South Alabama vs Southern Miss Odds and Picks

• The first game of the 2020 season pitting two FBS teams will feature South Alabama visiting Southern Miss on Thursday, September 3rd at 9:00pm EST
• Southern Miss went 7-6 and appeared in the Armed Forces Bowl last season, while South Alabama was 2-10
• Find the odds, a breakdown of the matchup and picks for the game in the article below

When South Alabama visits Southern Miss on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 9 p.m. ET, it will mark the first game between two FBS teams of this pandemic-impacted 2020 college football season.

South Alabama is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and Southern Miss plays in Conference USA. Those are two of six FBS conferences that will attempt to play a fall season along with the American Athletic, ACC, Big 12 and SEC.

The latest South Alabama vs Southern Miss odds favor the hometown Golden Eagles by over two touchdowns.

South Alabama vs Southern Miss Odds

Odds taken Sept. 2

Abraham Leads Southern Miss

Southern Miss went 7-6 last season and reached the Armed Forces Bowl, where the Golden Eagles lost to Tulane 30-13.

Here is a look back at some of the highlights from 2019:

Coach Jay Hopson hopes for more wins this season and a chance to battle favorite UAB for supremacy in Conference USA’s West Division.

One reason Southern Miss is optimistic is because quarterback Jack Abraham returns for his senior season, though he will be playing under his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons.

It's time for the 𝐐-𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐀 series of Virtual Fan Day!

First up: @CoachHopson. #RiseAndSoar pic.twitter.com/4nvvLtpxFU

— Southern Miss 🔝 (@USMGoldenEagles) August 29, 2020

Abraham completed 67.9 percent of his passes last season for 3,496 yards and 19 touchdowns. However, he also threw 15 interceptions.

He should be well protected by an offensive line that includes standout returnees Arvin Fletcher and Trace Clopton. The Golden Eagles also have two experienced receivers in Tim Jones (73 receptions for 902 yards and three TDs last season) and Jaylond Adams (48 for 483 and two scores).

Southern Miss’ strength should be its “Nasty Bunch” defense that includes such multiyear starters as lineman Jacques Turner, linebacker Racheem Boothe and cornerback Ky’el Hemby.

Southern Miss held five of its 13 opponents to 17 points or less in 2019.

South Alabama Inexperienced

The good news for South Alabama is it will have a new on-campus home stadium. The Jaguars had played off campus at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., since the program’s inception in 2009.

However, South Alabama might not be celebrating many wins at Hancock Whitney Stadium this fall.

The University of South #Alabama has been working for years to get their own stadium on campus. Finally, after lots of work it is done and ready for football. Today @WeAreSouth_AD gave @FOX10News a tour. @WeAreSouth_FB @WeAreSouth_JAGS

Details: https://t.co/uOBIPRf1fa pic.twitter.com/nc9xINoUQi

— Tyler Fingert (@TylerFingert) September 1, 2020

The Jaguars were 2-10 last season and may not be appreciably better in 2020. Among their losses from last year’s squad were running back Tra Minter, linebacker Jeffrey Whatley and defensive back Travis Reed.

Third-year coach Steve Campbell, who has a record of 5-19 so far, will try to build an offense around sophomore quarterback Desmond Trotter. Trotter replaced Cephus Johnson as the starter with four games remaining last season.

Though Trotter’s competition percentage was just 57.7, he did have an 8-2 touchdown-interception ratio while throwing for 820 yards. However, South Alabama tied Texas State for the Sun Belt’s lowest-scoring offense at 18.4 points a game.

Desmond Trotter will be the starter for South Alabama. Looking to improve on a 2-10 szn last year, they’ve had a maximum of 25 practices headed into Thursday pic.twitter.com/AjD6ovkITD

— Rex (@REast_Eazy) August 31, 2020

Trotter’s most frequent target figures to be wide receiver Kawaan Baker, who had 35 catches for 574 yards and three score a year ago.

Linebacker Riley Cole had nine tackles for loss last season and gives the young defense a much-needed playmaker.

Jaguars Keep It Close

The two schools are meeting for the first time, so there is not much history to go on. However, it is quite clear that Southern Miss is the superior team and worthy of being a sizeable favorite.

South Alabama, though, was competitive against the spread last season as it posted a 7-5 record. Southern Miss matched its overall record by also going 7-6 ATS.

Southern Miss opened as a 14-point favorite and the line has gone up. Yet South Alabama’s penchant for at least keeping games respectable makes it a worthwhile underdog play.

Pick: South Alabama +14.5 (-110)