Battle for the Belt: Trojans vs. Jaguars

When: Thursday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. CT

Where: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

TV Broadcast: ESPNU

Stream: Watch ESPN

Radio: 94.7 FM (WTBF Troy) 99.5 FM (The Jag Mobile)

Spread: -9 Troy

Troy will travel a little more than two hours south to Mobile Thursday night to take on rival and conference foe the University South Alabama (USA).

Troy is coming off a 31-21 win over Georgia State, improving their record to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Troy’s defense held the Panthers to 85 rushing yards.

The Trojans also forced two more interceptions and now lead the FBS with 14 picks on the year.

Offensively, Jordan Chunn carried the ball 32 times for 95 yards with one touchdown and Brandon Silvers passed for 235 yards going 20-35 with two touchdowns and one interception.

Ryan Kay helped the Trojans in the victory last week making 3-3 field goals and 2-2 in points after. Kay was Sunbelt’s Special Teams Player of Week.

Last week, USA sputtered offensively in a 17-7 loss to the Red Wolves of Arkansas State. South drops to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the SunBelt.

Quarterback Dallas Davis went 9 of 15 for 146 yards passing with one interception. The lone touchdown for the Jaguars came from running back Xavier Johnson who carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards.

This is the fifth year that the two teams are playing for “The Belt,” which is a literal wrestling-style title belt. The Jaguars took the game from the Trojans last year winning 24-18.

Advantages

Offense: Troy. Troy looks good on the offensive side of the ball. The untold hero for this Troy team is the offensive line. The offensive line is a wall that cannot be torn down. This o-line has only given up one sack all year. Antonio Garcia is one of the guys that will keep defenders off Silvers and will create holes for Chunn to run through.

Defense: Troy. This team has learned to snatch away a live pig skin in the air. Troy leads the FBS in interceptions. Blace Brown has helped with coming away with four of those.

Special Teams: Troy. Ryan Kay is looking to have a great senior year kicking the ball. Look for Kay to have an impact this game.

Key Match Up: Randy Allen verses the Trojan offensive line. Even though Troy’s o-line has only given up one sack this year, they will face a defensive end capable of creating more in Randy Allen. Allen has been terrorizing quarterbacks all year with seven sacks on the season.