Caden Creel's Dual-Threat Production Leads JSU vs. FIU

Jacksonville State hosts Florida International with market lines opening at -2.5 and moving to -3.0, alongside a total that dropped from 47.5 to 43.5. While market movement toward the under signals defensive caution, recent production from Gamecocks quarterback Caden Creel presents a far more active offensive picture. Across his last four appearances, Creel has anchored Jacksonville State's attack by generating 1,318 combined yards and eight total touchdowns.

Caden Creel Drives the Gamecocks Offense

The four-game form line for Caden Creel underscores why Jacksonville State carries the favorite status. Creel has completed 80 of 119 pass attempts for 1,011 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions, while adding 61 carries for 307 yards and three scores on the ground. His efficiency in the air is anchored by big-play target Deondre Johnson, who leads the receiving corps with 290 yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions. Darius Cannon has served as the volume option with 17 receptions for 135 yards, while Luke Gilbert provides downfield value with 175 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.

In the backfield, Lucas Farrington has added 155 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, plus six receptions for 64 yards. The offense has also utilized versatility from Jamill Williams, who caught 12 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, ran three times for 13 yards, and completed his sole pass attempt for 14 yards.

Efficiency Struggles for FIU's Passing Game

The form data for Florida International presents a stark contrast, particularly in passing efficiency. Across three logged games, quarterback J.J. Kohl has completed 65 of 114 passes for 678 yards, but has thrown six interceptions against just one touchdown pass. Kohl has added 16 rushing attempts for 13 yards and a touchdown, but turning the ball over twice as often as scoring via the air has capped FIU's offensive upside.

Despite those passing struggles, receiver Maguire Anderson has managed 17 receptions for 245 yards over three games, though he has yet to score. James Resar has caught nine passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, while JoJo Stone accumulated eight receptions for 77 yards across two games before his last logged appearance on September 19, 2026. On the ground, Anthony Carrie (45 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD) and Devonte Lyons (29 carries, 113 yards) have shared the workload, though neither back has averaged over 4.0 yards per carry in this sample.

Player	Team	Games	Pass Yds (TD/INT)	Rush Yds (TD)	Rec Yds (TD)
Caden Creel	JSU	4	1,011 (5/3)	307 (3)	14 (0)
Deondre Johnson	JSU	4	0 (0/0)	0 (0)	290 (2)
J.J. Kohl	FIU	3	678 (1/6)	13 (1)	0 (0)
Maguire Anderson	FIU	3	0 (0/0)	0 (0)	245 (0)

Form Trends and Context

Both teams enter on identical six-day rest schedules following victories on October 7, 2026, where Jacksonville State edged Kennesaw State 27-26 and Florida International defeated New Mexico State 22-3. Because early-season windows reach back into late 2025 to complete ten-game trends, FIU's record includes a 57-20 win against UTSA on December 26, 2025, while JSU's includes a 17-13 victory over Troy on December 16, 2025. Head-to-head history shows competitive matchups, including FIU's 27-21 win over JSU on November 22, 2025. However, Creel's recent dual-threat production gives Jacksonville State the clearer path to offensive consistency in this meeting.