Alabama vs. Southern Miss fearless prediction and game preview.
Alabama vs. Southern Miss Broadcast
Date: Saturday, September 21
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Network: ESPN2
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Alabama (3-0) vs. Southern Miss (2-1) Game Preview
Why Southern Miss Will Win
Southern Miss is a whole lot more dangerous than it might appear to be.
WR Quez Watkins is back, and he showed why he’s one of the best receivers you’ve never seen with seven catches for 209 yards and two scores. The offense is great on third downs, the passing attack is dangerous and can keep pushing the ball down the field, and there’s some pop to worry about.
No, the Golden Eagles won’t run the ball on the Tide D, but they should be able to keep pressing through the air for a full four quarters.
On the other side, the defense has the pass rush to bother Tua Tagovailoa. He gets the ball out of his hands in a hurry, but he’s about to take some shots against a D with 11 sacks so far and with good consistency. However …
Why Alabama Will Win
The pass rush might be great, but the secondary has been rocky – to be nice.
It got dinked and dunked on to death by Mississippi State, and Troy bombed away for 504 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 47-42 USM win. Bama should be able to go all Bama and continue to strike quickly – the Golden Eagles so far can’t seem to handle sharp, accurate passers.
Southern Miss wasn’t all that bad in the 38-15 loss to Mississippi State, but it couldn’t hang on to the ball with three giveaways. The offense solved the issue against Troy, but turnovers are going to be an issue.
Bama is second in the nation in turnover margin, giving it up just once so far and at a +7 on the season. This will be hard enough for USM without dominating the turnover battle.
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What’s Going To Happen
It’s an early start time. The attendance of the student section is an issue. The running game isn’t quite working.
There are a whole lot of distractions around what might just be the nation’s best football team.
Alabama will once again go through the efficient and effective business-like motions against an inferior team, but Southern Miss is just dangerous enough to put up a bit of a fight. It’ll be an Alabama win without any problem, but be ready for a little bit of grumbling – the Golden Eagle offense will land some blows.
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Alabama vs. Southern Miss Prediction, Line
Alabama 45, Southern Miss 17
Line: Alabama -39, o/u: 61
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 2
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NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Alabama Football Schedule
2019 Record: 3-0
2019 Preseason Prediction: 12-0
2019 Preseason SEC Prediction: 8-0
2018 Record: 14-1
Aug. 31 Duke (in Atlanta) W 42-3
Sept. 7 New Mexico State W 62-10
Sept. 14 at South Carolina W 47-23
Sept. 21 Southern Miss W
Sept. 28 Ole Miss W
Oct. 5 OPEN DATE
Oct. 12 at Texas A&M W
Oct. 19 Tennessee W
Oct. 26 Arkansas W
Nov. 2 OPEN DATE
Nov. 9 LSU W
Nov. 16 at Mississippi State W
Nov. 23 Western Carolina W
Nov. 30 at Auburn W
2019 Southern Miss Football Schedule
2019 Record: 2-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019 Preseason C-USA Prediction: 7-1
2018 Record: 6-5
Aug. 31 Alcorn State W 38-10
Sept. 7 at Mississippi State L 38-15
Sept. 14 at Troy W 47-42
Sept. 21 at Alabama L
Sept. 28 UTEP W
Oct. 5 OPEN DATE
Oct. 12 North Texas W
Oct. 19 at Louisiana Tech L
Oct. 26 at Rice W
Nov. 2 OPEN DATE
Nov. 9 UAB W
Nov. 16 at UTSA W
Nov. 23 WKU W
Nov. 30 at Florida Atlantic W
