Jags Host Louisiana-Monroe On Homecoming Weekend
South Alabama (2-7, 1-4 SBC) have been guaranteed another losing season but they have a lot yet to play for, pride. With only three games left, head coach Steve Campbell is expected to take advantage of the new red shirt rules and get freshmen some playing time down the stretch.
Louisiana-Monroe (5-4, 3-2 SBC) travel to Mobile as the first place team in the Sun Belt Conference western division and are favored to win the game by 6.5 points.
Senior starting quarterback Evan Orth left last weeks game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury which will keep him sidelined this week. Complicating things is that Desmond Trotter will not be available which will leave Cephus Johnson and Cole Garvin as the only two quarterbacks available on Saturday. Garvin has not seen playing time since arrested back in September.
The Warhawks hosted Georgia Southern and put a whipping on them 44-25. They held them to 138 yards rushing and 216 overall. The Warhawks gained 573 total yards, 236 rushing.
The Jaguar defense has played well in spurts but the offense has had problems moving the ball and putting points on the board. Then other times the roles were reversed with the offense moving the ball but the defense unable to get a stop. But the whole time the defense has been very susceptible to big plays, both through the air and on the ground.
With the injuries the number of players who are missing time with injuries and the expected use of freshmen, I don’t like the sound of how this game could play out. With a forecasted high of 56 degrees for Saturday, 55 degrees at kickoff and a quick cool off into the 40s as the sun sets may make for a small crowd and a long evening for the fans.
Keys to a jaguar win:
1. Win the turnover battle. The Jags can’t waste any possessions if they hope to win.
2. Stop the big plays. Big plays have been a bane in the side of the Jaguar defense all season. The 78 yard touchdown pass given up last week was a prime example. But giving up big double-digit yards on 3rd down is killer.
3. Score points. The most obvious of things to say, but there’s no way to win without putting points on the scoreboard. Last week they got on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter but didn’t get another score until the game was quite settled late in the fourth quarter.
I haven’t seen anything to make me think the Jags will suddenly put the last few games behind them and play up to their full potential. But I’m always open for a surprise. But right now I see the Warhawks getting their first win in three tries in Mobile and based on trends they will cover the 6.5 point spread.
Inside the Numbers: