South Alabama at Western Michigan - 2024 Matchup Preview

South Alabama Jaguars vs Western Michigan Broncos

Saturday, December 14th 2024 (9:00 PM EST)
South Alabama -6 (53.5) (-225) Open: -10.0
South Alabama 30 - Western Michigan: 23 (IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl)

Jaguars (7 - 6) (6 - 7 - 0)
Coach Major Applewhite (0 - 0)
Avg Score : 27 - 30 (25 - 32 on Road)
Record Prediction: 7 - 6 (#59)
'24 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Bowl Game Opt Outs
Our Line: South Alabama -10 (SP+ USA -13)
Projected Score: USA: 31 - WMU: 21 (52)
USA Win prob: 66% | Cover: 50%
USA Travel: 155 miles

Broncos (6 - 7) (5 - 8 - 0)
Coach Lance Taylor (4 - 8)
Avg Score : 25 - 17 (29 - 16 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 6 - 7 (#72)
'24 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
Bowls
USA Players
WMU Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

South Alabama's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	South Alabama vs North Texas	-6.0	61.5	L 38 - 52	O	N
Sat 9/7	South Alabama at Ohio	-1.5	55.5	L 20 - 27	U	N
Thu 9/12	South Alabama vs Northwestern State	-36.5	60.5	W 87 - 10	O	Y
Thu 9/19	South Alabama at App State	+8.0	62.5	W 48 - 14	U	Y
Sat 9/28	South Alabama at LSU	+21.0	64.5	L 10 - 42	U	N
Sat 10/5	South Alabama at Arkansas State	-2.5	62.5	L 16 - 18	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Tue 10/15	South Alabama vs Troy	-10.0	53.0	W 25 - 9	U	Y
Sat 10/26	South Alabama vs UL Monroe	-7.0	45.0	W 46 - 17	O	Y
Sat 11/2	South Alabama vs Georgia Southern	-5.5	60.0	L 30 - 34	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/16	South Alabama at Louisiana	+6.5	60.0	W 24 - 22	U	Y
Sat 11/23	South Alabama at Southern Miss	-24.0	54.0	W 35 - 14	U	N
Fri 11/29	South Alabama vs Texas State	+2.5	60.5	L 38 - 45	O	N
Sat 12/14	South Alabama vs Western Michigan	-6.0	53.5	W 30 - 23	U	Y

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for South Alabama's Schedule

Western Michigan's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Fri 8/30	Western Michigan at Wisconsin	+24.0	57.0	L 14 - 28	U	Y
Sat 9/7	Western Michigan at Ohio State	+37.5	54.5	L 0 - 56	O	N
Sat 9/14	Western Michigan vs Bethune-Cookman	-33.5	54.5	W 59 - 31	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/28	Western Michigan at Marshall	+3.5	53.5	L 20 - 27	U	N
Sat 10/5	Western Michigan at Ball State	-10.0	57.5	W 45 - 42	O	N
Sat 10/12	Western Michigan vs Akron	-9.5	48.5	W 34 - 24	O	Y
Sat 10/19	Western Michigan at Buffalo	-1.0	49.5	W 48 - 41	O	Y
Sat 10/26	Western Michigan vs Kent State	-19.0	61.0	W 52 - 21	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/6	Western Michigan vs Northern Illinois	+2.5	51.5	L 28 - 42	O	N
Tue 11/12	Western Michigan at Bowling Green	+9.5	57.5	L 13 - 31	U	N
Tue 11/19	Western Michigan at Central Michigan	-6.0	56.0	L 14 - 16	U	N
Sat 11/30	Western Michigan vs Eastern Michigan	-6.5	56.5	W 26 - 18	U	Y
Sat 12/14	Western Michigan vs South Alabama	+6.0	53.5	L 23 - 30	U	N

Important Stats (2023)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
USA	#31 (.28)	43% (57)	26.5	42% (80)	3.24 (44)	172	45% (35)	268	4.67 (15)	#34 (.14)	37% (17)	30.4	35% (8)	40% (44)	3.32 (21)	57.7	1.5	1.7
WMU	#85 (.16)	40% (90)	24.9	41% (87)	3.09 (71)	153	40% (87)	211	3.89 (72)	#92 (.22)	44% (101)	17.4	46% (99)	44% (99)	4.15 (105)	62.3	1.1	1.5

