Troy vs. Jacksonville State Picks and Predictions: IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Tue Dec 16, 2025, 9:45 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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We are back to having some Tuesday football on our screens as the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl takes place tonight in Montgomery, Alabama. The Sun Belt Runner Ups, who won the West Division, the Troy Trojans, take on the Conference USA Runner Ups, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Both teams went 8-4 during the regular season with a conference championship loss, but who will pick themselves up and win this bowl game tonight?
Go check out what else I've got on the slate for bowl season, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
Troy Trojans vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks Salute to Veterans Bowl Insights
Tucker Kilcrease likely gets the start tonight for the Trojans against the Gamecocks
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks at least beat Kennesaw State during the regular season, but the Owls got the last laugh in the CUSA Championship, winning 19-15. After starting off 2-3, they strung together five straight wins during the middle of the season, finding their stride as an offense. Hint: It's pounding the ground. Can the Trojans stop them tonight?
Troy started the season 6-2 with losses to Clemson and Memphis, so they handled business when they needed to. However, they lost two of their last four in the regular season, including being shutout 33-0 against Old Dominion. Eventually, Troy lost to James Madison in the Sun Belt Conference Championship. Now, they turn to the Salute to Veterans Bowl as both teams try for a ninth win this year.
The Trojans have not won a bowl since 2022, and it's been since 2023 for the Gamecocks.
Matchup Information – Troy vs. Jacksonville State – December 16
- Venue & Location: Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, AL)
- Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
- Kick Off: 8:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Troy vs. Jacksonville State Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel Sportsbook, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of December 16, 2025 at 9:04 a.m. eastern. Sign up today and get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 slot spins right away. Lucky Rebel offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Troy -1 (-110)
- Jacksonville State +1 (-110)
Moneyline
- Troy -118
- Jacksonville State -103
Total
- Over 49.5 (-110)
- Under 49.5 (-110)
Troy will be without their starting running back, Tae Meadows, who led the team in carries (159), rushing yards (695) and touchdowns (6). He accounted for over 54% of the team's rushing yards this year. Plus, quarterback Goose Crowder was knocked out of the conference championship. If he isn't able to go, backup Tucker Kilcrease will get the start. He is a true dual threat who did get seven starts this season. But I don't see the Trojans defense helping their cause.
Troy vs. Jacksonville State Salute to Veterans Bowl Picks and Predictions
Cam Cook has 1,659 rushing yards on the season, leading the entire nation
Troy vs. Jacksonville State Prediction: Jacksonville State Wins Outright, Over 49.5
Best Bet: Jacksonville State ML (-103) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Back the Gamecocks with me. Troy is without some offensive starters, Jacksonville State is not, and both defenses aren't all that great. Offensively, the Gamecocks certainly have the edge.
All they do is run. Jacksonville State runs the ball two-thirds of the time, ranking No. 6 in the nation, and they do so efficiently. They are top 15 in yards per carry, going for nearly 5.5 per touch, and are top five in both rushes and rushing yards per game. Troy's rushing defense does not exist. They rank north of 100 (bottom 35) in yards per carry allowed, giving up 4.8 per rush. Plus they drop to No. 115 in rushing yards allowed per game, giving up 192.1.
We will also be on Cam Cook (JAX ST) Over 103.5 Rushing Yards (-115). He has 100+ in 10/13 games, running for at least 104 in 9/13 (ended one game with 103 exactly). Cook has 20+ carries in nine games this season as well, and as I stated above, all the Gamecocks do is run it. Troy has allowed a 100+ yard rusher six different times this season, including giving up 212 to James Madison's leading rusher in the Sun Belt Championship.
Give me Cook to use his legs to lead the Gamecocks to a bowl victory.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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