North Dakota State Bison vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits FCS Championship Betting Preview
07 January 2023
The FCS Championship Game is set for Sunday, and there is a familiar matchup set to take place yet again. It will be the North Dakota State Bison vs. the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, and these two rivals have a long history in this game.
The North Dakota State Bison have absolutely dominated the FCS in the 21st Century, and they are looking for another title. North Dakota State is coming into this game as a slight underdog, but they are still 12-2 on the year.
South Dakota State comes into this game with a record of 13-1, and they are trying to cap off a great season with a title. The Jackrabbits picked up a two-point win over the Bison on the road earlier this year, but this is the game that is going to matter.
South Dakota State is a six-point betting favorite over North Dakota State in the title game.
Bison Must Get Stops
The North Dakota State Bison have the ability to be a great defensive team, but they haven’t always been consistent on that side of the field. NDSU gave up 32 points in the semifinal game, and that unit is going to have to tighten some things up to win on Sunday.
Running the football will help take some pressure off of the defense, and running back Kobe Johnson rushed for over 900 yards this season. The Bison aren’t as explosive offensively as some of their previous teams, but they can still score some points.
NDSU is used to being in this position, and they are going to lean on that experience when the game gets tight in the fourth quarter.
Jackrabbits Can Be Explosive
South Dakota State has a ton of weapons on offense, and they were able to overwhelm teams all season long with their offense. The Jackrabbits have scored at least 31 points in each of their last five games, and they want to score points in a hurry.
Running back Isaiah Davis had 1,348 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season, and he will get the football a ton in this game. Quarterback Mark Gronowski had a big season as well, throwing for over 2,700 yards.
South Dakota State did hold North Dakota State to 21 points in the first meeting of the season, and that defense is going to have to step up once again.
Bison Upset the Jackrabbits
The Jackrabbits are coming into this game with a ton of momentum after beating the Bison earlier this season, but things always change in the title game. NDSU has proven that they are nearly unbeatable at this stage, and this one is going to be tight throughout.
You should expect this game to be a bit tighter defensively, and scoring points is not going to be easy for either team. That is going to play right into the hands of what the Bison want to get done, and South Dakota State just isn’t going to be able to get the job done.
Bet the North Dakota State Bison moneyline as they are able to pull off an upset win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits to win the FCS Championship.
Keep up with your latest NCAA football news coverage and betting pick previews at The Dunkel Index.
All Media on this page by Associated Press.
