Teams looking for their first win of the season battle when the Northwestern State Demons take on the South Alabama Jaguars in a non-conference matchup on Thursday night. Northwestern State is coming off a 37-31 loss to Prairie View A&M, while South Alabama fell 27-20 at Ohio. The Demons (0-2), who were 0-11 last season, including 0-7 in the Southland Conference, are looking for their first win since 2022. The Jaguars (0-2), who were 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the Sun Belt Conference in 2023, are 5-3 at home since the start of last season.
Kickoff from Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala., is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. This will be the first-ever meeting between the programs. The Jaguars are 35.5-point favorites in the latest South Alabama vs. South Alabama odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 58.5. Before making any Northwestern State vs. South Alabama picks, make sure you check out what SportsLine expert, Emory Hunt, has to say.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007, and a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette. He knows the game from a player’s perspective.
Hunt’s dedication to analysis of all levels of college and professional football helped go 93-78-5 (+777) on all college football picks in 2023. He’s also off to an 8-2 start (+570) on college football picks this season. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now Hunt has set his sights on Northwestern State vs. South Alabama and just locked in his picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Hunt’s picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines on the spread, money line and over/under for South Alabama vs. Northwestern State:
- South Alabama vs. Northwestern State spread: South Alabama -35.5
- South Alabama vs. Northwestern State over/under: 58.5 points
- NWST: The Demons are ranked 25th in scoring offense in FCS at 29.5 points per game
- SA: The Jaguars have covered the first-quarter spread in five of their last seven games at home (+2.85 units)
- South Alabama vs. Northwestern State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why South Alabama can cover
Redshirt freshman Gio Lopez, who has shared duties with sophomore Bishop Davenport, leads the Jaguars in passing through the first two games. He has completed 26 of 49 attempts (53.1%) for 432 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to North Texas on Aug. 31. He has also carried 13 times for 62 yards (4.8 average) and one touchdown. In limited action last season, Lopez completed 41 of 61 passes (67.2%) for 475 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Also helping power the offense is senior wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett. He caught 10 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown against North Texas. He followed that up with eight catches for 67 yards and a score in the loss at Ohio on Saturday. In three seasons at South Alabama, he has 77 receptions for 1,171 yards (15.2 average) and 10 touchdowns. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why Northwestern State can cover
Junior running back Kennieth Lacy is off to a solid start to his season. In two games, he has carried 16 times for 147 yards (9.2 average) and two touchdowns. Against Prairie View A&M, he carried nine times for 75 yards (8.3 average) and a score. After limited action last season due to several forfeit losses, Lacy is looking to recapture his form from 2022. That season, he carried 95 times for 435 yards (4.6 average) and scored four touchdowns.
Defensively, junior transfer Blake Gotcher has been a tackling machine. In just two games, the former Louisiana A&M standout, has registered 34 tackles, including 12 solo. He also recorded two sacks and one forced fumble. In three collegiate seasons, Gotcher has made 114 tackles, including 38 solo, with four sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Northwestern State vs. South Alabama picks
Hunt is leaning Over on the total. He’s also found a critical x-factor that has him jumping on one side of the spread. See what it is at SportsLine.
Who wins Northwestern State vs. South Alabama, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the expert who is off to an 8-2 start on CFB picks this season.
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