Preview & Prediction: Troy travels to rival South Alabama in Thursday night Showdown

The rivalry between Troy and South Alabama will take center stage on Thursday Night on ESPNU. This game will feature two teams going in the complete opposite direction right now.


The Jags of South Alabama are in a current free fall. After upsetting Mississippi State and #19 San Diego State, the Aztecs have yet to win a sun belt game (0-3), but are unbeaten in non-conference play. Clearly that puts them at 3-3 and in danger of missing a bowl game. 


For Troy it has been a pretty good year. After being picked 5th in the Sun Belt coaches poll, the Trojans currently sit at 5-1 and a prefect 3-0 in conference play. In fact, Troy's only loss came to #4 Clemson in a thrilling 30-24 game in death valley.


Both teams have very stellar defenses.  Troy is giving up just 19.7 points a game, while South Alabama has given up more than 24 points just once this year.  While Troy is able to keep up the consistency on offense this is where South Bama will struggle.  The Jaguars are 106th in the nation in scoring this year with just 22 points a game.  QB Dallas Davis has struggled as of late with 5 interceptions in his last two games.  If South Alabama wants to do anything offensively they have got to get Xavier Johnson going. Johnson is putting up just 3.2 yards a carry this season and with struggling QB, the Jags have got to find some way to get points. In their last game, South Bama crossed into Arkansas State territory 5 times and came away with just 7 points the entire game. 


South Alabama has just been so unpredictable this year.  After upsetting Mississippi State they comeback with a loss to Georgia Southern and then barely hang on to beat FCS Nicholls State 41-40 in OT.  Then the next week they beat a top 25 team in San Diego State pretty soundly.


For Troy, Jordan Chunn is the main back and will get most of handoffs.  Chunn has been pretty good this year. He has rushed for over 90 yards in 4 of the 6 games this year.  Troy also has two stand out wide receivers in Deondre Douglas and Emanuel Thompson who both have 4 touchdowns this year and have each caught over 350 yards this year.  Troy QB Brandon Silvers has thrown 14 Touchdowns this year.


Like everyone always says, anything can happen in an away game, but there is no way I can pick South Alabama after watching them play against Arkansas State. The Jaguars are out of the race in the Sun Belt and are know playing for a bowl game. The Jaguars defense will keep them in it in the first half, but they will not have enough offense.  Troy wins this one 28-10 and moves to 4-0 in the Sun Belt.


Game Notes:
Who: Troy vs. South Alabama
Where:
Line: Troy -8
When: 7:30 ESPNU
-  ESPN Matchup predictor gives Troy and 82% chance to win this game.
-  South Alabama has won the last two meetings against each other.