Sacramento State vs. San Jose State – Prediction, Odds, Picks for Week 1 College Football Game

It's time to continue our college football odds series with a Sacramento State-San Jose State prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Sacramento State-San Jose State.

Sacramento and Silicon Valley aren't that far apart. It only makes sense that college football teams from nearby areas would come together for a game, saving each other long commutes at a time when long flights are becoming more common in sports. Washington-Rutgers is now a conference game in the Big Ten. Oklahoma-Florida is now a conference game in the SEC. West Virginia-Arizona is now a conference game in the Big 12. Sacramento State and San Jose State are giving each other a chance to start the season without long trips.

These teams are in very interesting positions entering the 2024 season. Sacramento State saw coach Troy Taylor leave for nearby Stanford after the 2022 season. Andy Thompson took over in 2023 and did a great job leading the Hornets to a winning record that included a win at Stanford. This was an extremely satisfying win for the Hornets and it's an instant reminder that just because Sac State is the FCS team in this matchup and is facing an FBS team, the Hornets aren't automatically inferior. Last year, they beat an FBS team from a power conference. Let's see if Andy Thompson can keep the train rolling in Sacramento after a very successful first season as the Hornets' head coach.

San Jose State is entering a new era at head coaching. Brent Brennan is gone. He went to Arizona to take the open head coaching job with the Wildcats after Jedd Fisch took the open head coaching job in Washington as Kalen DeBoer replaced Nick Saban at Alabama. Brennan did a great job at San Jose State, so his absence was a gut punch for the program. San Jose State, however, did a really good job of hiring a replacement.

Ken Niumatalolo is an excellent football coach. He helped Navy stay consistently strong for over a decade, taking the reins from Paul Johnson and making the Midshipmen a force to be reckoned with each year. Niumatalolo struggled with Navy during the pandemic. The program took a downturn and the academy made a coaching change. Niumatalolo now gets a fresh start on the other coast of the country, moving from Annapolis to San Jose. It will be interesting to see how he handles the adjustment with the Spartans.

Here are the odds for Sacramento State-San Jose State college football, courtesy of FanDuel.

College football odds: Sacramento State-San Jose State odds

Sacramento State: +2.5 (-115)

Money line: +104

San Jose State: -2.5 (-105)

Money line: -125

Over: 59.5 (-112)

Under: 59.5 (-108)

How to watch Sacramento State vs. San Jose State

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT

TV: TruTV

Stream: fuboTV (Click here for a free trial)

Why Sacramento State could cover the spread/profit

Sacramento State proved it can beat an FBS team last year in its road win at Stanford, and on the road too. The Hornets, who are good and know they are good, will have absolutely no fear. San Jose State could be good in October or November, but the fact that they have a new coaching staff means Week 1 could be a little rocky. The team could need a few weeks to develop and become what it can become.

Why San Jose State could cover the spread/profit

Ken Niumatalolo is a great replacement for Brent Brennan. He gets a fresh start and a chance to breathe new life into San Jose State right away. He will have his team ready for Sac State with a good game plan.

Final prediction and pick for Sacramento State vs San Jose State

A new head coach on one side of the matchup makes the game seem like a coin toss. Don't do it.

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Final Sacramento State-San Jose State prediction and pick: San Jose State -2.5