The South Alabama Jaguars and Memphis Tigers are set to go at it on the turf at Liberty Bowl Memorial. The game is scheduled to get underway at 8:00 p.m. ET and ESPN 3 has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: South Alabama Jaguars vs. Memphis Tigers
South Alabama is a big road underdog here and is currently receiving 28 points from bookmakers. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 69 points. Some good in-game betting possibilities should present themselves during this match.
Odds have moved from where they were originally placed, as the line opened at -26. The game’s O/U has yet to change after it was set initially at 69.
The Jaguars have gained 0.0 units so far in 2018 and are 1-1-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 3-0.
The Tigers are down 2.7 units this season. The team is 2-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-1.
The Jaguars have gone 1-2 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Tigers are 2-1 SU.
The Jags are coming off a 41-31 win over Texas State last week. Evan Orth completed 24-of-33 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Deonta Moore (only 10 rushing yards on nine attempts) and Tra Minter (61 yards on nine carries, two TDs) led the ground attack in the win while Jamarius Way (11 receptions, 173 yards, one TD) and Jordan McCray (four catches, 31 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Memphis just earned a blowout 59-22 win over Georgia State. The Tigers defense allowed the Panthers to rush for 173 yards on 43 attempts, including two rush TDs. Destin Coates had a productive outing in the defeat for Georgia State, recording 68 rushing yards on 12 attempts. For Memphis, Brady White completed 19-of-26 passes for 269 yards and five touchdowns. Darrell Henderson (233 yards on 14 rush attempts, two TDs) spearheaded the ground game in the win as Damonte Coxie (six receptions, 123 yards, two TDs) and Tony Pollard (three catches, 42 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
Each of these teams has a strikingly similar (54-46) run-pass ratio on the season. The Jaguars have produced 137.0 rush yards per game and have six touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Tigers are averaging 322.3 rushing yards per game and have nine total rush TDs.
It seems like the Tigers ought to have the edge in terms of RB efficiency. Their backfield has logged 9.1 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 3.5 to opponents. The Jaguars have rushed for 3.8 yards per carry while allowing 3.8 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Jags offensive scheme has averaged 164.3 yards in the air overall and has four passing TDs so far. The Tigers have produced 280.7 pass yards per outing and have 10 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, South Alabama has allowed 184.3 rush yards and 292.0 pass yards per game. The Memphis defense has given up 101.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 165.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tigers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.41 to opponents, while the Jaguars have given up a 5.34 ANY/A.
Offensively, Orth has put up 310 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 28-of-39 attempts with two passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. Orth has an 8.97 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.48 over the last two games.
Brady White has connected on 41-of-54 passes for 627 yards, 10 TDs and zero INTs for Memphis. His ANY/A sits at 14.96 for the year and 8.64 over his past two games.
South Alabama Jaguars vs. Memphis Tigers NCAA Prediction
SU Winner: Memphis, ATS Winner: South Alabama, O/U: Under
