South Alabama hosts North Texas at Hancock Whitney Stadium this Saturday to kick off the 2024 season for both schools.
The Jaguars will have a completely new look this season after many departures in the summer to the roster and coaching squad. This includes Major Applewhite taking over as head coach.
Meanwhile, the Mean Green brings many new faces to the squad, but Eric Morris remains the program's head coach for his second season.
This matchup has shootout written all over it, and I think we should have a great contest down in Mobile, Alabama, to open the campaign.
Here's a North Texas vs. South Alabama prediction and pick.
North Texas vs South Alabama Prediction
- North Texas vs. South Alabama Pick: North Texas Team Total Over 28.5
My North Texas-South Alabama best bet is on the Mean Green team total, with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
North Texas vs South Alabama Odds
| North Texas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 64.5 -105o / -115u | +180 |
| South Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 64.5 -105o / -115u | -220 |
- North Texas vs South Alabama Point Spread: North Texas +6.5 (-115) · South Alabama -6.5 (-105)
- North Texas vs South Alabama Total: Over/Under 64.5
- North Texas vs South Alabama Moneyline: North Texas +180 · South Alabama -220
North Texas vs South Alabama Preview
North Texas Mean Green Betting Preview: Completely New Roster
While Morris is back at the school for another season, he has been swamped in the offseason trying to overhaul his roster.
The Mean Green will be a completely new team, leading all of the FBS with 77 newcomers, including 41 freshmen and 36 transfers.
However, some veterans return for Morris.
In total, 14 players who started multiple games last season return, with nine coming on the defensive side of the ball. North Texas brings back nine of its top 15 tacklers and a pair of linebackers that combined for 150 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
On the offense, the key addition is TCU transfer quarterback Chandler Morris. He has had his ups and downs during his career, so it will be interesting to see how his offensive-minded head coach utilizes his skillset.
Ultimately, I believe that Morris should figure out the offense. It will just come down to whether the Mean Green defense can improve enough to help the school win games.
South Alabama Jaguars Betting Preview: New Coaching Staff, New Roster
It was a wild off-season at South Alabama.
Kane Wommack guided the program to two bowl games in his three seasons before leaving to become the defensive coordinator at Alabama.
The Jaguars lost their defensive coordinator after Corey Batoon took the same position at Missouri.
How did the school replace two coaches who jumped to the SEC?
South Alabama hired from within by elevating Major Applewhite from offensive coordinator. This will be his second job as a head coach after guiding Houston to back-to-back winning seasons in 2017 and 2018.
The changes didn’t stop there, as the roster also saw a lot of turnover. The Jaguars enter the 2024 campaign with 53 new players, broken down into 28 freshmen and 25 transfers.
This means that USA will have fresh faces at just about every key position, which should make it an incredible challenge for Applewhite to return to another bowl game.
North Texas vs South Alabama Pick & Prediction
With all of the changes on both rosters, I return to the one thing I know I can rely on in this game.
I know Morris can coach an offense, and he should like this matchup after the defensive minds that left South Alabama.
So, my best bet is for North Texas to fly over its team total of 28.5 at FanDuel, which I would play up to 30.5 — although I don’t hate a sprinkle on the moneyline at +160 odds or better.
Here is a stat that sums up why I’m putting my faith in Morris: Since he became the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech in 2013, he has led an offense that has finished inside the top 25 in scoring eight times in 11 seasons.
Over the summer, he hand-picked his quarterback with Power 4 experience to play behind an offensive line with five seniors with starting experience.
It also helps that he will face a Jaguars’ defense that only returns three starters. South Alabama can't rely on defensive gurus Wommack and Batoon to devise ways to combat Morris.
Meanwhile, South Alabama must replace the program’s winningest quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,300-yard receiver.
So, with two offensive coaches looking for a shootout, I trust the Morris duo more in this spot. I'm banking on the Mean Green airing it out.
Pick: North Texas Team Total Over 28.5 (Play to 30.5) |
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How to Watch North Texas vs South Alabama Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Hannock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL |
| Date: | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
| Kickoff Time: | 5 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
North Texas vs South Alabama Betting Trends
- The public is all over the favorite here, with over 70% of the tickets and handle on South Alabama.
