Cal-Poly vs San Jose St. Picks and Prediction for Saturday September 12 2026
The Cal Poly Mustangs travel to CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, California, to face the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET on MW+. Cal Poly is 2-0 after beating Idaho 38-34 and Central Washington 24-17, while San Jose State improved to 1-1 with a 27-21 victory at Eastern Michigan. The current market has San Jose State favored by 20.5 points with the total at 57.5. Before placing your wagers, check out our free college football picks for more predictions throughout the season.
Cal Poly Takes an Unbeaten Record on the Road
Cal Poly followed its season-opening victory over Idaho with a 24-17 win over Central Washington. The Mustangs trailed 7-0 before scoring 24 unanswered points and holding on during the fourth quarter.
Anthony Grigsby Jr. threw for 204 yards against Central Washington, while Ray Hall caught two touchdown passes and finished with 125 receiving yards. Grigsby has already thrown four touchdowns this season, giving the Mustangs a passing attack San Jose State cannot completely overlook.
The challenge is making the jump to an FBS opponent on the road. Cal Poly has shown it can win close games, but San Jose State possesses a significant depth advantage.
San Jose State Passing Game Presents Problems
San Jose State rallied to defeat Eastern Michigan 27-21 despite committing 13 penalties for 100 yards. The Spartans accumulated 453 total yards and overcame a four-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Luke Weaver completed 23 of 39 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns, while Cooper Hoch caught five passes for 115 yards and two scores. San Jose State's ability to attack through the air creates a difficult matchup for Cal Poly.
The Spartans still need to clean up the mistakes. Penalties and turnovers prevented them from controlling Eastern Michigan, and similar errors could allow Cal Poly to remain competitive against a large spread.
Cal-Poly vs San Jose St. Picks and Prediction
Pick: Cal Poly +20.5
San Jose State should win, but Cal Poly +20.5 offers enough points to back the Mustangs. Cal Poly is 2-0, has demonstrated passing-game production behind Grigsby and has already survived two competitive games. San Jose State's 13 penalties against Eastern Michigan make laying nearly three touchdowns difficult. Take Cal Poly +20.5.
Pick: Over 57.5
The Over 57.5 is the preferred total. Weaver threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns against Eastern Michigan, while Cal Poly has enough offensive production to contribute against San Jose State. A result around 38-24 or 41-21 gets this above the number. Take Over 57.5.
Final Picks: Cal Poly +20.5 and Over 57.5