South Alabama Jaguars 2016 NCAA Football Preview
SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS
Sun Belt Conference
2015 Record – 5-7
ATS – 4-8
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
Conference #7
2015 Recap
There were a couple of minor highlights last season including a puzzling dominating win over San Diego St on the road (OT – but had 511-305 yard advantage), but overall, it was mostly a clunker of a campaign as they finished at 5-7.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
We do not know what their identity is supposed to be. Maybe they don’t even know ? What we do know is that there is going to be inexperience at the QB position this season as sophomore Dallas Davis is in a competition with fellow sophomore Cole Garvin. Evan Orth may even be in the mix. What that means for handicappers is STAY CLEAR for now until we know that they have someone in place to run the offense somewhat efficiently. MEGALOCKS SUN BELT INSIDERS alerted us to the fact that the Jaguars only have three scholarship QBs on the roster so it is not like they have a lot of options if things go south.
The running game looks to be in good shape with the top two rushers from 2015 back in the fold (Xavier Johnson, Tyreis Thomas). The offensive line has some decent size and returns 3/5 starters. The Jaguars did not do much in the passing game last season (9th Sun Belt passing offense) but do return their top WR as well as 1st Team Sun Belt TE Gerald Everett. The offense has some promise but the QB situation is really sketchy.
DEFENSE
Giving up 221 yards per game on the ground and garnering only 11 sacks is not going to get the job done (#Hot Take). The Jaguars’ defense was inexperienced last year, but unfortunately, they are still a bit light in that department in 2016. They are now down to only four returning starters on defense after the announcement that DL Tre Alford is probably done for the season. That means there are no returning starters on the line, and although they have some nice players in the linebacker unit and in the secondary, it appears that South Alabama is probably going to struggle once again with the more potent offenses in the conference.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Jaguars have some good players in this group. PK Aleem Sunanon nailed 16/19 FGs last year and KR/RB Xavier Johnson averaged over 30 yards per kickoff return.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 2.5
MEGALOCKS says:
The Jaguars will do well to get past the first five games with a 2-3 record. They have to take on Mississippi St, Georgia Southern, ULL and San Diego St before the middle of October. They finish up with Idaho and New Mexico St but the season might be long gone by then. Oh, they also take on LSU on the road in November.
Overall, we give the JAGUARS a 2.5 ATS Value Rating (Poor) this season. The QB situation has the potential to get ugly. We thought they might be better with Cody Clements last season and now we do not know what to think. This is one team we have never been able to get a good handle on, but what we do know is that they are 8-16-1 ATS the past two seasons, and we do not see a light at the end of the tunnel. Value hunters may disagree but we are staying clear for now.
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