North Texas vs. South Alabama: A Clash of Rebuilding Programs in Mobile
The 2024 college football season kicks off with a matchup between North Texas and South Alabama on August 31st. Both teams are entering a new era, with significant changes in coaching staff and roster turnover.
North Texas: A Program in Transition
After a disappointing 5-7 season in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), North Texas looks to rebound. The Mean Green face the challenge of replacing key players on both sides of the ball, making this season a rebuilding year. The outcome of this game could be a crucial indicator of their progress and potential for the remainder of the season.
South Alabama: A New Era Begins
South Alabama also enters the 2024 season with a new head coach, Major Applewhite, who takes over after the departure of Kane Wommack to Alabama. Despite the coaching change, the Jaguars have high expectations, having made significant strides in recent years. They finished 7-6 last season and will look to build on that success under Applewhite’s leadership.
Key Matchup: Offense vs. Defense
The game’s outcome may hinge on the battle between South Alabama’s potent offense and North Texas’ defense. The Jaguars boasted a strong offensive unit last year, excelling in passing efficiency and showing promise in the running game. They’ll face a North Texas defense that will need to step up and create turnovers to limit the Jaguars’ scoring opportunities.
Predictions and Betting Insights
Early odds favor South Alabama by 7 points, with the total set at 64.5 at BetAnySports. This suggests a potentially high-scoring game, with the Jaguars expected to come out on top. However, with both teams undergoing significant changes, the game could be closer and lower scoring than the odds suggest.
Key Factors to Watch
- Quarterback Play: Both teams will have new starting quarterbacks. Their performance will be crucial in dictating the offensive flow for each team.
- Defensive Adjustments: With new coaching staffs, both defenses will need to adapt quickly and execute their game plans effectively.
- Special Teams: Special teams play can often be a deciding factor in close games. Field position and turnovers could play a significant role in this matchup.
Our Model
Using data from last season our model predicts a 42-25 South Alabama win. However the model is really not reliable in this instance due to player losses and coaching changes.
It should be noted however, that the current side and total line is also based largely on last season’s results.
With that in mind, we are going to play this game under the total as there we’d expect the offenses, particularly South Alabama’s, to be a few steps behind initially.
Our Pick – UNDER 65.5