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Jackson State heads to Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach to face Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, January 24, 2026, with ESPNU carrying this SWAC conference matchup. Bethune-Cookman is favored by 8.5 at home, which makes sense on paper when you consider Jackson State is 2-11 on the road and has been tough to trust away from home. Bethune-Cookman is 4-3 in its own building, not dominant, but steady enough to justify laying points against a team with that travel profile.
The interesting part is Jackson State’s recent form. A 4-1 straight-up run over the last five games is not nothing, and it changes how you think about a big spread. If Jackson State is playing with real confidence and the ball is moving, +8.5 becomes live even if they lose.
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Jackson State Tigers vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson State Tigers | +330 | +8.5 (-104) | O 158.5 (-110) |
| Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | -425 | -8.5 (-117) | U 158.5 (-110) |
Jackson State Tigers Betting Form
Jackson State has been playing its best basketball recently, and it starts with Daeshun Ruffin. A guard who can create and also distribute changes the feel of the offense, and his 22 points and 16 assists in the 94-89 win over Texas Southern is the kind of stat line that signals real control. Pair that with Dorian McMillian’s scoring, and you suddenly have a team that can keep pace in games that get loose.
For bettors, the key is that Jackson State doesn’t need to be efficient for 40 minutes to cover +8.5. They need to avoid long empty stretches, stay attached through the middle of the game, and then be competent late at the line. Their free-throw shooting (76.7%) helps a lot in that script. It’s one of the cleaner “underdog traits” because it keeps you from wasting points in tight sequences.
The concern is still the road split. A 2-11 road record usually means defensive slippage and inconsistent execution in hostile gyms. But recent form matters too, and their last five games suggest they’re trending up. If you want quick context across the season beyond the last couple results, the NCAAB teams hub is useful for comparison and trends.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Betting Form
Bethune-Cookman’s case is simpler: they’re at home, they score more consistently than Jackson State in the aggregate, and they have a lead scorer in Jakobi Heady who can carry possessions. The Arkansas-Pine Bluff win (87-82) shows they can win a higher-scoring game, and the shooting spike against Mississippi Valley State shows the ceiling when they’re finishing well.
As a favorite laying -8.5, the question is whether they can build and hold margin. Their home record is fine, but not dominant, and that can matter when you’re laying this kind of number. The path to covering is usually a combination of efficient shooting and winning the possession battle. If they’re getting stops and pushing pace, they can cover. If it turns into a half-court grind where both teams are trading baskets, -8.5 becomes a lot.
Jackson State Tigers vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Matchup Breakdown
This is a pace-versus-control handicap. The total at 158.5 suggests the market expects a faster game or at least efficient scoring. Jackson State just played a 94-89 game, so the temptation is to chase the over. But game totals can be misleading when they’re driven by one outlier pace game or unusual shotmaking.
For the side, Jackson State’s recent guard play makes them a credible underdog. They can score, they can get to the line, and they can keep games close. Bethune-Cookman’s edge is home court and the ability to score without needing everything to come from one place. If Heady is efficient and they’re getting secondary scoring, they can build margin.
The swing factor is whether Jackson State’s recent offensive form travels. If they’re generating clean looks and not turning it over, this stays close. If they fall behind early and start forcing threes, Bethune-Cookman can turn that into a runaway.
BYU Cougars
vs
Arizona Wildcats
Open
vs
Jan 26, 2026 21:00 EST
–
Score
–
–
Spread
–
o+166.50-110
Total
u+166.50-110
–
Moneyline
–
Texas A&M-CC Islanders
vs
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
Open
vs
Jan 26, 2026 20:00 EST
–
Score
–
-3.50 -110
Spread
+3.50 -110
o+133.50-110
Total
u+133.50-110
-192
Moneyline
+158
Stonehill Skyhawks
vs
Central Connecticut St Blue Devils
Open
vs
Jan 26, 2026 19:00 EST
–
Score
–
+1.50 -110
Spread
-1.50 -110
o+136.50-104
Total
u+136.50-118
+108
Moneyline
-130
Jackson State Tigers vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Jackson State +8.5. The road record is ugly, but recent form is strong enough that I don’t want to lay a big number against them, especially with a team that isn’t a dominant home favorite. Jackson State’s free-throw shooting gives them a reliable way to stay attached late, and Ruffin’s playmaking is exactly what you want when you’re catching points.
On the total, I lean under 158.5. That number feels inflated relative to the way these teams typically play and score, and it’s asking for a pretty efficient night from both sides. If this turns into a more normal SWAC game with stretches of empty possessions and slower tempo, the under has plenty of room. The risk is obvious: if Jackson State pushes pace again and both teams are living at the line, the total can climb quickly.
Best Bet: Jackson State Tigers +8.5 (-104).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
SWAC games can be messy in a profitable way if you’re willing to bet numbers instead of narratives. Home court matters, but so does form, and in conference play you can get value when the market overweights season-long splits and underweights recent lineup rhythm.
For more plays across the slate, check today’s college basketball picks and compare sides and totals across the board. The best approach is being selective, especially when totals are inflated and spreads are built on road records that may not reflect current form.