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
USA		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
WMU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2023

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
USA Offense	13	26.5	25.2	43%	4.67	1.5	23	440	172	268	4.8	48%	51%	42%	45%	15%	.28
WMU Defense	12	17.4	15.7	44.3%	4.15	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	50%	48%	46%	44%	19%	.22

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
USA Defense	13	30.4	32	36.6%	3.32	1.7	-	-	-	-	-	54%	45%	35%	40%	16%	.14
WMU Offense	12	24.9	29	40.3%	3.89	1.1	20	365	153	211	3.8	54%	45%	41%	40%	16%	.16

Additional Stats 2023

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
South Alabama	13	30:30	22.6	43%	63%	6.7	57.7	1.5	1.7	5.8	2	0	31.4
Western Michigan	12	29:55	19.6	36%	49%	7.1	62.3	1.1	1.5	5.2	2	0	28.3

Run Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
USA Offense	13	48% (81)	42% (80)	36	171.9	4.8	28 (25)	.18 (49)	3.24 (44)	74% (71)	10% (76)	1.18 (6)
WMU Defense	12	50% (74)	46% (99)	-	-	-	-	.17 (91)	3.48 (127)	81% (112)	11% (44)	0.95 (40)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
USA Defense	13	54% (116)	35% (8)	-	-	-	-	-.01 (12)	2.69 (14)	74% (74)	11% (33)	0.9 (27)
WMU Offense	12	54% (38)	41% (87)	39.9	153.3	3.8	21 (54)	.15 (73)	3.09 (71)	75% (58)	10% (66)	1 (65)

Pass Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
USA Offense	13	51% (55)	45% (35)	22.4	32.9	268.2	8.1	12	28 (23)	11 (68)	.41 (26)	1.7 (34)	34% (104)	39% (8)	.59 (7)	5% (27)	2.2 (34)
WMU Defense	12	48% (47)	44% (99)	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 (87)	.33 (104)	1.6 (78)	31% (94)	30% (71)	.23 (29)	9% (7)	1.9 (31)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
USA Defense	13	45% (19)	40% (44)	-	-	-	-	-	-	13 (26)	.36 (109)	1.8 (124)	36% (12)	27% (29)	.28 (47)	5% (106)	2.2 (104)
WMU Offense	12	45% (98)	40% (87)	20.6	32.8	211.2	6.5	10.3	13 (111)	9 (40)	.2 (96)	1.5 (105)	30% (29)	25% (113)	.25 (93)	6% (88)	2 (96)

South Alabama's Power Ratings
South Alabama's Power Rating: -3.64 #76
South Alabama's Offense Rating: 25.69 #16
South Alabama's Defense Rating: 10.70 #78
2024 Talent Rating: 251.00 #95
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #102
South Alabama's 2024 Expected Record: 7.0 - 6.0
South Alabama's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: 2.8 #61
South Alabama's Offense SP+ Rating: 29.9 #47
South Alabama's Defense SP+ Rating: 26.9 #71

Average Talent
Average Sun Belt Talent Rating is 235.21
Average Power Five Talent: 432.03
Average FBS Talent: 332.4

Power Ratings Matchup
South Alabama: -3.64 Western Michigan: -10.285

SP+ Ratings Matchup
South Alabama: 2.8 Western Michigan: -10.2

Western Michigan's Power Ratings
Western Michigan's Power Rating: -10.285 #103
Western Michigan's Offense Rating: 22.99 #41
Western Michigan's Defense Rating: 15.82 #113
2024 Talent Rating: 288.00 #79
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #102
Western Michigan's 2024 Expected Record: 6.0 - 7.0
Western Michigan's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: -10.2 #105
Western Michigan's Offense SP+ Rating: 24.7 #86
Western Michigan's Defense SP+ Rating: 36.0 #120

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 247.58
Average Power Five Talent: 432.03
Average FBS Talent: 332.4

South Alabama Scoring
Offense: 26.5 PPG
Offense on Road: 25.2
Defense: 30.4 PPG
Defense on Road: 32

South Alabama's 2024 Record
Record: 7 - 6
Record vs Spread: 6 - 7 - 0
Over/Under Record: 5 - 8
Record on Road: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread on Road: 2 - 4 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 3 - 5 - 0
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 0 - 3 - 0

