This game will include two of the more exciting players in the SBC, as Taylor Lamb and the Appalachian State Mountaineers travel to Ladd-Peebles Stadium to play Cody Clements and the South Alabama Jaguars. It’s been a rough season for South Alabama (5-6), and after losing two of its last three, things haven’t gotten any better. Players will take the field Saturday, Dec 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will air on ESP3.
South Alabama was blown out by Georgia Southern 55-17 last week. Tyreis Thomas had a good game on the ground in the loss, gaining 37 yards and one TD on eight carries. Appalachian State is hoping for another victory like last week’s performance, when it blew out Louisiana-Lafayette 28-7. Jalin Moore had an outstanding performance on the ground for the Mountaineers, rushing for 104 yards and one TD on 13 carries. Taylor Lamb added 172 yards and a TD through the air.
The Jaguars, a 16-point underdog, will be looking to defend their home field when Appalachian State comes to town. The matchup has an estimated Over/Under (O/U) of 59 points.
The Jaguars enter the game with records of 5-6 Straight Up (SU) and 3-8 Against The Spread (ATS) this season. Over their last five games, the Jaguars have records of 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS. The Jaguars are averaging 199.6 rushing yards in the last five games, higher than their season average of 156.3. The South Alabama pass defense has played at another level the past five games as well. It has given up 211.2 passing yards per game during that span.
Across the field, the Mountaineers have 9-2 SU and 6-5 ATS records this season. The Mountaineers went 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS over the last five games. If earlier games are any indication, the Mountaineers will run the ball aggressively. They average 265.3 rushing yards per game, good enough for sixth in Division I. Switching gears to the Appalachian State defense, there are certain areas where it measures up well against the Jaguars. Opponents have had difficulty with Appalachian State’s 22nd-ranked pass defense, which gives up just 187.4 passing yards per game. When Appalachian State’s defensive front gets going, it is basically unstoppable. This year, the Mountaineers average 2.6 sacks per game, good enough for 25th in the country. The Mountaineers usually get going immediately from the initial kickoff, averaging 9.1 points in the first quarter this year. Appalachian State doesn’t like to give up the ball. The team has an average time of possession of 32:46 this season, putting them 25th in the country.
Predictions: SU Winner – Appalachian State, ATS Winner – Appalachian State, O/U – Over
Notes
South Alabama is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games.
South Alabama is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 9 of South Alabama’s last 13 games.
South Alabama is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games at home.
South Alabama is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home.
Appalachian State is 9-1 SU when leading at the half this season. South Alabama is 3-2 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
Remarkably, Appalachian State is only 1-2 SU in games where it comes out ahead in the turnover battle, yet undefeated (6-0 SU) when losing the turnover battle.
The South Alabama passing attack is ranked only 88th in the country, while the Appalachian State pass defense is ranked 22nd. The Mountaineers passing game is ranked just 87th, compared to the 31st-ranked pass defense of the Jaguars.
