Delaware vs. Jacksonville State: Odds & Insights | October 15, 2025

It may come as a surprise to the sickos reading this, but I had this game circled for about two weeks. Why? The Delaware Blue Hens are coming off an insane loss to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers two weeks ago. They piled up more than 430 yards of offense, outgained the Hilltoppers by nearly 100 yards, and still lost 27-24. They entered their bye week with a sour taste in their mouth, preparing for this Week 8 matchup with a chip on their shoulder.

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are coming off a narrow 29-27 win over Sam Houston State last Thursday as seven-point favorites. The Gamecocks boast one of the most exciting ground attacks in college football, rushing for nearly 270 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the country.

However, that is about all they do well. Their defense continues to struggle, which is why I lean toward the team coming off the bye to cover the three points this evening. On top of that, Delaware has done a solid job stopping the run this season, allowing just 143 yards per game, and has had two weeks to prepare for this dangerous rushing attack.

Jacksonville State cannot defend the run or the pass. They rank 103rd in rushing yards allowed per game and 66th in passing yards allowed. The Blue Hens love to throw, ranking 19th in pass attempts per game. The Gamecocks have not faced a pass-heavy offense like this all season. Delaware throws the ball nearly 40 times a game; the closest comparison is Southern Miss, who attempts only 33 passes per contest. Delaware's air attack could overwhelm Jacksonville State and open up the run game for the Blue Hens.

Bonus Bet

While digging into this matchup, I also wanted a player prop to sweat out. I did not want to rely on Delaware's quarterback to exceed 260 yards, especially if they get ahead and chew clock, so I went with wide receiver Sean Wilson over 42.5 receiving yards. Wilson is Delaware's number two option and has been consistent, surpassing 40 yards in four straight games. The sophomore's targets have steadily increased, with seven or more in each of his last three games. He averages 6.4 targets per game and 7.4 yards per target. For an additional sweat, this feels like a fun play. With Delaware likely throwing often, Wilson should have plenty of chances to hit this mark.