Jackson State vs Grambling State Odds and Picks

• Jackson State (1-0) faces Grambling State (0-0) this Saturday, March 6th in their SWAC opener
• Deion Sanders is the new head coach at Jackson State and won his debut 53-0 over Edward Waters two weeks ago
• See the game odds and a look at both programs heading into the match up below

Deion Sanders made a splash in his head coaching debut, but things get much tougher this weekend.

His Jackson State Tigers travel to Grambling State to take on a traditional SWAC powerhouse. With the Tigers coming off a 2nd place SWAC finish in ’19, Sanders will have his hands full after defeating NAIA Edward Waters in his first game.

Jackson State vs Grambling State Odds

Odds taken March 4th from DraftKings

Grambling State a Tough Place to Play

Grambling State hasn’t lost a game at Eddie Robinson Stadium since 2017. That streak is what awaits Sanders in his first conference game. It’s not the only streak of concern for Sanders however, as GSU has beaten Jackson State five straight times.

While those runs may seem daunting to some, they were almost entirely dismissed by Sanders who described his players saying “They weren’t part of the tradition of getting their butts kicked. That’s not who we are, that’s not what we are”.

Frankly, he’s correct. All too often we get married to streaks when the entire roster turns over every four years.

"(The players) are not a part of the tradition of getting their butts kicked."
– @DeionSanders

"We're not playing Deion Sanders, we're playing Jackson State."
– @GSUCoachFobbs

A little appetizer for #JSU's trip to Grambling on Saturday.@WLBT @GoJSUTigers pic.twitter.com/gtZMxCiXwy

— Trey Mongrue (@TreyMongrue) March 3, 2021

That’s not to say Grambling State will be easy to beat in their opener. They’ve had a long history of success for a reason.

This year they are lead by one player on each line. Offensive lineman Kyree Wade-McLeod was named pre-season all SWAC and defensive back Kenan Fontenot also earned the same honor. Jackson State will need to limit their impact to have a chance to pull off the upset.

JSU Looking to Build on Dominant Opener

First off let’s acknowledge that yes, the opponent was NAIA Edward Waters. Now, with that said, things don’t get much better than a 53-0 debut.

Sanders’ group controlled both sides of the ball and won with ease. Quarterback Jalon Jones was particularly impressive completing 89% of his passes for 163 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Grambling State will put up more resistance, but that completion percentage is still a great sign. It would be an impressive mark in a walk through, never mind a competitive football game.

What will you contribute to society today? #21daysofPRIME @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/MWHpNWAdmN

— 21st and Prime (@21standprime) March 2, 2021

Sanders’ bold statements included stating that his squad was “built for the moment” and it very well could be true. He recruited well and landed solid transfers including cornerback De’Jahn Warren and his son, defensive back Shilo Sanders.

If you believe in swagger, there’s reason to believe in the Tigers. The program looks and feels different than it did in the past and credit for that change belongs almost solely to the new head coach.

Bet Jackson State to End Long Losing Streak

Taking Jackson State at +285 on the moneyline is just too inviting. I tend to side with Sanders assessment that it’s not his current crop of players fault the program used to be a doormat.

It isn’t any longer and the best play is to take the value and bet Jackson State to win outright. If you’re a little more conservative with your plays, take them +9.5.

• The Pick: Jackson State Moneyline (+285)