The 2025-26 college football bowl season continues on Tuesday with the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. It's an in-state rivalry matchup featuring a pair of Alabama-based programs as Troy takes on Jacksonville State. Let's take a deep dive into the game for our College Football Same-Game Parlay (SGP).
The Salute to Veterans Bowl is scheduled to kick off at 9 pm ET in Montgomery, AL, on Tuesday, December 16. Let's break down the matchup between these Conference USA and Sun Belt schools. Enjoy this College Football Same-Game Parlay as you lock in your own picks.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
College Football Same-Game Parlays & Picks: Salute to Veterans Bowl
(Odds via BetMGM)
Troy vs. Jacksonville State
- Leg 1: Cameron Cook 100+ Rushing Yards
- Leg 2: Cameron Cook Anytime Touchdown
- Leg 3: Caden Creel 100+ Rushing Yards
- Leg 4: Rara Thomas 40+ Receiving Yards
Leg 1: Cameron Cook 100+ Rushing Yards
Any parlay for this game has to include Cameron Cook in some capacity. Jacksonville State's workhorse tailback racked up 1,659 rushing yards this season, averaging 127.6 yards per game. He also carried the ball 22.7 times per contest. Cook has at least 100 rush yards in 10-of-13 games, with 75+ in each of the three outliers. The Gamecocks love to lean on the run with Cook and dual-threat QB Caden Creel, more on him later.
That run-heavy offense now gets a favorable matchup. Troy allowed 182.8 rushing yards per game this season (113th in FBS) while giving up 4.73 yards per carry (105th). The Trojans also rank 75th nationally in defensive EPA vs. the run. Meanwhile, they boast a strong pass defense that should keep Jacksonville on the ground with Cook seeing his normal workload of 20+ carries with 100+ yards.
Leg 2: Cameron Cook Anytime Touchdown
Let's also count on Cook to get into the end zone. He's scored 16 touchdowns on the year, with at least one TD in 10 straight games entering tonight. Troy's defense, meanwhile, has allowed 21 rushing scores over 13 games this season. Considering that matchup and Cook's consistent TD production, it's hard to imagine him being held out of the end zone. For what it's worth, Creel could also score in this game if you want to add his TD prop in.
Leg 3: Caden Creel 100+ Rushing Yards
Wait, we're backing TWO Jacksonville State players to run for 100+ yards apiece? Yep, without hesitation, based on their track records and this matchup. As for Creel, the dual-threat quarterback has seen heavy rushing volume and production ever since he took over as the starter in late September. He's run for 100+ yards in seven of the last nine games, averaging 110.8 yards per game. Creel is also averaging a whopping 17.7 rush attempts per contest in this stretch.
This is what Jacksonville State does. The option rushing attack with Creel and Cook will surely be leaned on in this game. As noted above, Troy has struggled to stop the run. Plus, other notable dual-threat QBs have had success against the Trojans. That list includes JMU's Alonza Barnett III (85 rushing yards), ODU's Colton Joseph (90), Louisiana's Lunch Winfield (139), Texas State's Brad Jackson (77), and South Alabama's Bishop Davenport (72).
Leg 4: Rara Thomas 40+ Receiving Yards
On the Troy side of things, Rara Thomas is the guy to target as the offense's deep-ball threat. He'll also benefit from the Trojans quarterback, Goose Crowder, trending towards playing after leaving the last game with an injury. He's been practicing this week, and he appears good to go. Thomas was a favorite target for Crowder at the end of the season, with 82, 118, and 50 receiving yards over the last three games. That includes big chunk plays of 43, 75, and 34 yards.
Thomas is the long ball option for Troy, and that big-play ability can come to fruition in this bowl game setting against a subpar secondary. Jacksonville State ranks 108th in the country in passing yards allowed per game and 82nd in defensive success rate against the pass. The pass defense was also notably vulnerable against some of the better air attacks it faced. Kennesaw State (362 passing yards), Delaware (422), Liberty (335), and UCF (314) all had success in this matchup. Crowder can sling it and find Thomas for at least 40 yards. It's a low bar for the former SEC transfer.
Parlay Odds: +450
