Jacksonville State Gamecocks at UTEP Miners, Preview, Odds, Picks and Prediction for Saturday, November 8, 2025
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks try to remain unbeaten in Conference USA play when they visit the UTEP Miners at the Sun Bowl on Saturday at 3:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Jacksonville State is 5-3 overall and 4-0 in the C-USA after a 24-21 road win over Middle Tennessee, while UTEP is 2-6 and 1-3 in the conference following a 33-20 loss to Kennesaw State. College gridiron clarity — NCAAF picks for Jacksonville State Gamecocks at UTEP Miners with key matchups.
Jacksonville State extends winning streak to three
Jacksonville State continued its strong late-game performances, coming from behind to beat Middle Tennessee 24-21 last week behind a 17-point fourth quarter. Running back Cam Cook led the Gamecocks' offense with 21 carries for 105 yards and a go-ahead touchdown with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Quarterback Caden Creel completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, managing the game effectively in key moments. Deondre Johnson added four catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
The Gamecocks' offense has shown solid production with Cook as the focal point. He leads the team in the running game with 1,054 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging nearly 6 yards per carry on 181 attempts. Through the air, the most consistent wideout for the team has been Brock Rechsteiner, who has totaled 305 yards and four touchdowns on 25 receptions. Jacksonville State has averaged nearly 28 points per game, using a balanced approach in both the run and pass game.
Defensively, Jacksonville State continues to make plays when it needs them most. Emmanuel Oyebadejo leads the unit with 3.5 sacks, while safety Trevor Woods leads the team with 42 tackles. It ended Middle Tennessee's final two drives without yielding a first down, a show of grit on the money downs. The Jacksonville State defense has been stout against the run, holding opponents to very modest yardage on first and second downs, turning them into third-and-long situations.
Injuries: Several players are listed as questionable for Jacksonville State, including wide receivers A. Eyafe and N. Hoyt, running back L. Farrington, linebacker C. Mayowa, and guard L. Johnson. Safety T. Bride is also questionable. Wideout C. Pitchford, lineman K. Small, and linebacker A. Thompson are out.
Sign Up for StatSalt News Alerts, Get Free Picks and Discounts
Subscribe Now
UTEP Struggles To Close Games
UTEP comes off a 33-20 road loss against Kennesaw State, a game in which early turnovers and late penalties cost the Miners dearly. The Miners fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, rallied to trail by just three entering the fourth, and surrendered a decisive touchdown drive. Quarterback Skyler Locklear threw for 160 yards and two touchdowns while adding 77 yards on the ground, proving his dual-threat ability even behind a struggling offensive line.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rob Vincilleti | +750.00 |
| 2 |  Brick Haus Sports | +391.00 |
| 3 |  David Delano | +182.00 |
| 4 |  The Insiders Room | +100.00 |
| 5 |  Terry Edelmann | +100.00 |
Offensively, UTEP struggles for run/pass balance. Its leading rusher, running back Ashten Emory, has 267 yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries. Quarterback Malachi Nelson leads the Miners with 1,163 passing yards on 104 completions, with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions, but he has not played since October 8. Skyler Locklear has thrown for 560 yards with five TD passes and four interceptions. Kenny Odom has caught 42 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns. The Miners have averaged nearly 20 points per game while allowing over 30, showing clear issues sustaining drives and protecting leads.
Linebacker Micah Davey leads the team on defense with 94 tackles, being a steady presence in the middle. The team's leading sack artist is defensive back Udoka Ezeani with four, although the support from safeties against explosive plays is spotty. UTEP's defense surrendered two return touchdowns and one score via fumble recovery last week, highlighting how much better they need to be on special teams. The biggest weakness for the Miners all season has been letting teams extend drives, as miscues on third down have determined the result in close games.
Injuries: UTEP's injury list is long. The questionable players include wide receivers A. Rhone and Z. Hill, guard T. Roberts, and safety C. Biddle. The Miners will be without tight ends J. Ezinwa and C. Cheeks, linebackers G. Hawkins, J. Rudolph, and N. Dyman, along with several offensive linemen in P. Perkins, M. Huber, and defensive lineman D. Burns. Running back K. Thomas is also out.
Jacksonville State vs. UTEP Pick
Spread Pick for Jacksonville State vs. UTEP
- Jacksonville State -2.5 (4 Units)
Jacksonville State has the edge in overall consistency and defense, and a long injury report and recent lapses make it tough to trust the Miners against a confident Gamecocks squad. The rushing attack for Jacksonville State - behind Cam Cook - should control the tempo on a Miners defense that has struggled to finish drives. With three straight wins and momentum in close games, Jacksonville State is the more complete team. The UTEP offense has been inconsistent, almost always needing to make quick passes due to its poor offensive line. Expect Jacksonville State to win the trenches and cover a small spread on the road.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Vincilleti | +1,502.00 |
| 2 |  Pro Sports Picks | +1,421.00 |
| 3 | Brick Haus Sports | +634.00 |
| 4 | David Delano | +492.00 |
| 5 |  Michael Briggs | +355.00 |
Over/Under Pick for Jacksonville State vs. UTEP
- Under 49.5 (5 Units)
The total sits just under 50, and both teams have shown signs of conservative play-calling and inconsistent execution. Jacksonville State’s defense thrives in limiting red-zone conversions, while UTEP’s offense has not scored more than 20 points in four of its last five games. The Gamecocks are more likely to pound the ground game behind Cook, chewing up the clock and keeping the ball away from UTEP’s offense. Combined with UTEP’s offensive line issues and multiple injuries, this matchup shapes up to stay below the total.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150
