Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Bowling Green.

Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky Prediction

Planning on watching today's Gamecocks and Hilltoppers game? Catch the action at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY, as the Hilltoppers hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. This Conference USA conference matchup has an over/under of 152.5 points, and Western Kentucky is favored to win by -6.5 at home vs. Jacksonville State.

Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Where: Bowling Green at E. A. Diddle Arena
Date: Thursday, January 9th
Betting Odds WKENT -6.5, JAXST +225 | WKENT -289 O/U 152.5

Gamecocks Preview: Can the Gamecocks Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

Jacksonville State Gamecocks Recent Game/Games

The Gamecocks fell to 5-6 on the season after an 83-71 road loss to Kennesaw State on January 4th. Entering the game as +1.5 point underdogs, Jacksonville State not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

After a 36-36 tie at halftime, the Gamecocks were outscored 47-35 in the second half. The total points for the game reached 154, just under the 154.5 O/U line.

Gamecocks Offense Breakdown

Jacksonville State struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 36.2% overall and 25% from three-point range, hitting 6 of 24 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, but they found success at the free-throw line, connecting on 82.1% of their 28 attempts.

Simeon Cottle led the Gamecocks with 28 points, shooting 4 of 11 from deep. Adrian Wooley and Jaron Pierre Jr. each contributed 20 points, with Wooley shooting 57.1% from the field. The team recorded 10 offensive rebounds and 8 assists in the game.

Gamecocks Team Defense

Jacksonville State's defense gave up 83 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 45% from the field. They allowed 57% shooting on two-point attempts, with 20 makes on 35 tries.

From beyond the arc, the Gamecocks' defense saw their opponents hit 10 of 31 threes, good for 32%. They also sent them to the line 17 times, where they converted 13 free throws, a 76% rate. Jacksonville State gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the contest.

Hilltoppers Preview: Can Western Kentucky Live Up to the Hype at Home?

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Recent Game/Games

Western Kentucky's season record dropped to 8-5 after an 85-66 road loss to FIU on Saturday. The Hilltoppers entered the game as -4.5 favorites but failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 52-29 at halftime, Western Kentucky outscored FIU 37-33 in the second half. The game’s total points of 151 fell short of the 154.5 O/U line.

Hilltoppers Offense Breakdown

Western Kentucky struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 36.8% from the field and 18.2% from beyond the arc, hitting only 4 of 22 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 40.4%, but they did manage to connect on 83.3% of their free throws, going 20 for 24 from the line.

Julius Thedford led the Hilltoppers with 18 points, shooting 58.3% overall, while Asim Jones added 17 points and 3 assists. Dashon Gittens contributed 14 points, hitting 4 threes at a 57.1% rate, despite the team's overall struggles from deep.

Hilltoppers Team Defense

Western Kentucky's defense struggled, giving up 85 points on 46% shooting from the field. They allowed 27 made field goals on 58 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Western Kentucky allowed 11 threes on 22 attempts, a 50% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 20 free throws (80%).

Gamecocks vs Hilltoppers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their ten previous road games, Jacksonville State has an ATS mark of 7-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 4-6 while averaging 76 points per game.
Although Western Kentucky has a straight up record of 1-2 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 67 points per game in these games.
In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Gamecocks have a straight up record of 0-3 and an ATS mark of 2-1.
In their last three contests as the favorite, Western Kentucky has a poor record vs the spread going 1-2. But, they still put together a straight up mark of 2-1.