Northwestern State Demons vs. South Alabama Jaguars – As both teams look to break their winless start to the season, the Northwestern State Demons will face the South Alabama Jaguars this Thursday, a pivotal matchup in Week 3 of the NCAAF season. The game is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET at Hancock Whitney Stadium, with broadcasting on ESP+. As we delve into this analysis, keep an eye on the top betting sites in Canada for the latest odds and betting lines, which are yet to be announced.
Northwestern State Demons vs. South Alabama Jaguars
Date & Time: Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 7:30 PM ET
Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium
TV: ESP+
Northwestern State Demons vs. South Alabama Jaguars Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Northwestern State | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| South Alabama | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Northwestern State Demons Analysis
As far as the attacks for Northwestern State teams are concerned, they have always been inconsistent. It is telling that a quarterback similar to JT, Fayard, is barely hitting 37.8 percent of his passes out of 232 yards in two complete games. If Lacy has solid running numbers with an average of 9.2 YPC and 147 rushing yards, it is more impressive that he can score a few times. Wide receiver Myles Kitt-Denton also possessed 115 receiving yards and two touchdowns, indicating that this unit does have some explosive potential that can be unleashed and most likely will be.
Defense is where most teams have let the Demons down, as evidenced by the abysmal standing of a team with a score of 0-2. This is also why quite a number of their games have gone OVER total, indicative of weaknesses on defense that the Jaguars can take advantage of. For Northwestern State to beat South Alabama, they will need to make their line tighter and more skillful at pass rushing, which will be imperative to disrupt the present rhythm of the Jaguars offense, which is stronger than the rest.
South Alabama Jaguars Analysis
Gio Lopez, South Alabama’s quarterback, has been performing admirably, having completed 53.1% of his passes for 432 yards and no interceptions, which is different from his opponent’s. A level of control such as that may be useful in this kind of matchup. Running back Fluff Bothwell and wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett have also been key components of the offense, Pritchett’s 264 receiving yards being an example of a player who can change the course of the games.
The Jaguars, however, are no better in this respect than the Demons. While some moments have been even better, 4-2 SU in the last 6 weeks 3, including the fact that they have failed to cover the spread at home, is a worrying sight for Northwestern and one that they will be tempted to exploit. South Alabama has to devote attention to improving its defensive line and defensive back unit to stop Lacy’s running and the danger of the Demons’ receivers behind the line of scrimmage.
Northwestern State Demons vs. South Alabama Jaguars Against the Spread
Northwestern State’s betting trends do not inspire confidence, having gone 0-10 SU in their last 10 games and 0-11 SU on the road. Their repeated failures against the spread, particularly against Sun Belt teams, underscore the challenges they face in tightening up their gameplay and finding winning strategies.
Conversely, South Alabama’s record is not much better, with a 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games and a specific struggle against the spread in September games. However, their slightly better record in Week 3 games could provide them a slender psychological edge coming into this matchup.
Northwestern State Demons vs. South Alabama Jaguars Free Pick
Based on the trends and stats, here are the picks:
Moneyline: South Alabama Jaguars. Their slightly better offensive cohesion and quarterback performance give them the edge.
Spread: South Alabama. Depending on the announced spreads, lean towards South Alabama if the spread is reasonable, given their home advantage and offensive strengths.
Total: Over. Both teams have shown a tendency for high-scoring games, particularly Northwestern State.
Predicted Score: South Alabama Jaguars 28 – 20 Northwestern State Demons
For those eyeing winning NCAAF picks, the Moneyline for South Alabama offers a more secure bet given the comparative data and recent performances. While both teams struggle defensively, South Alabama’s more reliable offense should steer them to their first victory of the season.
