2022 New Orleans Bowl – South Alabama vs Western Kentucky
posted December 18
The Game
It’s time for some bowl game action where the streets are dirty and the women are even dirtier **. South Alabama is an emerging JUGGERNAUT and we’re only denied a shot at the Sun Belt title by the stellar play of YOUR Troy Trojans. Yes sir, they’ve bagged TEN wins already this season. The Toppers have won five of their last seven games and are always a dangerous bunch.
** Yes, guy.
The Details
South Alabama -4.5 Western Kentucky (55.5)
MEGALOCKS LINE – South Alabama -6
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: South Alabama 30 Western Kentucky 25.5
South Alabama offense vs Western Kentucky defense
The Jags won’t WOW you on offense but they’re balanced (#57 FBS rush, #40 pass) and efficient (#36 3rd down conversions). They boast a 1,000-yard RB in La’Damian Webb as well as THREE WRs with 700+ receiving yards. Note tho that one of those three guys (Voisin) is listed as Q for the bowl game. The only bone to pick on offense is probably the inconsistency of QB C Bradley (10 INT) but you can’t have everything, yo. Western Kentucky was sound on defense during the regular season (#3 C-USA total defense) and VERY opportunistic vs the pass (17 INT, T1 C-USA). The bad news? A bunch of guys have quit or transferred including their fine CB K Hailassie.
Western Kentucky offense vs South Alabama defense
The Toppers got some good news when starting QB A Reed (36-10 TD to INT) changed his mind regarding the transfer portal and he’s expected to start in this game. Sadly for Western Kentucky, a bunch of important pieces have quit/transferred including #2 WR D Davis (872, 7 TD), their top-two TEs (our best guess at press time), and a pair of starting offensive lineman. The Jags play excellent defense (#11 total D, #4 run D, #23 pass efficiency D) and it seems to us that the Toppers are gonna have trouble moving the ball consistently, particularly when you consider they’re limited with the ground game (#72).
Trends, Intangibles and More!
South Alabama has never won a bowl game (0-2) and haven’t played in one since 2016……WKU HC Tyson Helton is 2-1 in bowl action including last year’s blowout over App St in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Summary
We aren’t gonna overthink it. South Alabama is the better team and will be adequately motivated to book the first bowl victory in program history.
Conclusion
Lean – South Alabama -4.5
Note:
‘Official play’ implies we have played the game for our standard wager amount.
‘Lean’ implies we are comfortable suggesting ‘small potatoes’ on the game if you want to get down on some sweet action.
‘No leanage’ implies we won’t be involved in the game from a betting standpoint. In-game wagering possibilities only.