The first football game on Thursday’s American Thanksgiving holiday is from the NFL as the Lions host the Bears but there’s also a college football matinee from the Mountain West as San Jose State hosts Fresno State, which is favored on the NCAAF college football odds.

How to Bet Fresno State at San Jose State NCAA Football Odds & TV Info

• When: Thursday, 3:30 PM ET
• Where: CEFCU Stadium, San Jose
• TV: Fox Sports 1
• Stream: Fox Sports Go
• Radio: Tunein.com
• Opening NCAAF Lines: Fresno State -7.5

Series History

The teams didn’t play last season as the game was canceled during the pandemic. This series is the Battle for the Valley Trophy. Fresno State leads the series, 42-38-3. The Spartans have won four of the seven games played since San Jose State joined the Mountain West in 2013 and five of the last eight contests in this series since 2011. Fresno State’s last win in the series was a 31-13 decision in 2018.

Why Bet on Fresno State?

Fresno State shutout New Mexico in the first half. It was the third time this season the Bulldog defense held the opponent scoreless in the first half. New Mexico only had 46 offensive plays in the game, it was the least amount of offensive plays by an opponent this season and the least by a Bulldog opponent since 2009. FSU only allowed for 34-yards passing by New Mexico. It was the lowest total passing yards by an opponent since 2010. New Mexico had only seven first downs in the game. It was the lowest amount by a Bulldog opponent since 2016.

Jake Haener threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Haener completed 24 of 31 passes. Jordan Mims caught four passes for 103 yards with a touchdown. Mims has contributed both on the ground and in the passing game for Fresno State this season, sporting a rushing line of 93/531/4, and a receiving line of 18/204/2. Ronnie Rivers rushed 20 times for 71 yards and one touchdown. Rivers became Fresno State’s all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns with his TD.

Rivers owns the program record for career touchdowns scored, rushing touchdowns scored, pass receptions by a running back and receiving touchdowns by a running back.

Haener has passed for 3,467 yards and 28 touchdowns so far this season. Haener became the seventh Bulldog to have a 3,000-yard passing season in the history of the program – he joins Kevin Sweeney (1984), Trent Dilfer (1992, 1993), David Carr (2001), Paul Pinegar (2005), Derek Carr (2011, 2021, 2013) and Marcus McMaryion (2018).

Fresno State junior defensive back Evan Williams has had a breakout season this year, totaling a team-high 81 tackles (53 solo). He adds team-high numbers in interceptions (3), broken up passes (6) and fumble recoveries (2). He also records 4.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble on the year.

Why Bet on San Jose State?

San Jose State (5-6) would get bowl eligible with a win. The Spartans are off a 48-17 loss to Utah State on Nov. 13. QB Nick Starkel completed 19-of-29 passes for 138 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. This showing was his worst in a full game this season. He also has at least one interception in each of his six games.

San Jose State’s 14 points off of turnovers in the Utah State game were a season-high. The Spartans came into the game with 23 points scored off of turnovers. San Jose State’s 150 yards of total offense were its fewest yards gained since the 2018 loss to Army when the Spartans gained just 171 yards.

Linebacker Kyle Harmon led all players in tackles with a career-best 18. His previous career high was 14 on multiple occasions including twice in 2021. His 18 tackles give him 328 for his career and moves him into tenth place on the San Jose State career list.

As for this game, the Spartans put up 21.0 points per game, comparable to the 21.3 the Bulldogs allow. San Jose State is 4-1 against the spread and 4-1 overall in games when it puts up more than 21.3 points. The Spartans average just 2.6 fewer yards per game (341.7) than the Bulldogs allow per contest (344.3). San Jose State is 5-2 against the spread and 4-3 overall when the team totals over 344.3 yards. The Spartans have turned the ball over 21 times this season, one more turnover than the Bulldogs have forced (20).

SJSU is playing on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 1956. The Spartans have a 5-7 overall record on Thanksgiving. San Jose State’s first Thanksgiving Day football game was on November 24, 1921 – a 20-14 loss to Hollister Junior College.

Since 2013, San Jose State and Fresno State have played to possess the Valley Trophy signifying San Jose State’s location in the high-tech based Silicon Valley and Fresno State’s location in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley. The two California State University system schools are separated by 145 driving miles.

Game Trends

• Bulldogs are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 road games.
• Bulldogs are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games as a road favorite.
• Bulldogs are 24-10-2 ATS in their last 36 games following a ATS win.
• Spartans are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as an underdog.
• Spartans are 22-8-2 ATS in their last 32 conference games.
• Home team is 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 meetings.

Expert Prediction: Fresno State 33, San Jose State 23

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