Free Daily Lock Pick: MLB: Atlanta vs. Philadelphia – September 13th – (100% Confidence Release)
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The (1-1 SU and 1-1 ATS) Alabama Crimson Tide and (1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS) South Florida Bulls will square off on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff from Tampa, FL, is at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The Tide are 32-point spread favorites and the game total is 61.5 points.
Alabama has an over/under win total of 10.5 victories. It lost 34-24 to Texas last week. The Crimson Tide were 11-2 overall, including 3-2 on the road, last season.
South Florida has an over/under win total of 4.5 victories. It beat Florida A&M 38-24 last week. The Bulls were 1-11 overall and 1-4 at home last season.
Alabama wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is out indefinitely with a hip injury and South Florida quarterback Gerry Bohanon is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
Alabama fell short when it mattered last week, looking like a team with more concerns than we're accustomed to seeing from a Nick Saban-coached program.
The Crimson Tide averaged 3.1 yards per rush and were forced to ride the highs and lows of sophomore QB Jalen Milroe's inexperience as the first-year starter completed 51.9% of his passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Even the mobile Milroe couldn't bring value to the ground game, rushing 14 times for 44 yards (2.9 YPC). It certainly wasn't akin to the “Houdini act” Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian referenced when complimenting Bryce Young's play in last season's 20-19 thriller.
The Bama defense was suspect, as well. Texas QB Quinn Ewers passed for 349 yards, leading the Texas offense down the field for four scores even without a great rushing attack (37 rushes for 105 yards). The Longhorns had three receivers with 75-plus yards and four pass-catchers who averaged over 14 yards per catch.
The Crimson Tide defense was 12th nationally in total defense, ninth in scoring defense, and No. 1 in the SEC in pass efficiency defense last season. It wasn't always stout against the run and didn't pick off enough passes, though. The defensive line is loaded with space eaters and pass rushers, and the linebacking unit and secondary are littered with playmakers — is the Bama defense flawed, or were the Longhorns great?
Milroe should benefit from more experience in the coming weeks — it was too much too soon for him last Saturday. He should also be able to take advantage of a more seasoned receiving unit. Leading pass-catchers Jermaine Burton (40 receptions for 677 yards and seven scores) and JaCorey Brooks (39 receptions for 674 yards and eight scores ) are back, and sophomore Isaiah Bond has caught six passes for 110 yards in the first two games this year. Senior running backs Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams and true freshman Justice Haynes have to contribute more, though, if the passing game is going to make strides.
Free Daily Lock Pick: MLB: Atlanta vs. Philadelphia – September 13th – (100% Confidence Release) Click to see the pick now