Conference USA Championship Preview: Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Friday, Dec. 6, 2024

The Conference USA Championship is coming up soon between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-4) and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (8-4) on Friday, December 6 at 7:00 PM ET at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama. In this college football betting matchup, the Gamecocks are slight favorites with a point spread at -4.0 (-105).

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Preview

The Hilltoppers and Gamecocks just played each other a week prior to this championship matchup, with the Hilltoppers being victorious in a 19-17 outing. Lucas Carneiro nailed a 50-foot field goal attempt with just three seconds left to give them the victory.

Carneiro landed four field goals total in this matchup, which shows how crucial he was in adding points to the board when both teams struggled to score. Caden Veltkamp completed 28 of his 47 pass attempts for 301 yards and a touchdown.

This recent win put them back on the winning side after losing their previous two games. In their two-game losing skid, they allowed 25 points and only put up 14 points a game.

The Hilltoppers rank 77th in the nation for averaging 26.7 points per game. They also rank 43rd for their defensive effort of slowing teams down to 22.2 points a game. This is a narrow margin of victory, which is on par with their recent matchup against the Gamecocks.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks Betting Preview

The Gamecocks had their eight-game win streak snapped with the recent loss to the Hilltoppers. This could be due to starting quarterback Tyler Huff going out in the third quarter and not returning.

Huff has had an incredible year in the CUSA, with 2,003 yards, 11 touchdowns, but has six interceptions. Having him in the lineup will be key to their success, as backup Logan Smothers has had minimal action this year. Smothers completed four of six passes for 62 yards in taking over against the Hilltoppers.

Their offense put up 328 yards, 13 first downs, and had just one turnover. Their defense allowed the Hilltoppers to get 426 yards, 23 first downs, and they forced a turnover too. This will be different if Huff is able to play.

The Gamecocks are averaging 35.4 points a game, which puts them at 18th in the nation. On the defensive side, they allow opponents to average 27.0 points a game, ranking them 83rd in the country. This spread is appealing but only if their offense is up to par.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie provides you with the best Conference USA Championship betting odds, which showcases the Gamecocks as four-point favorites. According to market data, the Gamecocks have a 64.4 percent chance of winning this battle.

If Huff is able to go, they should have a better opportunity and another crack at the Hilltoppers. Look for the Gamecocks to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Jacksonville State Gamecocks -4.0 (-105)