The Jacksonville State Gamecocks take on the North Dakota State Bison in Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, Aug. 29. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
North Dakota State is favored by -7 on the spread with a moneyline of -278. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, enter as +7 underdogs and are +225 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 46.5 total points.
Here’s my Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State prediction and college football picks for Saturday, August 29.
Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Prediction
- Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State Pick: Jacksonville State +7
My North Dakota State vs. Jacksonville State best bet is on the Gamecocks to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Odds
| Jax State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -120 | 46.5 -112o / -108u | +225 |
| ND State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 +100 | 46.5 -112o / -108u | -278 |
- Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State point spread: North Dakota State -7 (+100), Jacksonville State +7 (-120)
- Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State over/under: 46.5 (-112o / -108u)
- Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State moneyline: Jacksonville State +225, North Dakota State -278
Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State College Football Preview
Jacksonville State Gamecocks Betting Preview: Work to Do
Jacksonville State head coach Charles Kelly has his work cut out for him, as the nation’s leading rusher, Cam Cook, left for West Virginia in the transfer portal.
Dual-threat quarterback Caden Creel returns (1,200 non-sack rushing yards), and so does 6-foot-8 deep threat Deondre Johnson. But that’s about it.
The offensive line is a total rebuild, though last year’s unit was average (90th in Line Yards), and the scheme and rushing talent found a way to mask most of the shortcomings.
Offensive coordinator Clint Trickett left for Maryland, but Kelly kept things in-house by promoting Taylor Housewright.
Housewright is an experienced play-caller who spent time conducting some of Montana State’s best offenses. He’s a run-first coordinator with some real creativity in his RPO game, namely utilizing two QBs in Bozeman on the field at the same time.
Though there are five new starters up front, the line could improve.
Starting tackle Jeremiah Orr returns after missing last year to injury, and two others started as true freshmen last year, namely center Lucas Mrachkovskiy. It’s a massive unit physically.
Kelly bolstered the defense with small-school transfers like nickel Jonavan Carr (Albany State), but the unit is anchored by two all-conference returners, linebacker Mac Sanders and safety Caleb Nix.
Defensive coordinator Brian Williams led Jacksonville State to a ranking of 66th in Points Per Drive allowed, and his second year here should provide a boost.
The Gamecocks seek their first nonconference road win since joining the FBS in 2023. Losses the last three seasons include at 8-5 Coastal Carolina, 5-7 Eastern Michigan and 7-6 Georgia Southern.
North Dakota State Bison Betting Preview: Welcome to FBS
Welcome to the FBS, North Dakota State!
This is perhaps the most anticipated FCS-to-FBS transition ever, as the Division I AA dynasty rises up to the highest level of college football.
Given recent power ratings (namely SP+ and Sagarin), NDSU has fielded teams that could compete for top-25 spots nationally; it even garnered the only AP Top 25 votes by an FCS team ever (most recently last year).
However, that dynasty turns a ton over.
Out go NFL-level quarterback Cole Payton and wide receiver Bryce Lance, vacating nearly 2,000 yards of rushing and receiving production among themselves.
Also gone is a 1,000-yard rusher and two FCS All-American offensive linemen. And that’s just on offense.
Nathan Hayes rises to QB1 and has been with the program for four years. At 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, Hayes is your prototypical NDSU QB prospect.
In 76 snaps last year, he attempted only four designed runs — it’s extremely unlikely he’s as dangerous rushing as Payton — but a veteran system QB is valuable.
He’ll need to find a new No. 1 target, but Mekhi Collins (21 yards per reception) and Jackson Williams (17.2 YPR) both present explosive threats with minimal experience.
On defense, NDSU returns an All-American in disruptive nose guard Keenan Wilson (eight tackles for loss) and all-conference safety Darius Givance.
Kelton McCaslin and Donovan Woolen were productive members in the front seven, a unit that should be excellent this season.
Both rising starters up front, Logan Larson and Matthew Stenbroten, played in every game last season, though the two new starters at linebacker are inexperienced. Keith Williams managed 64 tackles and eight pass deflections last year at Cornell, but is credited with just three starts.
Defensive coordinator Grant Olson has been with the program forever, dating back to his playing days. He took over the defense in 2024 but has coached in Fargo for the last seven seasons.
Olson turned in the No. 1 scoring unit in the FCS last year, and the only two teams to score more than 17 rostered the Walter Payton Award winner (Beau Brungard, Youngstown State) and Illinois State (which was a single point away from winning the National Championship).
Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Pick, Betting Analysis
Bettors already put their two cents into this line, as it crashed from Jacksonville State +10 at open to now under a touchdown. A majority of the bankroll here sides with the under, dropping it through the key total of 48, from 48.5 to 46.5.
The last two times these programs met were in the 2016 FCS National Championship, which NDSU won. Jacksonville State won two playoff matchups in the 1980s, but this will be the programs’ first meeting as FBS foes.
Early in the season, it’s wise to bet on QBs who have been in place versus transfer QBs, but Hayes is a multi-year veteran who waited his turn to start.
There’s a slight edge to Creel here, as he started last year while Hayes did not.
But there's a reasonable concern that too much of the offensive load falls on Creel’s shoulders, as the backfield lost over 1,600 yards on the ground due to Cook's transfer.
Offseason power ratings favor North Dakota State by 5.1 points in the aggregate, and an average home-field advantage makes this pretty close to the number we have now.
But with so much departing for NDSU and with more back than initially appears for Jax State — including a starting quarterback — I side with the Gamecocks here with a full touchdown or better, especially as the total falls.
I expect a more methodical approach as these teams feel each other out and the ground game reigns supreme for both teams.
Jax State is worth a round-robin underdog moneyline parlay flier as well.
Pick: Jacksonville State +7 or Better
Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Betting Trends
