Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers meet Thursday in college basketball action from Diddle Arena. Here’s a Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky pick. We will examine:

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks’ recent form and player performance

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Recent betting trends in games played between Jacksonville State and Western Kentucky

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky game

Jacksonville State Gamecocks Betting Preview

This year the Gamecocks opened things up with a solid run, however, things have been very choppy since late November. Jacksonville State won four of their first five games this season, falling to only Air Force in that time. Otherwise, it was wins over LaGrange, Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, and East Carolina at that time. The Gamecocks would hit a 1-3 run in the next four outings, beating only Columbia International alongside losses to Toledo, James Madison, and South Alabama. Jacksonville State is 3-2 since then, taking losses to Missouri and Kennesaw State alongside wins over Utah Valley, Eastern Kentucky, and Fort Valley State in that time for an 8-6 overall record through 14 games so far this season.

In the matchup with Kennesaw State over the weekend, the Gamecocks came out of halftime looking at a 36-36 tie on the scoreboard. Jacksonville State was outpaced 47-35 from there, however, falling 83-71 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Jaron Pierre with 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Marcellus Brigham added 15 points and six rebounds, while Mason Nicholson put up 10 points and five rebounds with five blocks. Tops in bench scoring was Michael Houge with five points, five rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes of work.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Preview

Over on the Western Kentucky side, they lost their first two games versus Wichita State and Grand Canyon this season. The Hilltoppers quickly found their footing though, winning nine of the next 10 games. The lone loss in that stretch came versus Kentucky. Otherwise, it was victories over Campbellsville, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Marshall, Evansville, Tennessee State, Murray State, Seattle U, and Kentucky Wesleyan. Since then it’s been a shaky 1-2 run with a win over Liberty in between losses to Michigan and Florida International for a 10-5 record.

In the FIU matchup back on Saturday, the Hilltoppers were flummoxed in the first half on a 52-29 deficit. Western Kentucky got better from there with a 37-33 run but ended up falling in the end 85-66. Leading the scoring in the losing effort was Julius Thedford with 18 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Don McHenry added 12 options, three steals, three assists, and two rebounds. Tops in scoring off the bench was Tyrone Marshall on nine points and two rebounds.

Why the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will win

• Western Kentucky has won each of its last eight games at E. A. Diddle Arena.
• Jacksonville State has lost seven of its last eight road games against Conference opponents.
• Jacksonville State has lost the first half in four of its last five road night games against Conference opponents.

Why the Jacksonville State Gamecocks will win

• Jacksonville State has won the first half in three of its last four night games.

Jacksonville State vs Western Kentucky Prediction

I’ll probably just stick with Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers need a convincing effort here after falling to a middling FIU team in their last outing, though. WKU shot just 36.8 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from outside with a 41-27 rebounding deficit and a whopping 20 turnovers for 24 Panthers points in that one, and really didn’t look like themselves. Western Kentucky has 71 or more points in seven of the last nine games (all seven were wins) however, so they can score well under normal circumstances.

As for the Gamecocks, they’ve been choppy lately on a 4-3 stretch but they’re still scoring well. Jacksonville State has 70 or more points in all seven of those games. We should have a fairly high total here if both teams play well, and I like WKU to power it out in the end.