Saturday, September 3, 2016

Davis Wade Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The South Alabama Jaguars take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at Davis Wade Stadium. The opening line for this game has MSU as 34 point favorites and the over/under was set at 58.5. Last season the Jaguars were 4-8-0 against the spread and their over/under record was 8-3-1. The Bulldogs had an over/under record of 6-7-0 and they were 8-5-0 against the spread.

South Alabama scored 25 points per game on offense last season, which ranked 94th in Division 1. In the passing department, they averaged 15.3 passes on 29.3 attempts for a 52.3 percent completion percentage last season. They threw for a total of 199.5 yards per game through the air as well, which ranked them 91st in college football. The Jaguars ran for an average of 160.8 yards per game on 40.1 attempts for an average of 4 yards per carry. That ranked them 81st in the nation. They also ran 69.4 plays per contest and averaged 5.2 yards per play for an average of 360.3 yards per game, ranking their offense 101st overall last season. The Jaguars averaged 18.1 first downs per game which ranked them 105th in the country. They accumulated 57.8 penalty yards per game via 6.8 penalties, which ranked 48th in the nation.

South Alabama allowed 195 passing yards per game, ranking 25th in D-1, and they allowed 37.3 points per contest on defense, which ranked 115th. They gave up 16.9 completions on 28.1 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 60.2. The Jaguars allowed 221 rushing yards per game on 41.1 carries for a 5.4 average per play, which ranked their rush defense 113th in the country. South Alabama allowed 416 total yards per game including 6 yards per play, which ranked their overall defense 83rd in terms of yards per game. They forced 1.7 turnovers per contest and got flagged for 6.3 penalties for 61.2 yards per game, ranking them 97th among D-1 teams.

Mississippi State averaged 34.4 points per game last season on offense, which ranked them 33rd in the country. In the passing department, they completed 25.5 passes per game on 38.5 attempts for a 66.2 percent completion percentage. They threw for 316.4 yards through the air per game last year, ranking them 14th in Division 1. The Bulldogs ran for an average of 144.1 yards per game on 32.8 attempts for an average of 4.4 yards per carry last season, which ranked them 101st on the ground. They also ran 71.3 plays per game and averaged 6.5 yards per play for a total of 460.5 yards per game, ranking them 32nd in the country on offense. The Bulldogs got an average of 23.2 first downs per game, which ranked 28th in the nation. They averaged 38.9 penalty yards per game via 4.1 penalties, ranking them 120th in college football.

Mississippi State allowed an average of 216.5 passing yards yards per game, which ranked 58th in Division 1. Their defense overall allowed 23.2 points per contest, which had them ranked 36th in the nation. They gave up 19.8 completions on 32.6 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.6 per game. The Bulldogs allowed 174.6 rushing yards per contest on 40.8 carries for a 4.3 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 71st in the country. Mississippi State allowed 391.2 total yards per game for an average of 5.3 yards per play, which ranked 57th in D-1. They forced 1.1 turnovers per contest and 4.5 penalties for 39.7 yards in each contest, ranking 7th in the nation.

Cody Clements finished his last game of last season with 64 yards through the air for South Alabama. He completed 5 passes out of 12 attempts for a 42% completion percentage. The Jaguars were led in rushing by Tyreis Thomas, who finished with 37 yards on 8 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 5 yards per carry. Gerald Everett was the team leader in receiving with a total of 35 yards and 1 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 35 yards per reception. As a team in that game South Alabama got a total of 9 first downs by way of 4 rushing, 3 passing, and 2 by penalty. They ran 55 total plays for 136 yards for the game. The Jaguars ran for 74 yards on 36 attempts.

Dak Prescott finished his last game of last season with 380 yards through the air for Mississippi State. He completed 25 passes out of 42 attempts for a 60% completion percentage. The Bulldogs were led in rushing by Dak Prescott, who finished with 47 yards on 12 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 4 yards per carry. De'Runnya Wilson was the team leader in receiving with a total of 96 yards and 5 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 19 yards per reception. Mississippi State got a total of 26 first downs by way of 9 rushing, 15 passing, and 2 by penalty. They ran 77 total plays for 569 yards for the game. The Bulldogs ran for 189 yards on 35 attempts.

South Alabama Betting Trends

South Alabama were 8-3-1 against the over/under last season

South Alabama had an ATS record of 4-8-0 last season

Mississippi State Betting Trends

Mississippi State were 6-7-0 against the over/under last season

Mississippi State had an ATS record of 8-5-0 last season

Injuries to Watch

South Alabama

No key injuries to report

Mississippi State

08/25/16 DB Cedric Jiles Arm out indefinitely
08/25/16 DB Tolando Cleveland ACL out for season
07/14/16 WR Fred Ross Groin probable Saturday vs. South Alabama

Josh's Pick: Take Mississippi State

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