Jacksonville State vs New Mexico State Picks and Predictions for Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Jacksonville State has won four straight games, but New Mexico State enters Wednesday following its own victory. The Gamecocks visit the Aggies at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, with kickoff at 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2. Jacksonville State is 5-2 overall and tied for first in Conference USA at 3-0 after edging Florida International 27-24 on October 13. New Mexico State sits third in CUSA at 2-1 and is 3-4 overall following a 30-24 victory at Sam Houston on October 21. Cash in a winning ticket with our free NCAAF picks.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Keep Finding Ways to Win
The Gamecocks haven't made things easy for themselves lately, but they're getting the results. Jacksonville State beat Georgia Southern 31-27, held Middle Tennessee to 13 points in a 23-13 win, then escaped Kennesaw State 27-26. The latest victory came against FIU, 27-24. Three of those four wins were decided by four points or fewer. The streak followed a 29-27 quadruple-overtime loss at Ohio. Jacksonville State has played plenty of close football, which makes its perfect 3-0 conference mark even more impressive.
Caden Creel runs much of Jacksonville State's offense. He's completed 129 of 192 passes for 1,637 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Creel also leads the Gamecocks with 500 rushing yards and four scores. Jalen Likely has added 201 yards on 40 carries, while Lucas Farrington averages 6.4 yards per rush. Deondre Johnson has 431 receiving yards on 22 catches, and Jamill Williams leads the receivers with five touchdowns. Caleb Nix anchors the defense with 43 tackles and two interceptions, including a return for a touchdown.
Injuries: Franklin Baret Jr., A. Watkins and A. Paul are out. N. Hoyt, R. Pinto and L. Watkins are questionable.
New Mexico State Aggies Return Home After a Win
The Aggies finally got another victory last Wednesday, beating Sam Houston 30-24 on the road. That followed a 22-3 loss at FIU. New Mexico State also beat Western Kentucky 34-13 on October 1, but losses to New Mexico and Hawaii had made September a difficult month. The Aggies have alternated wins and losses in their last four games. They're still within a game of Jacksonville State in the CUSA standings, so Wednesday provides an opportunity to close that gap.
James Jones has been the Aggies' biggest weapon, rushing for 777 yards and four touchdowns on 119 carries. That's 6.5 yards every time he gets the ball. Trey Hedden has thrown for 906 yards and five scores, but his six interceptions are a concern. Adam Damante has contributed 637 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. TK King leads the receiving group with 307 yards and three scores. On defense, Nick Session has 52 tackles and two interceptions, while Gabe Peterson has recorded 5.5 sacks.
Injuries: Ilya Uvaydov, R. Burton and R. Lotten are questionable.
Key To The Game
Both teams have dangerous rushing threats. Creel can hurt New Mexico State as a runner or passer, while Jones has been gaining 6.5 yards per carry. The Aggies need to contain Creel without losing track of his receivers.
Jacksonville State vs New Mexico State Game Pick
- Jacksonville State Gamecocks -3
Jacksonville State has won four straight, and Creel gives the Gamecocks more than one way to move the ball. His passing numbers have been strong, and he's also the team's leading rusher. New Mexico State has a dangerous back in Jones, but the Aggies haven't been as dependable from week to week. Jacksonville State has won three conference games and keeps that streak going with a victory Wednesday in Las Cruces.
Jacksonville State vs New Mexico State Over/Under Pick
- Over 50.5
Jacksonville State's last two wins finished 27-26 and 27-24, so the Gamecocks have been involved in competitive, moderately high-scoring games. New Mexico State scored 30 against Sam Houston and 34 against Western Kentucky, with Jones supplying a steady rushing threat. Both quarterbacks can make plays, although turnovers remain a concern for the Aggies. With both offenses capable of moving the ball, the over is the play for Wednesday's conference meeting.