The South Alabama Jaguars and Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles open their 2020 regular seasons Thursday at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss. Kickoff is set for at 9 p.m. ET (on CBSSN). We analyze the South Alabama-Southern Mississippi college football betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
South Alabama at Southern Miss: Three things to know
1. South Alabama is expected to be in the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt’s West Division. QB Desmond Trotter and WRs Kawaan Baker and Jalen Tolbert are playmakers. That’s what’s good for USA. However, the defense is a huge concern, especially along the D-line. The Jaguars will have a patchwork up front, and that will allow opponents to run wild, at least early on. LB Christian Bell, a grad transfer from Wisconsin, will be a welcome add.
2. Southern Miss had several players opt out for the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns, including RB Steven Anderson, who was expected to be the team’s leading return rusher. Perhaps freshman RB Frank Gore Jr. will get more carries than previously anticipated out of the gate. WR Jaylond Adams, who had 48 grabs for 483 yards and a pair of touchdowns, was the team’s top returning receiver, but he has also opted out.
3. The Golden Eagles also had LB Racheem Boothe and DE Jacques Turner pass up on the 2020 due to COVID, so key contributors on both sides are out, leading to new opportunity for youngsters. While that’s great for those players, it could be a slow go for USM early on.
Also see:
- CFN – The latest college football coverage
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South Alabama at Southern Miss: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Southern Miss 24, South Alabama 20
Moneyline (ML)
Southern Miss (-556) is an overwhelming favorite, and will likely scratch out a win. But South Alabama (+400) is capable of pulling the upset here. Risking more than 5½ times your potential return on a USM team with several opt-outs and plenty of questions on both sides of the ball is a bad idea. AVOID.
Against the Spread (ATS)
SOUTH ALABAMA +13.5 (-110) has dropped three straight season openers, but it has covered each of its past four regular-season openers, including a 21-20 win at Mississippi State Sept. 3, 2016. Look for USA to cover the program’s first gridiron meeting with Southern Miss -13.5 (-110), as it has more than enough offense to hang tough.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 54.5 (-110) is going to be a good play during the early going, as offenses are likely to struggle with a lack of spring and summer practice time. USM will also have to adjust with a lot of new faces, with big stars gone to the NFL and/or simply having opted out. Expect a score well in the 40’s.
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