Arkansas State at South Alabama Week 9 College Football Matchup Arkansas State at South Alabama Matchup - Week 9
Sat, Oct 30 2021 · Week 9 · 🏟 Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, AL · Turf · 25,000 cap
Arkansas State✈ 334 miSame TZ
13 31
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Arkansas State
24
USA -9.5
South Alabama
37
P&R Line South Alabama -13
P&R Total O/U 61
Confidence 90 High
Vegas South Alabama -9.5 · O/U 67.0
Matchup Prediction
South Alabama has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor South Alabama entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
South Alabama wins
Lean
Game Control
76%
South Alabama wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
South Alabama -9.5
O/U 67.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → South Alabama · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Arkansas State 2021 Schedule
Arkansas State's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Arkansas State vs Central Arkansas-13.5W40–2164.0W40–21UY
Sat 9/11Arkansas State vs Memphis+5.5L50–5565.0L50–55OY
Sat 9/18Arkansas State at Washington+17.5L3–5258.5L3–52UN
Sat 9/25Arkansas State at Tulsa+14.5L34–4165.0L34–41OY
Sat 10/2Arkansas State at Georgia Southern+1.5L33–5966.5L33–59ON
Thu 10/7Arkansas State vs Coastal Carolina+20.5L20–5274.5L20–52UN
— Bye Week —
Thu 10/21Arkansas State vs Louisiana+17.0L27–2870.0L27–28UY
Sat 10/30Arkansas State at South Alabama+9.5L13–3167.0L13–31UN
Sat 11/6Arkansas State vs App State+21.5L14–4867.5L14–48UN
Sat 11/13Arkansas State at UL Monroe+3.0W27–2466.5W27–24UY
Sat 11/20Arkansas State at Georgia State+15.5L20–2866.0L20–28UY
Sat 11/27Arkansas State vs Texas State-2.0L22–2462.0L22–24UN
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
South Alabama PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ South Alabama
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ South Alabama
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ South Alabama
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Arkansas State
+0.323
South Alabama
+0.521
South Alabama Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Arkansas State
+0.580
South Alabama
+0.589
South Alabama Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Arkansas State
0.194
South Alabama
0.197
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
South Alabama Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Arkansas State
+6.383
South Alabama
+7.871
South Alabama Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Arkansas State
+0.759
South Alabama
+0.868
South Alabama Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Arkansas State
74.4
South Alabama
71.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
South Alabama 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
South Alabama Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Arkansas State
-18.0
South Alabama
-11.8
Offense Rating
Arkansas State
6.3
South Alabama
8.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Arkansas State
24.3
South Alabama
20.4
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? South Alabama Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Arkansas State #112
0.86
South Alabama #96
1.17
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Arkansas State #116
1.71
South Alabama #103
0.50
South Alabama +0.31
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? South Alabama Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Arkansas State #1
15.6
South Alabama #1
53.6
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Arkansas State #124
74.3
South Alabama #77
33.1
South Alabama +37.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
South Alabama
3 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
South Alabama
96.8 — 2.1 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
South Alabama won by 18
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on South Alabama with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

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

Coaching Matchup
Arkansas State
Butch Jones #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Keith Heckendorf Yr 1 #1
DC Rob Harley 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