez’s Gamecocks have looked electric lately, and the Aggies are not equipped to slow them down. Jacksonville State is also playing on short rest, and that usually impacts the defense more than the offense.

Jacksonville State Offensive Stats – Last 2 Games

The Gamecocks can realistically clear the 59 point total on their own, they did just that last week versus Kennesaw State. But we should expect the Aggies to show some life running the ball, and putting up a few touchdowns of their own. The over/under is already up half a point from its opener, so grab over 59 now, before it crosses a key number.

• Over 59 Points (-108)

On Wednesday, October 9th, college football fans will be treated to an exciting matchup between New Mexico State and Jacksonville State. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, making this game a must-watch for any football enthusiast.

When it comes to the odds and lines for this game, oddsmakers have Jacksonville State listed as the favorite. The Gamecocks have been playing solid football this season and are coming off a big win in their last game. On the other hand, New Mexico State has struggled at times and will need to step up their game if they want to pull off an upset.

As for predictions, it’s always tough to predict the outcome of a college football game. However, based on recent performances and overall talent, it seems like Jacksonville State has the edge in this matchup. Their offense has been clicking on all cylinders and their defense has been stout. New Mexico State will need to play a near-perfect game if they want to come out on top.

Overall, Wednesday’s game between New Mexico State and Jacksonville State is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. Fans can expect plenty of excitement and drama as these two teams battle it out on the gridiron. Be sure to tune in and see which team comes out victorious in this highly anticipated matchup.