Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET
Venue: Daytona Stadium, Daytona Beach, Florida (Capacity: ~9,600)
Broadcast: ESPN+ / Local HBCU Sports Radio
Weather Forecast (Daytona Beach, FL)
Temperature: ~83°F (28°C) at kickoff, humid conditions
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (6–9 mph)
Impact: Heat and humidity could test depth and stamina, especially in the second half.
Injury Report
Edward Waters (3–0, SIAC):
QB Cameron Ransom – Healthy, 392 passing yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; also 124 rushing yards, 2 TDs.
WR Marcus Huggins – Healthy, 12 receptions, 179 yards, 2 TDs.
RB rotation – No major injuries reported.
Bethune-Cookman (0–3, SWAC):
QB Walter Simmons III – Healthy, 2 TDs, 3 INTs through three games.
RB Que’shaun Byrd – Healthy, 165 rushing yards, 1 TD.
WR Kamari Everett – Healthy, 14 receptions, 155 yards.
Key Player Matchups
QB Cameron Ransom (EWU) vs. BCU Secondary
Ransom’s dual-threat ability has been the Tigers’ engine; BCU must contain him outside the pocket.
WR Marcus Huggins (EWU) vs. BCU Corners
Huggins is averaging nearly 15 yards per catch; his ability to stretch the field is a major concern for BCU.
RB Que’shaun Byrd (BCU) vs. EWU Front Seven
Byrd’s power running is BCU’s best chance to control tempo and keep Ransom off the field.
BCU Offensive Line vs. EWU Pass Rush
BCU has struggled with turnovers; protection will be critical to avoid giving EWU short fields.
Recent Team Form
Edward Waters Tigers (3–0, SIAC)
9/13: W 41–38 vs. Virginia Union
9/6: W 46–14 vs. Miles
8/30: W 41–14 @ Savannah State
Trend: Offense averaging 42.7 PPG; defense opportunistic but vulnerable to big plays.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (0–3, SWAC)
9/13: L 55–41 @ South Carolina State
9/6: L 45–3 @ Miami (FBS)
8/29: L 42–9 @ FIU (FBS)
Trend: Offense averaging 17.7 PPG; defense allowing 47.3 PPG.
Series History
All-time series: First-ever meeting between Edward Waters and Bethune-Cookman.
Adds intrigue as a new in-state HBCU rivalry game.
Betting Trends
Edward Waters:
4–1 SU in last 5 games.
3–2 ATS in last 5.
Overs hit in 3 of last 5.
Bethune-Cookman:
0–5 SU in last 5 games.
1–4 ATS in last 5.
Overs hit in 4 of last 5.
Cross-Division Trends: FCS teams cover ~65% of the time vs. DII opponents, but EWU’s hot start makes this matchup intriguing.
Historical Betting Results
Edward Waters: Profitable ATS in SIAC play; overs common when Ransom is in rhythm.
Bethune-Cookman: Struggles ATS against non-conference opponents; overs frequent due to defensive breakdowns.
HBCU Trends: SIAC vs. SWAC games often trend high-scoring, with overs cashing in 7 of the last 10 such matchups.
Game Odds
Edward Waters Tigers 58.5
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats – 7.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
