Kickoff: 2:00 PM ET
Venue: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina (Capacity: ~11,500)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Charleston, SC)
Temperature: ~83°F (28°C) at kickoff, humid conditions
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (6–9 mph)
Impact: Warm, humid Lowcountry afternoon; hydration and depth could be factors.
Injury Report
Mercer Bears (1–1, 1–0 SoCon):
QB Brett Atkinson – Healthy, 316 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs through 2 games.
RB Corey Miller – Healthy, 105 yards rushing, 1 TD.
WR Brandon Smith – Healthy, 11 receptions, 130 yards.
The Citadel Bulldogs (1–2, 1–0 SoCon):
QB Caleb Thompkins – Dual-threat, 260 passing yards, 2 TDs, plus 141 rushing yards.
WR Jaden Graves-Billips – Healthy, 156 yards, 2 TDs.
RB depth – Rotational, no major injuries reported.
Key Player Matchups
QB Brett Atkinson (Mercer) vs. Citadel Secondary
Atkinson’s efficiency will be tested by a Bulldogs defense that thrives on forcing turnovers.
RB Corey Miller (Mercer) vs. Citadel Front Seven
Miller’s ability to establish the run will be key to keeping Mercer balanced.
QB Caleb Thompkins (Citadel) vs. Mercer Linebackers
Thompkins’ dual-threat ability (141 rushing yards) makes him the X-factor.
WR Brandon Smith (Mercer) vs. Citadel Corners
Smith’s possession skills will be critical on third downs.
Recent Team Form
Mercer Bears (1–1)
9/13/25: W 22–21 vs. Wofford
8/30/25: L 15–10 vs. Presbyterian
End of 2024: Lost in FCS playoffs to North Dakota State (31–7).
Trend: Offense inconsistent, but defense has kept them competitive.
The Citadel Bulldogs (1–2)
9/13/25: L 23–13 @ Gardner-Webb
9/6/25: W 40–13 @ Samford
8/30/25: L 38–0 vs. North Dakota State
Trend: Offense sparked by Thompkins’ mobility; defense vulnerable against strong passing teams.
Series History
Mercer leads the all-time series 7–3.
Last meeting (2024): Mercer won 38–14.
The Citadel’s last win came in 2019.
Betting Trends
Mercer:
2–3 ATS in last 5 games.
Unders hit in 3 of last 5.
4–1 SU in last 5 SoCon games.
The Citadel:
2–3 ATS in last 5 games.
Overs hit in 3 of last 5.
1–4 SU in last 5 overall.
Head-to-Head: Mercer has covered in 4 of the last 5 meetings.
Historical Betting Results
Mercer: Profitable ATS as a road favorite in SoCon play; unders common in low-scoring defensive battles.
The Citadel: Struggles ATS as a home underdog; overs more frequent when Thompkins is effective on the ground.
SoCon Trends: Road favorites cover ~57% of the time in September conference games.
Game Odds
Mercer Bears – 6.5
The Citadel Bulldogs 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
