Louisiana at South Alabama Week 5 College Football Matchup Louisiana at South Alabama Matchup - Week 5
Sun, Oct 3 2021 · Week 5 · 🏟 Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, AL · Turf · 25,000 cap
Louisiana✈ 731 miSame TZ
20 18
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Louisiana
33
South Alabama
19
P&R Line Louisiana -13.5
P&R Total O/U 51.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Louisiana -12 · O/U 52.5
Matchup Prediction
Louisiana has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Louisiana entering this game.
Momentum Control
73.7%
Louisiana wins
Solid
Game Control
49.4%
Louisiana wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Louisiana -12
O/U 52.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Louisiana · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 South Alabama Coming off BYE 🚌 Louisiana 2nd straight Road Game
Louisiana 2021 Schedule
Louisiana's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Louisiana at Texas+8.5L18–3858.0L18–38UN
Sat 9/11Louisiana vs Nicholls-26.0W27–2465.0W27–24UN
Thu 9/16Louisiana vs Ohio-18.5W49–1456.5W49–14OY
Sat 9/25Louisiana at Georgia Southern-14.5W28–2054.5W28–20UN
Sat 10/2Louisiana at South Alabama-12.0W20–1852.5W20–18UN
— Bye Week —
Tue 10/12Louisiana vs App State+4.5W41–1357.5W41–13UY
Thu 10/21Louisiana at Arkansas State-17.0W28–2770.0W28–27UN
Sat 10/30Louisiana vs Texas State-21.0W45–058.0W45–0UY
Thu 11/4Louisiana vs Georgia State-13.5W21–1753.5W21–17UN
Sat 11/13Louisiana at Troy-6.5W35–2148.0W35–21OY
Sat 11/20Louisiana at Liberty+4.0W42–1453.5W42–14OY
Sat 11/27Louisiana vs UL Monroe-21.5W21–1656.0W21–16UN
Sat 12/4Louisiana vs App State+2.5W24–1652.5W24–16UY
Sat 12/18Louisiana vs Marshall-4.0W36–2155.5W36–21OY
South Alabama 2021 Schedule
South Alabama's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4South Alabama vs Southern Miss-2.0W31–756.5W31–7UY
Sat 9/11South Alabama at Bowling Green-14.5W22–1948.0W22–19UN
Sat 9/18South Alabama vs Alcorn State-21.5W28–2144.5W28–21ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/2South Alabama vs Louisiana+12.0L18–2052.5L18–20UY
Sat 10/9South Alabama at Texas State-4.0L31–3352.5L31–33ON
Thu 10/14South Alabama vs Georgia Southern-2.5W41–1449.0W41–14OY
Sat 10/23South Alabama at UL Monroe-13.5L31–4151.5L31–41ON
Sat 10/30South Alabama vs Arkansas State-9.5W31–1367.0W31–13UY
Sat 11/6South Alabama at Troy+3.5L24–3147.5L24–31ON
Sat 11/13South Alabama at App State+21.5L7–3151.5L7–31UN
Sat 11/20South Alabama at Tennessee+28.5L14–6061.5L14–60ON
Fri 11/26South Alabama vs Coastal Carolina+14.5L21–2755.5L21–27UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Louisiana PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Louisiana
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Louisiana
+0.391
South Alabama
+0.351
Louisiana Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Louisiana
+0.547
South Alabama
+0.450
Louisiana Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Louisiana
0.196
South Alabama
0.197
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
South Alabama Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Louisiana
+7.151
South Alabama
+6.553
Louisiana Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Louisiana
+0.844
South Alabama
+0.805
Louisiana Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Louisiana
69.1
South Alabama
71.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Louisiana Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Louisiana Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Louisiana
-3.7
South Alabama
-11.8
Offense Rating
Louisiana
17.6
South Alabama
8.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Louisiana
21.2
South Alabama
20.4
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Louisiana Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Louisiana #9
1.67
South Alabama #96
0.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Louisiana #4
0.33
South Alabama #103
0.50
Louisiana +1.17
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 73.7% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Louisiana Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Louisiana #1
62.2
South Alabama #1
59.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Louisiana #6
27.3
South Alabama #77
27.0
Louisiana +3.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Louisiana, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Louisiana
Billy Napier #1
30–12 (71%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Michael Desormeaux Yr 1 #1
DC Patrick Toney Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
South Alabama
Kane Wommack #1
3–0 (100%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Major Applewhite Yr 1 #1
DC Corey Batoon Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself