FCS-CFB Game Preview: Charleston Southern Buccaneers (1-4) vs. Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-2)

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Time: 1:30 PM ET – ESPN+
Venue: Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, Stadium Drive, Boiling Springs, NC 28152
Capacity: 9,000

Weather Forecast (Boiling Springs, NC)

Kickoff: 69–71°F, partly cloudy

Rain Chance: 7%

Wind: NE 5–6 mph

Impact: Mild breeze, otherwise perfect football weather

Injury Report

Charleston Southern: No reported injuries

Gardner-Webb: No reported injuries

Key Player Matchups

Quarterbacks:

Charleston Southern: Zachary Osborne – 470 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT

Gardner-Webb: Narii Hampton – 803 yds, 7 TD, 1 INT

Running Backs:

Charleston Southern: Hunter Watters – 180 yds, 2 TD

Gardner-Webb: Quinton Holmes – 301 yds, 3 TD

Receivers:

Charleston Southern: Caleb Rhone – 149 yds

Gardner-Webb: Caleb Lofton – 297 yds, 2 TD

Defensive Leaders:

Charleston Southern: M. McKinzie – 2 sacks; S. Zayachkowsky – 29 tackles

Gardner-Webb: R. Holtz – 3 sacks; C. Haynes – 29 tackles

Recent Team Form

Charleston Southern (1-4, 0-1 OVC-Big South):

W 31-24 vs South Carolina State

L 34-7 @ William & Mary

L 35-28 vs Lindenwood

L 13-0 @ Coastal Carolina

L 45-3 @ Vanderbilt

Gardner-Webb (2-2, 0-0 OVC-Big South):

L 52-35 @ Ohio

W 23-13 vs The Citadel

L 59-12 @ Georgia Tech

W 52-45 @ Western Carolina

Team Records

Charleston Southern Buccaneers: 1-4 overall, 0-1 Big South–OVC

Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs: 2-2 overall, 0-0 Big South–OVC

Series History

All-Time: Gardner-Webb leads 13–9

Last Meeting (2024): Gardner-Webb 17, Charleston Southern 14 (Charleston, SC)

Trend: Gardner-Webb has won 3 straight (2022–2024)

Rivalry Note: This is the 2nd Annual BBQ Bowl, with the winner claiming the “Hog Trophy” and BBQ bragging rights between North Carolina and South Carolina

Betting Trends

Charleston Southern: 2-3 ATS; 2-3 O/U

Gardner-Webb: 3-1 ATS; 3-1 O/U

Head-to-Head: Gardner-Webb 3-0 SU last 3 vs CSU

Situational: Gardner-Webb averaging 30.5 PPG; Charleston Southern averaging 13.8 PPG

Historical Betting Results

2024: Gardner-Webb 17, Charleston Southern 14 (CSU +7 covered, Under 44 hit)

2023: Gardner-Webb 34, Charleston Southern 10 (GWU -6 covered, Under 47 hit)

2022: Gardner-Webb 28, Charleston Southern 14 (GWU -7 covered, Under 45 hit)

Projected Score: Gardner-Webb 31, Charleston Southern 17

Game Odds

Charleston Southern Buccaneers              56

Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs              – 13

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025

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