ABILENE, Texas (Interstat) — Mercer will visit Abilene Christian on Saturday for an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Wildcat Stadium. The Bears enter at 2-2, while the Wildcats are 1-3. The forecast for game time calls for 76 degrees.

Mercer is coming off an 11-44 loss at Georgia Tech in its most recent game. Quarterback JP Pickles is a player to watch for the Bears. In that outing, Pickles completed 7 of 11 passes for 82 yards and ran 11 times for 53 yards. Earlier this season against Presbyterian, he completed 3 of 5 passes for 35 yards, ran five times for 52 yards and accounted for one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown. Jaylen King also saw time at quarterback in the Georgia Tech game, completing 3 of 3 passes for 20 yards and running five times for 2 yards. Zahmari Palode-Gary ran 15 times for 71 yards.

Abilene Christian defeated Idaho 41-39 in its most recent game, the Wildcats’ first win of the season. Quarterback Tucker Parks leads Abilene Christian into the matchup. Against Idaho, Parks completed 14 of 21 passes for 148 yards and ran 13 times for 74 yards while accounting for two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Rovaughn Banks Jr. ran 22 times for 99 yards and caught three passes for 20 yards. Deonte Dean ran eight times for 63 yards, caught one pass for 37 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Mercer’s other results this season include a 20-13 home loss to Furman, a 62-3 home win over Presbyterian and a 23-15 home win over Texas A&M-Commerce. Abilene Christian has also lost 26-7 to Stephen F. Austin at home, fallen 33-10 at Texas Tech and dropped a 21-14 road game at Lamar.

After this game, Mercer’s upcoming schedule includes a trip to Virginia Military Institute, home games against Western Carolina, Citadel and East Tennessee State, and road games at Samford, Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech. Abilene Christian’s upcoming slate includes home games against West Florida, Central Arkansas, West Georgia and Eastern Kentucky, along with road games at North Alabama, Tarleton State and Austin Peay.

The Bears will look to rebound from the road loss and improve to 3-2. The Wildcats will seek their second straight win after the victory at Idaho.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Abilene Christian 39, Mercer 38. Interstat’s ELO system gives Abilene Christian a 58 percent probability to win. Mercer has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +3.5. The over/under for the game is 48.5.