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UIW vs South Dakota State Prediction, Odds & Best Bets (Saturday, Dec. 14)

Eric Rosales

By Eric Rosales in College Football

Published:


Amar Johnson running with football
South Dakota State Jackrabbits running back Amar Johnson (3) runs the ball along the sideline during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.
  • South Dakota State is a massive 18.5-point favorite when it hosts Incarnate Word in quarterfinal play of the 2024 FCS Playoffs
  • The Jackrabbits are riding a 28-game home winning streak
  • Check the UIW vs South Dakota State odds, spread and prediction below

A trip to the FCS Final Four is on the line Saturday when the Incarnate Word Cardinals (11-2, 7-0 Southland Conference) visit the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (11-2, 7-1 Missouri Valley). South Dakota State is riding a home win streak that’s reached 28 games, which oddsmakers consider a monster advantage.

UIW vs South Dakota State Odds

Teams Spread Moneyline Total
Incarnate Word Cardinals +18.5 (-110) +650 O 54.5 (-110)
South Dakota State Jackrabbits -18.5 (-110) -1000 U 54.5 (-110)

The visiting Cardinals are hefty 18.5-point underdogs, with a total set at 54.5 points.

Kickoff is scheduled for Noon ET at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, in Brookings, South Dakota, with ESPN/ESPN+ providing the broadcast coverage.

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Jackrabbits Business as Usual

This space is nothing new for South Dakota State, who are seeking a trip to the national semifinals for the seventh time over the last eight seasons, with the ultimate goal of a chance to compete for the FCS National Championship game Jan. 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

The Jackrabbits enter the quarterfinals riding a six-game winning streak, most recently dispatching of Montana 35-18.

The second-ranked scoring team out of the Missouri Valley, their win was the lowest margin of victory over the previous five, as South Dakota State rolled by at least 31 points in the four prior contests.

South Dakota State churns out 6.36 yards per rush, a Top-2 mark in the FCS and tied for third in rushing scores with 37. They’re paced by Amar Johnson, who ran for 1,013 yards and 13 TD’s on the year.

The Jackrabbits also bring a dominant defense to the table, allowing an FCS-low 12.8 points per game, with no teams cracking the 20-point plateau over the last 11, and eight teams scoring 10 points or less.

Incarnate Word With 10 Straight Wins

The Cardinals are on a nice little run, looking for a national Final-Four berth for the second time in three years.

They enter Saturday with 10 straight wins, dispatching the Villanova Wildcats 13-6 in a second-round playoff rockfight.

UIW went undefeated in Southland Conference play this year, and were the top scoring team in the conference, averaging 35.1 points per game.

They’re led by standout pivot Zach Calzada, who finished second in FCS with 34 TD passes, while throwing for 3,533 yards (6th).

He’s got a couple of stud receivers to throw to. The top target is junior wideout Jalen Walthall, who had 70 catches for 1,215 yards and 14 TD’s. Roy Alexander had 87 grabs for 1,016 yards and 12 scores. They are one of only two tandems in the FCS to each top 1,000 yards receiving.

UIW vs South Dakota State Prediction

This is a rematch of their Week 2 encounter, which played a lot closer than the 45-24 South Dakota State win. The game was tied 17-17 at the half, and an early fourth quarter TD by UIW had them within seven points, before the Jackrabbits scored the final two touchdowns.

Jackrabbits QB Mark Gronkowski had season highs with 285 yards passing and four TD tosses, outplaying Calzada, who put up nearly 400 yards of total offense and three passing majors.

You’re going to need a lot of points to keep up with South Dakota State. This is a team that has scored at least 35 points nine times over 13 games, and saved for an opening-week blowout loss to 17th-ranked Oklahoma State, have only been involved in a pair of one-possession games.

The problem for the Cardinals is they’ll be a facing a defense that’s better than that offense. And while they are too talented to be denied points, there won’t be enough of them to stay within range.

  • UIW vs South Dakota State Pick: South Dakota State -18.5 (-110)
Eric Rosales
Eric Rosales

Sports Writer & Editor

Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.

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