Projected Score
South Alabama 31
Western Michigan 21

Projected Total Points: 52

Western Michigan Scoring
Offense: 24.9 PPG
Offense at Home: 29
Defense: 17.4 PPG
Defense at Home: 15.7

Western Michigan's 2024 Record
Record: 6 - 7
Record vs Spread: 5 - 8 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record at home: 4 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 3 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 1 - 5 - 0
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 0 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2024	12/14	Western Michigan	23	South Alabama	30	South Alabama -6	South Alabama	53.5	Under

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Western Michigan	0	0	0 Overs
South Alabama	1	1	1 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 0	0 - 1
Road Teams	1 - 0	1 - 0	1 - 0	0 - 0

South Alabama Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Veterans Bowl	South Alabama vs Western Michigan	-6.0	53.5	W 30 - 23
2023	Ventures Bowl	South Alabama vs Eastern Michigan	-18.0	43.0	W 59 - 10
2022	Orleans Bowl	South Alabama vs Western Kentucky	-4.0	58.0	L 23 - 44

Western Michigan Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Veterans Bowl	Western Michigan vs South Alabama	+6.0	53.5	L 23 - 30
2021	Lane Bowl	Western Michigan vs Nevada	-7.0	56.0	W 52 - 24
2019	Responder Bowl	Western Michigan vs Western Kentucky	+3.0	56.0	L 20 - 23
2018	Potato Bowl	Western Michigan vs BYU	+10.0	52.0	L 18 - 49

(#76) USA at (#103) WMU

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	USA	WMU
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#76	#103
SP+SP+	#61	#105
Perf GradeGrade	#59	#40
OffenseOff	#61	#7
DefenseDef	#65	#103
Spec TeamsST	#111	#70
TalentTal	#95	#79
Blue ChipsBC%	#102	#102

South Alabama Notes(12/15) Rgame 267/7.2 ypc in bowl W over WMU
(12/15) Great QB depth, backup Davenport can run/throw
(11/29) Def torched, gave up 3 TOs, OG'd by 160 by T St
(11/25) Rgame good, Lopez 3 TD over awful So Miss
(11/18) Huge W @ ULL, QB good, Def barely held on
(11/3) 450+ yds but 2 TOs cost badly in GaSo loss
(10/27) Rgame great (ULM), 358 yds, 7.8 ypc. Run D bad
(10/16) Avg 17 ppg last 3 games, stopped Troy, NBD
(10/4) Off great, Def v bad. High totals keep going under
(9/19) QB Lopez dynamic, FR RB Bothwell is a weapon
(9/8) QB Lopez (toe) DNP in L at Ohio
(9/8) Bad Ls vs N Tex & Ohio. QBs OK, D bad so far
South Alabama Injury Report

Western Michigan Notes(12/15) Good fight in bowl (S Al), Run Def torched 260+
(11/25) 3 str L's, zero Rgame, QB sucked, Vs EMU 4 bowl
(11/13) QBs/Rgame awful vs BG, Run Def torched in L
(11/7) TO's, stupidity cost vs N Ill. QB Wolff a fraud
(10/22) Def stop rate 47% (#125) into week 9
(10/20) Off torched Buffalo, Def awful vs both Pass & Run
(10/18) Better than record, sched rough, close losses
(10/13) Rgame good, Pass D torched by Akron. Def 4 TOs
(10/4) Run a lot w/ good success. Def awful so far
(10/4) Let's see how they play now sched lightens up
(8/15) DBs supposed to be near the best in the MAC
(7/30) Lost OC/DCs. Hired OC/DC both fired LY (L Tech/IU)
Western Michigan Injury Report

South Alabama on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat	USA Off	WMU Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#61	#103
SuccessSuc	#57	#101
ExplosiveExp	#6	#56
PPAPPA	#31	#92
PowerPwr	#16	#113
SP+SP+	#47	#120
Pts POPPO	#15	#105
HavocHav	#61	#13

South Alabama Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat	USA Off	WMU Def
Run GameRun	#3	#107
Run SuccessRSuc	#80	#99
Run ExplRExp	#6	#40
PPAExp	#49	#91
Run BlockR Blk	#119	-
OL YdsOLY	#44	#127
Stuff RateStuff	#14	#101
TackleTak	-	#82

