Venue & Game Info
Location: Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET
Capacity: ~11,000 (outdoor stadium)
Weather Forecast: Mild, ~61°F, partly cloudy, winds SE 6–8 mph, low chance of rain
Broadcast: ESPN+ / NCAA.com
Injury Report
Albany State Golden Rams: QB Dionte Bonneau (shoulder soreness) probable; RB Kam Ward (ankle) questionable.
Benedict Tigers: WR Jaylin Thomas (hamstring) probable; LB Dorian Smith (knee) out for season.
Key Player Matchups
Quarterbacks:
Albany State: Dionte Bonneau – 2,245 yards, 21 TD, 6 INT
Benedict: Eric Phoenix – 2,785 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT
Running Backs:
Albany State: Kam Ward – 1,045 yards, 12 TD (questionable)
Benedict: Jaylin Thomas – 987 yards, 9 TD
Receivers:
Albany State: Rashad Jordan – 865 yards, 8 TD
Benedict: Elijah Watson – 1,102 yards, 10 TD
Defensive Leaders:
Albany State: LB Nicholas Owens – 102 tackles, 7 sacks
Benedict: DL Dorian Smith – 88 tackles, 9 sacks (injured)
Recent Team Form
Albany State:
W vs Fort Valley State (28-24)
W vs Clark Atlanta (35-21)
W vs Miles College (42-14)
W vs Savannah State (38-17)
L vs Valdosta State (31-20)
Benedict:
W vs Tuskegee (27-24)
W vs Morehouse (35-14)
L vs Fayetteville State (31-28)
W vs Allen University (41-10)
W vs Kentucky State (38-17)
Series History
Albany State leads the all-time series 12–5.
Last meeting (2024): Albany State won 21–17.
Benedict’s last win came in 2022 (24–20).
Betting Trends
Albany State has covered in 4 of last 5 games.
Benedict is 3-2 ATS in last 5, but struggled against top-tier SIAC opponents.
Albany State games trend under due to strong defense.
Historical Betting Results
Albany State covered vs Fort Valley State (-3.5), winning 28–24.
Benedict failed to cover vs Fayetteville State (-2.5), losing 31–28.
Albany State 6–2 ATS in playoff games since 2020.
Projected Score: Albany State 27 – Benedict 20
Reasoning: Albany State’s balanced offense and championship pedigree should control the game. Benedict’s upset potential hinges on Phoenix’s passing efficiency and Watson’s big-play ability, but Albany State’s depth and defensive strength make them strong favorites.
Final Take: Expect a physical, defensive-minded playoff clash. Albany State’s SIAC championship pedigree meets Benedict’s resilience, with the Golden Rams favored to advance in Columbia.
Game Odds
Albany State (GA) Golden Rams – 6.5
Benedict Tigers 51
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 28, 2025
