The Cricket Celebration Bowl takes place in Atlanta, Georgia and is essentially the HBCU national championship where the MEAC and SWAC champions compete against each other. For the second time in the last four seasons, the Jackson State Tigers and South Carolina State Bulldogs will compete for HBCU honors.

Each team is on a streak heading into this matchup, as Jackson State has rattled off nine straight wins while South Carolina State is riding an eight-game winning streak. The Tigers are looking for their first win in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, while the Bulldogs could claim their second win in the highly anticipated game. This is a rematch of the 2021 contest in which South Carolina State earned a 31-10 victory over Jackson State. What can we expect for Saturday’s kickoff at 12 p.m. ET?

Using the college football odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, here’s the best bet for Jackson State vs. South Carolina State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

All college football odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change after this article is published.

Jackson State vs South Carolina State Betting Tips

South Carolina State Moneyline (-110)

There’s not much touted about any of these teams. Jackson State is scoring 37.1 points per game (PPG) while giving up just 17.9 PPG, and South Carolina State is posting 35.5 PPG and giving up 20.9 PPG.

They focus on the Tigers and try to handle the rock while playing great defense. Jackson State averages 40.0 rushing attempts per game compared to 22.0 passing attempts per contest. The rushing attack is lethal, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 218.5 rushing yards per game. It is led by star running back Irv Mulligan – who records 106.7 rushing yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. Mulligan finished second behind SC State for the inaugural HBCU+ National Player of the Year award Eric Phoenix.

On defense, the Tigers are stingy, allowing just 3.5 yards per carry and 5.9 yards per pass attempt. Defensive linemen Joshua Nobles And Tru Thompson Each has double-digit tackles for loss, while Nobles leads the team with 10 sacks. Robert McDaniel And Ke’Vric Wiggins Jr. are also an impressive defensive back duo who have combined for 13 PBUs this season. Overall, it will be a difficult defense to crack.

JSU’s exceptional defense is tasked with slowing down the quarterback, the HBCU+ National Player of the Year Eric Phoenixwho has recorded 246.0 passing yards and 1.8 passing touchdowns per game, coupled with a 65.1% completion rate. The Bulldogs bring a more balanced offense than the Tigers, with a total of 29.0 passing attempts per game compared to 36.3 rushing attempts per game.

South Carolina State has a great rush defense, allowing just 3.5 yards per carry and 114.9 rushing yards per game. This is a pretty favorable matchup for the Bulldogs as their pass defense is slightly weaker, giving up 6.5 yards per pass attempt. However, Jackson State has a low passing rate and quarterback Jacobian Morgan records just 154.1 passing yards per game.

This could be our approach to pick the favorite and take the win. This is effectively considered a mistake, with SC State holding the advantage by 1.5 points. The Bulldogs simply have more balance, which gives them a better chance of success against a strong defense. South Carolina State also has the HBCU+ Player of the Year on its side.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson State ranks 12th among 129 FCS teams in rush defense. Its pass defense appears to be a bit more vulnerable with the 21st highest coverage grade, giving Phoenix a chance to take over this game. As mentioned, the Tigers’ offense looks lopsided with the 13th-best rushing grade and the 86th-best passing grade. Once again, this plays into the Bulldogs’ paws (30th in rush defense grade; 51st in pass defense grade).

Additionally, the revenue battle could prove to be a deciding factor. The Bulldogs’ defense has a feel for the ball, forcing 2.2 takeaways per game; This resulted in a sales margin of +0.7. Meanwhile, the Tigers are posting a +0.2 turnover margin with the defense forcing 1.6 turnovers per game while the offense is allowing 1.4 turnovers per game.

Ultimately, SC State’s defense gets a solid matchup thanks to its elite run defense. Additionally, a potential advantage in the turnover game could certainly be the deciding factor in a close game. Give me the Bulldogs to defeat Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, just like the 2021 result.

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The above author is an employee of FanDuel and is not authorized to participate in public daily fantasy contests or place sports bets on FanDuel. The author’s advice does not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. Following the author’s advice is not a guarantee of a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports bets.