South Alabama Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat	USA Off	WMU Def
Pass GamePass	#84	#89
Pass SuccessPSuc	#35	#99
Pass ExplPExl	#34	#78
PPAExp	#26	#104
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#39	#92
F7 HavocF7	#76	#44
DB HavocDB	#27	#7

Western Michigan on Offense

Run heavy Offense 55%, Pass: 45%
CategoryCat	WMU Off	USA Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#7	#65
SuccessSuc	#90	#17
ExplosiveExp	#104	#98
PPAPPA	#85	#34
PowerPwr	#41	#78
SP+SP+	#86	#71
Pts POPPO	#72	#21
HavocHav	#71	#65

Western Michigan Run Game

Run heavy Offense 55%, Pass: 45%
CategoryCat	WMU Off	USA Def
Run GameRun	#40	#45
Run SuccessRSuc	#87	#8
Run ExplRExp	#65	#27
PPAExp	#73	#12
Run BlockR Blk	#3	-
OL YdsOLY	#71	#14
Stuff RateStuff	#21	#52
TackleTak	-	#118

Western Michigan Pass Game

Run heavy Offense 55%, Pass: 45%
CategoryCat	WMU Off	USA Def
Pass GamePass	#76	#50
Pass SuccessPSuc	#87	#44
Pass ExplPExl	#105	#124
PPAExp	#96	#109
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#19	#109
F7 HavocF7	#66	#33
DB HavocDB	#88	#106

Program Comparison
WMU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg G5
'24 Profile: Remains Below Avg G5

USA 5 Year Profile: Consistent Top G5
'24 Profile: Remains Top G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Cramton Bowl
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 1
South Alabama 6.0 (53.5)
South Alabama won at Western Michigan this year (30-23)

Previous Matchups
South Alabama beat Western Michigan in 2024 (30-23)

USA's OC Rob Ezell (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Giovanni Lopez	205	311	66%	2557	18	5	8.2
Bishop Davenport	48	79	61%	604	3	1	7.6

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Fluff Bothwell	112	834	13	7.4	59
Kentrel Bullock	152	832	7	5.5	59
Giovanni Lopez	82	465	7	5.7	50
Bishop Davenport	37	161	1	4.4	50

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jamaal Pritchett	91	1126	9	12.4	75
Jeremiah Webb	36	649	5	18.0	52
Devin Voisin	34	407	0	12.0	28
Shamar Sandgren	19	208	1	10.9	21

View South Alabama's Full Roster

USA's DC Will Windham (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Blayne Myrick	101	8	2	3	2
Jaden Voisin	84	4	0	3	5
Darius McKenzie (Tr)	72	4	1	0	4
Jordan Scruggs	70	5	0	0	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Courtney McBride	39	11	5	3	0
Parker Shattuck	11	3	3	0	1
Tyler Thomas	19	4	3	0	0
Jordan Norman	25	4	3	2	2

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Amarion Fortenberry	43	2	0	0	6
Jaden Voisin	84	4	0	3	5
Darius McKenzie (Tr)	72	4	1	0	4

WMU's OC Walt Bell (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Hayden Wolff	191	285	67%	2214	17	7	7.8
Broc Lowry (Tr)	4	8	50%	21	0	0	2.6

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jaden Nixon	132	874	12	6.6	92
Jalen Buckley	120	657	8	5.5	61
Zahir Abdus-Salaam	104	567	3	5.5	70
Broc Lowry (Tr)	22	123	3	5.6	40

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Kenneth Womack	34	456	1	13.4	41
Blake Bosma	37	403	6	10.9	55
Anthony Sambucci	31	376	2	12.1	54
Zahir Abdus-Salaam	28	227	1	8.1	31

View Western Michigan's Full Roster

WMU's DC Scott Power (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Donald Willis	109	7	1	4	4
Tate Hallock	84	5	0	0	5
Jacob Wahlberg	78	2	1	1	1
Bilhal Kone	70	1	0	2	8

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Corey Walker	38	7	6	3	5
Mason Nelson	31	9	3	1	1
Isaiah Green	28	3	2	4	0
Donald Willis	109	7	1	4	4

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Bilhal Kone	70	1	0	2	8
Nyquan Washington	31	3	0	0	5
Corey Walker	38	7	6	3	5