A couple of teams that like to feature their running games, Head Coach Steve Campbell and the South Alabama Jaguars (+17) are gearing up to face off against their in-conference foe Arkansas State Red Wolves (-17) at Centennial Bank Stadium. The opening kickoff for this showdown is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
South Alabama Jaguars at Arkansas State Red Wolves Betting Preview
South Alabama is getting picked to play the role of underdog and is currently getting 17 points in this SBC game. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently need to put up $1,200 in order to win $100 back on the Red Wolves (-1200). The Jaguars are getting +710 moneyline odds. This SBC matchup should provide several decent in-game betting scenarios, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 65.5 points.
The opening line was -17. The game’s total has not changed after it was initially placed at 65.5.
The Jaguars are 3-4-1 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 2.0 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 7-1. The Red Wolves have lost 1.1 units this season. The team is 2-6 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-4.
The Jaguars have gone 2-6 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against SBC opponents. The Red Wolves are 4-4 SU overall and 1-3 SU in conference play.
The Jags fell to Troy 38-17 in a thumping where the passing game could’ve been better as Evan Orth completed 18 passes for 275 yards, two scores and three interceptions. Tra Minter (99 yards on 23 rush attempts) led the ground attack in the loss. Jamarius Way (six receptions, 80 yards, one TD) and Jordan McCray (three catches, 60 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
One week ago, Louisiana knocked off this Arkansas State team by a score of 47-43. The Red Wolves defensive unit allowed the Ragin’ Cajuns to pass for 319 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 228 yards and four scores. Elijah Mitchell torched the defense, recording 68 rushing yards and a score on four attempts, along with 121 yards on six catches for Louisiana. For Arkansas State, Justice Hansen completed 17-of-30 passes for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Marcel Murray (121 rushing yards on 19 attempts, three TDs) and the signal-caller Hansen (53 yards on 16 carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack in the defeat as Omar Bayless (six receptions, 75 yards) and Kirk Merritt (four catches, 122 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack.
South Alabama has run the ball on 56.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arkansas State has a rush percentage of 50.3 percent. The Jaguars have produced 128 rush yards/game (including 110 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 13 scores via handoffs this year. The Red Wolves are logging 184 rushing yards per game (179 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
The Jags offense has averaged 220 yards in the air overall (241 per game against conference opposition) and has 11 passing TDs so far. The Red Wolves have put up 278 pass yards per contest (280.5 against SBC foes) and have 16 total pass scores.
South Alabama has allowed opponents to run for an average of 226 yards and pass for 216 yards per game. The Arkansas State defense has allowed 187.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 227.4 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Jags have given up an ANY/A of 7.18 to opposing QBs, while the Red Wolves are yielding an ANY/A of 6.86.
Offensively, Orth is up to 1,486 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 65 percent of his 188 attempts with eight passing scores and six interceptions. Orth’s got a 6.62 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.22 over the last two games.
In the home locker room, Justice Hansen has completed 160-of-252 passes for 1,808 yards, 12 TDs and six INTs. Hansen’s ANY/A stands at 6.32 for the season and 8.84 across his last two games.
When these two teams met last year, South Alabama emerged victorious by a final score of 24-19.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: South Alabama Jaguars vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves
SU Winner – Arkansas State, ATS Winner – Arkansas State, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Arkansas State defense has notched 18 sacks on the year while South Alabama has 14.
Arkansas State has lost four fumbles this season while South Alabama has lost nine.
The Jaguars offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Red Wolves have accounted for two such plays.
The South Alabama defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Arkansas State has given up 12 such plays.
The South Alabama offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Arkansas State has created 11 such runs.
The Jaguars defense has allowed 20 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Red Wolves have given up 17 such runs.
The Over/Under for Arkansas State’s last outing was set at 68.5. The over cashed in the 47-43 loss to Louisiana.
In its last three contests, Arkansas State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three games, South Alabama is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for South Alabama’s previous game was set at 52.5. The over cashed in the team’s 38-17 defeat to Troy.
As a team, South Alabama has produced 3.3 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.3 over its last two.
Arkansas State has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.9 over its past two.
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