Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Sam Houston Bearkats Picks and Prediction for Thursday, October 9, 2025
Use Code SSWC Jacksonville State travels to Houston to face Sam Houston at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET, airing on CBSSN. The Gamecocks are 2–3 overall and 1–0 in Conference USA, while the Bearkats are still looking for their first win of the season at 0–5 and 0–2 in conference play. Jacksonville State fell 42–25 at Southern Miss last week, while Sam Houston suffered a 37–10 defeat at New Mexico State. Before kickoff: NCAAF predictions for Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Sam Houston Bearkats and more in one clean snapshot.
Gamecocks’ Ground Game Drives the Bus
Jacksonville State’s offense has performed well at times through five games, averaging over 26 points per contest, but turnovers and inconsistency have stalled drives. Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt has completed 58 of 104 passes for 576 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while backup Caden Creel has added 141 yards and another score through the air. The ground attack is the core of the offense, with Cam Cook leading the team with 614 rushing yards on 111 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. Signal caller Creel has rushed for 249 yards and two scores on 33 attempts.
In the Sept. 27th loss to Southern Miss, Jacksonville State allowed two quick touchdowns early and struggled to recover. Despite that, QB Caden Creel’s 161 rushing yards and a score kept them competitive into the second half. Creel started the second half against Southern Miss and gave them juice as a runner and also completed 9 of 17 for 109 yards with a TD, but also had two picks. Cam Cook added 77 yards and a touchdown, and Rechsteiner caught a short TD late in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks’ offense has generated 1,307 rushing yards and 722 through the air. Wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner has been the top target with 17 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns, while Caleb Coombs and running back Cam Cook have combined for 28 more catches.
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Defensively, the Gamecocks have been solid at creating pressure and generating takeaways. Safety Trevor Woods leads the team with 29 tackles and one interception, while Malcolm Jones and Emmanuel Oyebadejo have each recorded multiple sacks. The defense has totaled 10 sacks and forced fumbles in five games. Jacksonville State is giving up an average of 31.4 points, but has shown toughness in key moments.
Injuries: Running back Andrew Paul is questionable with a leg injury suffered in mid-September.
Bearkats Searching for Answers
Sam Houston’s season to date has been defined by problems with the offense. The Bearkats have been held under 21 points in four of five games and rank near the bottom of CUSA in total offense. Quarterback Hunter Watson is completing 65 of 111 passes for 618 yards, one touchdown, but has thrown three interceptions. The Bearkats’ run game has been limited. Watson leads the team with 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Alton McCaskill (110 yards) and Landan Brown (109 yards) have struggled.
In their 37–10 loss at New Mexico State, Watson threw for 222 yards and a touchdown but also had a costly interception. The Bearkats managed only 67 rushing yards, lost two fumbles, and surrendered 14 points in under a minute during the fourth quarter. Ball security and red zone execution remain major issues.
Sam Houston’s top receiving threat has been running back Elijah Green, who leads the team with 133 receiving yards and one touchdown on 12 receptions. Brown, Malik Phillips, and Grady O’Neill have each topped 100 yards, but the Bearkats average just 5.6 yards per pass attempt. Through five games, the offense has produced 885 passing yards and 493 rushing yards.
Sam Houston’s defense has played too many minutes, as the offense’s struggles have left them on the field too long. Defensive back CJ Brown leads the team with 33 total tackles, followed by linebacker Antavious Fish with 29. Defensive end Chauncey Chidi has two sacks, and safety Emon Allen has two interceptions, including a 66-yard pick-six. The Bearkats have totaled eight sacks and forced five fumbles.
Injuries: Sam Houston lists several players as questionable, including QB Landyn Locke, OG Zach Bryan, DL Cameron Coy, RB Aaron Gaines-Smith, LB John Johnson, and DL Andre Shorter.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Sam Houston Bearkats Pick
Spread Pick for Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston
- Jacksonville State -6.5 (4 Units)
Jacksonville State holds a decisive advantage in both rushing offense and defensive strength, making them the pick in this matchup. The Gamecocks average over 260 rushing yards per game behind Cam Cook and Caden Creel, while Sam Houston’s defense has struggled against the run all season, giving up large chunks of yardage to every opponent. The Bearkats’ offensive line has surrendered 17 sacks, and their 3.3 yards per rush average suggests it will be a struggle to sustain drives. Meanwhile, Jacksonville State’s defensive front, anchored by Malcolm Jones and Emmanuel Oyebadejo, should pressure Watson and disrupt the Sam Houston passing game. With Trevor Woods in the secondary and the offense clicking behind a dominant ground game, the Gamecocks will cover comfortably.
Over/Under Pick for Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston
- Under 45.5 (5 units)
This matchup will feature a slower-paced game with both teams running the ball more often than passing. Jacksonville State is all about ball control, while Sam Houston’s offensive issues and problems with pass protection will limit big plays. The Bearkats have averaged just 14.4 points per game, and Jacksonville State has struggled to score consistently away from home. The Gamecocks’ defense should contain Sam Houston’s one-dimensional attack, while the offense will grind out drives, eating up the clock. Expect the score to be something in the 27–13 range.
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