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South Alabama-Nebraska
Start Time: 8:00 P.M. ET, Saturday, Sept. 12
Location: Memorial Stadium , Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: Watch BTN
Radio: South Alabama: here. Nebraska: here.
Records: South Alabama 1-0, Nebraska 0-1. First meeting between these two programs.
Live Stats: here.
Betting Line: South Alabama +27.5. Over/Under: 54.
South Alabama Outlook: Working in several new players from the temporarily shuttered UAB program, the South Alabama Jaguars pulled out a 10-point win over Gardner-Webb in week one.
The Jaguars lived by the big play on offense with 408 total offensive yards coming on 56 total plays for a 7.3 yards per play average. Xavier Johnson (7/121/1TD) was the breakout star for the Jaguars with 121 yards on the ground and a 56-yard touchdown catch in the game, adding up for 177 yards and two touchdowns on only eight total touches. Quarterback Cody Clements (14-25/184/2TDS) struggled with accuracy in the season opener, but the senior completed passes to eight different players on the night. Nine of his 14 completions were to former UAB teammates.
Blake Dees (13 tkl, 2 tfl), a transfer from Texas Tech, had a very nice game in leading the team with 13 tackles as well as forcing two fumbles. DeMarion Harper (9 tkl, 1 tfl), Kalen Jackson (9 tkl), Roman Buchanan (9 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 INT), and Tre Alford (9 tfk, 0.5 tfl) all made nine or more tackles for the Jaguars. Overall, South Alabama had eight tackles for a loss and two interceptions versus Gardner-Webb.
Nebraska Outlook: In just about the most devastating way possible, the Cornhuskers fell to BYU 33-28 in a week one matchup.
Offensively, Nebraska was very good with 445 total yards and a 5.7 yards per play average on the day. Surprisingly, the Cornhuskers were much better in the air than on the ground with quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (24-41/319/3TD) producing one of his best passing performances of his career. Armstong's great day was not a surprise, but the fact that Nebraska rushed for only 126 yards on 37 carries for a 3.4 yards per carry average was well out of the ordinary. Receivers Jordan Westerkamp (7/107/1TD) and Brandon Reilly (5/70/0TD) both had breakout games to build upon.
In what has become all to common for a program associated with great defense, the Cornhuskers again look to be a mess on the defensive side of the ball. BYU ravaged them for 511 total yards, including 7.1 yards per play and 5.1 yards per carry. Joshua Kalu (9 tkl, 2 tfl) and Dedrick Young (7 tkl) were two of the biggest bright spots for the Nebraska defense along with nine tackles for loss and three sacks.
Prediction: The Jaguars showed glimpses of quality play but struggled in route to a 10-point win over FCS program Gardner-Webb. Nebraska is heading into this game very mad after losing on the final play of the game to BYU. The Cornhuskers are angry and look to take out some frustration on South Alabama. Expect Nebraska to jump on the Jaguars quickly and run away for a big win.