The South Alabama Jaguars and Memphis Tigers will face off on the turf at Liberty Bowl Memorial. ESPN 3 owns the TV rights and the game’s scheduled to get going at 8:00 p.m. ET.
South Alabama Jaguars vs. Memphis Tigers Betting Preview
Memphis has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 28 points to South Alabama. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 69 points. It appears that there will likely be multiple good live betting possibilities in this showdown.
Odds have shifted from when they were first posted. The line opened at -26 and the game’s total has yet to change after it was set initially at 69.
The Jaguars have gained 0.0 units so far and are 1-1-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-0. The Tigers have lost 2.7 units this season. The team is 2-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-1.
The Jaguars are 1-2 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Tigers are 2-1 SU.
The Jaguars enter after a 41-31 victory over Texas State last weekTheir defense allowed the Bobcats to rush for 158 yards on 52 attempts, including two rush TDs. Javen Banks had a good day for the Bobcats in that one with 1 rushing yards and a score on one attempt, along with 82 yards and a score on two catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Evan Orth completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Deonta Moore (just 10 rushing yards on nine attempts) and Tra Minter (61 yards on nine carries, two TDs) mounted the running attack while Jamarius Way (11 receptions, 173 yards, one TD) and Jordan McCray (four catches, 31 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Memphis is coming off of a 59-22 win over Georgia State. The team’s defensive unit allowed the Panthers to rush for 173 yards on 43 attempts, including two rush TDs. Destin Coates had a productive showing in the loss, posting 68 rushing yards on 12 attempts for Georgia State. 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 running game as Damonte Coxie (six receptions, 123 yards, two TDs) and Tony Pollard (three catches, 42 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each of these teams has a remarkably similar (54-46) run-pass ratio on the season. The Jaguars have run for 137 yards/game and have six touchdowns on the ground this year. The Tigers are putting up 322 rush yards per game and have nine total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Tigers could hold an edge when it comes to RB effectiveness, as their backfield has logged 9.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.5 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Jaguars have tallied 3.8 yards per carry while allowing 3.8 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Jags offensive scheme has logged 164 yards/contest in the air overall and has four passing TDs so far. The Tigers have put up 281 pass yards per game and have 10 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, South Alabama has allowed 184 rush yards and 292 pass yards per game. The Memphis defense has allowed 101.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 165.7 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.41 to opposing QBs, while the Jaguars have allowed a 5.34 ANY/A.
Offensively, Orth is up to 310 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 28-of-39 attempts with two scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Orth’s got an 8.97 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.48 over the last two games.
In the other locker room, Brady White has completed 41-of-54 passes for 627 yards, 10 TDs and zero INTs. White’s ANY/A sits at 14.96 for the year and 8.64 over his past two games.
Free Prediction: South Alabama Jaguars at Memphis Tigers
SU Winner – Memphis, ATS Winner – South Alabama, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The South Alabama defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 10 times this season. Memphis has produced seven sacks.
Memphis has lost four fumbles this season while the South Alabama offense has lost five.
The Jaguars offense has created one pass play of 40 or more yards, while the Tigers have accounted for five such plays.
The South Alabama defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Memphis has given up zero such plays.
The South Alabama offense has created three rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Memphis has created 11 such runs.
The Jaguars defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Tigers have given up five such runs.
South Alabama has averaged 3.0 yards per carry over its last two matchups.
Memphis has averaged 10.9 yards per carry over its last two.
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