The South Carolina State Bulldogs take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers on Saturday in the Celebration Bowl. The game kicks off at 12:00 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Bulldogs are listed as 1.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 51.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and best bet for the Celebration Bowl.
South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M prediction, preview
Prairie View A&M Preview
Prairie View A&M is in the Celebration Bowl after winning the SWAC. In his first season with the Panthers, head coach Tremaine Jackson led the program to its first conference title since 2009. The Bulldogs are searching for their first Celebration Bowl win after such a strong season. They are led by a great dual-threat quarterback, Cameron Peters. In the SWAC Championship Game against perennial powerhouse Jackson State, Peters threw for 294 yards, rushed for 100 yards and had two total touchdowns. When he is playing at that level, the Bulldogs are a tough team to beat.
South Carolina State Preview
South Carolina State is in the Celebration Bowl for the third time in the past five years after winning another MEAC title. They lost the Celebration Bowl last season, but beat Deion Sanders’ Jackson State team in this game in 2021. Oliver Pough had a MEAC dynasty going at SC State during the 2000s, winning at least a share of eight conference titles during his tenure. After Pough retired in 2023, there was a concern that the domination of the MEAC could end for SC State. However, Chennis Berry stepped in and won the conference in each of his first two seasons. Now, he looks to win his first Celebration Bowl as SC State head coach.
South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M pick, best bet
The Celebration Bowl is always a special way to kick off bowl season between the two champions of the HBCU-dominated college football conferences. My best bet for this game is South Carolina State on the moneyline as short favorites. Outside of the conference title game against Jackson State, Prairie View A&M had a relatively easy schedule in the SWAC West, the weaker side of the conference. Also, its toughest out of conference game was against a poor Rice team. Meanwhile, South Carolina State really tested itself outside of conference play, taking on both South Florida and South Carolina this season. SC State put up a good fight against the Gamecocks, not allowing an offensive touchdown in the first half, before eventually getting overwhelmed athletically. SC State quarterback William Atkins IV is a stud and should carry his team to victory in the Celebration Bowl.
