The Tigers won one of 13 games before the new year, five of them against opponents that scored 106 or more. From 3 January Jackson State went 11-9, and backing them to win made 5.2 units.
Two seasons
Before the new year Jackson State played at Illinois, Louisville, Auburn, Arkansas and TCU, with spreads from 28.5 to 38.5 and often no moneyline at all. Those five scored 106 or more each time. November and December went 1-12, and the Tigers allowed 83.76 a game across the season; only eight Division I teams allowed more.
12-21 in 33 games. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.
From 3 January
From 3 January the Tigers went 11-9: January 5-3 and 4.0 units, February 3-5, March 3-1 and 2.79 units. The prices were the tell: 75-64 at Alabama State at +260, 66-65 at Florida A&M at +245, and 68-65 over Grambling at +260 in the SWAC tournament, the third of three straight wins from 3 March. Over all 27 priced games the moneyline finished 1.15 up. They were favored only six times and won five; as underdogs they went 7-20 and covered 11 of 27.
Running total over 27 priced 2025-26 regular-season games, at the pre-game moneyline. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.
Home and road
At home Jackson State went 7-3, covered 6 of 10 and made 3.25 units on the moneyline, 42nd in Division I. Away it was 4-15, and the spread went 6-13, 31.6%; only 30 teams covered less often on the road.
2025-26 regular season. Neutral-site games are in neither home nor away. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.
SWAC opponents
Florida A&M met them three times: Jackson State won 66-65 there and 80-60 at home, then lost 70-60 in the SWAC tournament quarterfinal; the three games made 2.65 units. Alcorn State split, the loss 83-65 with Jackson State favored. Grambling also split, its win 69-66.
2025-26 regular season; dark is wins, light the games played. Source: ESPN results and pre-game lines.
The total
Seventeen unders, 16 overs. The Tigers scored 70.24 a game; the five big road defeats before January all went over, and the other 28 lined games went 17 unders to 11 overs.
Questions and answers
How did Jackson State start the 2025-26 season?
1-12 through December, including road losses at Illinois, Louisville, Auburn, Arkansas and TCU by 36 points or more.
What did backing the Tigers return once SWAC play began?
From 3 January they went 11-9, and the moneyline made 5.2 units.
Were the Tigers a better bet at home in 2025-26?
Yes: 7-3 straight up, 6 covers in 10, and 3.25 moneyline units.
