Bowl season rolls on Tuesday night in Montgomery, Alabama, where the Troy Trojans and Jacksonville State Gamecocks meet at the historic Cramton Bowl in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.
While these programs are no strangers to one another, this matchup marks their first meeting in more than two decades, reigniting the storied “Ol’ School Bell” rivalry for the first time since 2001.
See why I’m betting on the underdog with my Troy vs. Jacksonville State predictions and college football picks for the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Troy vs Jacksonville State predictions for the Salute to Veterans Bowl
Who will win the Salute to Veterans Bowl?
Jacksonville State will pull off the upset as the ground game gets moving with Creel and Cook, and the defense holds up just enough against a poor Troy offense.
Troy vs Jacksonville State best bet: Jacksonville State +2.5 (-105)
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks have the better overall metrics, yet are listed as the underdog. Why is that the case? Charles Kelly’s squad has accumulated those numbers against the easiest schedule in the country (136th per ESPN’s FPI).
The thing is, the Troy Trojans haven’t been particularly impressive despite facing a more challenging slate of opponents. Gerad Parker’s team gains a full yard less per play on offense (4.7) than it allows on defense (5.7).
They benefited from two overtime wins in conference play to qualify for the Sun Belt Championship Game, where they mustered just 2.6 yards per play against James Madison.
The offense already stinks out loud (111th in success rate), and now could be without workhorse running back Tae Meadows (portal) and starting quarterback Goose Crowder. The offensive line struggles to block (126th in front seven havoc), and that’s where JSU’s defense excels (43rd in front seven havoc, 31st in line yards).
Troy’s defense can’t stop the run, allowing 182.7 yards per game, and that’s music to the ears of Caden Creel (1,085 rushing yards) and national rushing yardage leader Cam Cook (1,659).
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Troy vs Jacksonville State same-game parlay
This total has seen significant movement, dropping five points in response to the Crowder and Meadow news. I’m buying back, as Crowder is reportedly practicing, and he has nearly identical numbers to backup Tucker Kilcrease, who saw extensive action this season and doesn’t represent much of a dropoff, if any.
Cook has gone Over this number in nine of his last 12 games and should feast against a subpar rush defense, while Creel has found the end zone four times in his last four games and similarly stands to benefit from the matchup.
Troy vs Jacksonville State SGP
- Jacksonville State +2.5
- Over 46.5
- Cam Cook Over 107.5 rushing yards
- Caden Creel anytime touchdown
Our deep-ball SGP: Cookin' Up
Jacksonville State didn’t face many prolific offenses, but the secondary proved vulnerable against Kennesaw State (362 passing yards), Delaware (422), Liberty (335), and UCF (314). RaRa Thomas is an SEC talent who previously played at Mississippi State and Georgia, and he’s averaging 83.3 receiving yards across his last three games.
Troy vs Jacksonville State SGP
- Jacksonville State +2.5
- Over 46.5
- Cam Cook Over 107.5 rushing yards
- Caden Creel anytime touchdown
- RaRa Thomas Over 43.5 receiving yards
Troy vs Jacksonville State game predictions
Troy vs Jacksonville State spread prediction
Jacksonville State will cover the spread, marking the fourth time the Gamecocks have done so in their last six games.
Troy vs Jacksonville State Over/Under prediction
This game will go Over the low total of 46.5 as JSU moves the ball on the ground while its defense gets exposed a bit after having faced an easy slate of opponents during the regular season.
Troy vs Jacksonville State odds
- Spread: Troy -2.5 | Jacksonville State +2.5
- Moneyline: Troy -140 | Jacksonville State +120
- Over/Under: Over 46.5 | Under 46.5
Troy vs Jacksonville State trend to know
Jacksonville State is 6-3 ATS in its last nine games as an underdog of at least 2.5 points. Find more college football betting trends for Troy vs Jacksonville State.
How to watch Troy vs Jacksonville State
| Location | Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL |
| Date | Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
| Kickoff | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Troy vs Jacksonville State latest injuries
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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