CUSA Championship Picks & Predictions: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville St.

College Football Championship Week gets started on Friday at 7 p.m. ET with a rematch of two Conference USA (CUSA) teams that faced off just last week: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State. Below, we’ve got the top picks for the CUSA Championship game between the two teams, including CFB DFS picks for PrizePicks.

Last week, Jacksonville State won with a game-winning field goal with seconds left on the clock in a low scoring 19-17 affair. However, this one could go a different way, especially with Jacksonville State potentially missing a key offensive piece.

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Let’s get into the picks for the CUSA Championship Game.

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CUSA Championship Game: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville St. Picks

Here are the top player picks for Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville St. in the Conference USA Championship game for CFB DFS on PrizePicks. Click to read more analysis.

• When is the CUSA Championship Game?
• Prediction: Western Kentucky 27, Jacksonville State 16
• Western Kentucky QB Caden Veltkamp — 12.5 Yards Longest Rush
• Western Kentucky WR Kisean Johnson — 66.5 Receiving Yards 
• TD Scorer Pick: Jacksonville St. RB Tre Stewart (Goblin)

Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville St.: How to Watch, When, Preview

Date: Friday, December 6, 2024

Time: 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: CBS Sports Network

Where: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, Ala.

Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State played just last Saturday and will face-off again for the Conference USA Championship on Friday night. Last week, Western Kentucky hit a game-winning field goal with three seconds left. 

It’s hard to give strong takes on this game without knowing the status of Jacksonville State QB Tyler Huff, who picked up an ankle injury last week and didn’t finish the game. He’s the engine to this offense and is likely to be a game-time decision here. In addition to throwing for 2,000 yards this year, Huff has added 1,277 yards on the ground — second most in college football.

Assuming his mobility is limited, the Jacksonville State offensive becomes much less dynamic, so look for Western Kentucky to take advantage. 

CUSA Championship Prediction: Western Kentucky 27, Jacksonville State 16

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Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville St. Picks

Here are the best Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State picks for the CUSA Championship Game on Friday, December 6, for CFB DFS on PrizePicks.

Western Kentucky QB Caden Veltkamp — 12.5 Yards Longest Rush

Beyond the fact that Western Kentucky QB Caden Veltkamp has topped this longest rush number in six of his last eight games, I expect him to use his legs more in this matchup than he did last week.

Veltkamp has averaged almost 10 rushes per game this season since Week 4, with most of those being designed runs. He should find the space to break one in his second-straight matchup against the same defense.

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Western Kentucky WR Kisean Johnson — 66.5 Receiving Yards 

Similar to the Veltkamp pick based on volume, this pick on WR Kisean Johnson has the same thesis. Johnson has 11 targets in each of the last two games as the Hilltoppers’ top WR. While he was held under this receiving yards number last week, he gets moved all over the formation and has an average depth of target over 10.7.

I’m expecting Veltkamp to pick apart this defense in the second go around, and Johnson should be a huge part of that again this week. Give me 10 targets and the more on this receiving projection.

TD Scorer Pick: Jacksonville St. RB Tre Stewart (Goblin)

While I think Jacksonville St. could become more one-dimension if QB Tyler Huff is out or not 100%, the Gamecocks are still going to feed RB Tre Stewart, who has rushed for 1,403 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns this season. Stewart could even be relied on more in this game in both aspects of the game if Huff is out or limited.

Stewart is the go-to around the goal-line, and he has big play potential, as he’s 5th in the country with 42 rushes of 10+ yards and 8th in yards after contact with 921, per PFF. 

Even if Western Kentucky bottles Stewart up for much of the game, when the Gamecocks get near the end zone, it’s going to Stewart. 

Note: Goblin picks reduce your payout on PrizePicks, as they are easier projections to hit.

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Lock in Picks for the CUSA Championship Game

On Friday night, all eyes are on Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State as they kickoff College Football Conference Championships in what’s bound to be an exciting weekend of football.

You can get real money action on college football though the College Football Playoff on PrizePicks. Just choose more or less on player projections like the ones above for any game on the board. Get your picks correct and get paid out when the game ends!