| MATCHUP | The Citadel Bulldogs | Charlotte 49ers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| Spread | +20.5 -112 | -20.5 -108 |
| Moneyline | +950 | -1650 |
| Total | Over 46.5 (-108) | Under 46.5 (-112) |
| Where | Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, NC | |
| When | Saturday, September 5, 2026 | |
| Time | 03:30 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The Citadel Bulldogs Betting Preview
The Citadel Bulldogs are 0-1 this season after they lost to Wofford by a score of 42-14 last week. The Citadel trailed 21-0 at halftime, but did score a touchdown in the third and fourth quarter in the loss. The Bulldogs out gained Wofford by a total of 351-341, went 5-12 on third downs, and lost the turnover battle by a total of 3-2 in the game. Quentin Hayes threw for 88 yards and one interception, while Damir Abdullah caught three passes for 32 yards. Hayes also rushed 18 times for 91 yards in the loss.Last season, The Citadel went 4-8 (3-5) and they finished seventh in the Southern Conference. The Citadel started the season with a 38-0 loss to North Dakota State, but they bounced back with a 40-13 win over Samford. The Bulldogs lost seven of their last ten games, but did pickup wins against Chattanooga, Valdosta State, and VMI. The Citadel scored 24 points or fewer in three of their last five games, but their defense was actually not too bad in the 2025 season.
Charlotte 49ers Betting Preview
The Charlotte 49ers went 1-11 (0-8) last year and they finished last in the American Conference standings. Charlotte started the season with a 34-11 loss to App State, which was followed up by a 20-3 loss to UNC. The 49ers did defeat Monmouth by a score of 42-35 in week three, but they lost each of the last nine games. Charlotte really struggled offensively, as they scored 20 points or fewer in six of their last seven games, while they allowed 27+ points in 10 of their last 12 games. The 49ers scored 14.3 points per game in 2025, while they allowed 36.3 points against per game on defense.This year, Charlotte has a quarterback battle between three solid options, so whoever wins the jobs should be decent. The receivers are projected to be solid, but the ground game and offensive line is a question mark. On defense, the 49ers will look to improve after a horrible 2025 season. There are a few returning starters, but we will see plenty of new faces, which actually might be a good thing after how they looked last season.
Why the Charlotte 49ers will win
- The favorite has won 13 of Charlotte’s last 14 games.
- The favorite has covered the spread in seven of Charlotte’s last nine games at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Why the The Citadel Bulldogs will win
- Charlotte has lost each of its last seven games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- The road team has covered the spread in eight of Charlotte’s last nine games.
- Charlotte has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight home games in September.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of Charlotte’s last nine season openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
Charlotte 49ers Player Prop Facts
- Jaden Barnes ranked T3rd in the Sun Belt Conference for receiving touchdowns (7) last season.
The Citadel Bulldogs Player Prop Facts
- Gavin Garcia led Kent State for rushing yards (647) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Charlotte ranked 135th among FBS teams for H1 points per game last season (5.8).
- Charlotte ranked 135th among FBS teams for yards allowed per game last season (471.9).