General

Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets: Can Crimson Tide conquer Baton Rouge at night?

Fasten your chinstraps, college football fans. Alabama faces LSU in Baton Rouge at night on Saturday. It will be one of the most electric atmospheres of the season.

Alabama (6-2 SU, 4-4 ATS) already has lost two SEC games, but it could get a marquee win in head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season by topping the Tigers (6-2 SU, 3-5 ATS) in prime time.

The Crimson Tide have dominated this rivalry, going 11-2 against LSU since the 2012 BCS Championship game that they won. However, when they met in Baton Rouge two seasons ago, LSU scored a 32-31 win.

Alabama is a three-point favorite, and the total is a lofty 58 points. Here are our Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets.

Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets

Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find as of publication; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

It is hard to imagine the loser of this game having a chance to be selected for the College Football Playoff’s 12-team field, so there will be a sense of desperation added to the general hatred of this rivalry.

Alabama has lost twice and will be out of the running for the SEC championship game with another loss. Alabama’s national championship odds also would take a huge hit with a loss.

With only one conference loss, LSU has a straightforward path to qualifying for the conference title game, but a loss Saturday would complicate those hopes. That’s the motivation that can put a team over the top.

The Tigers have a few trends on their side, too. Since 2016, LSU is 16-6 SU when playing a team it lost to the previous season. The Tigers are also 14-3 ATS in their last 17 conference games following a road loss.

Last but not least, in games featuring two ranked teams since 2017, home teams are 186-91 SU.

This is not the same Nick Saban-guided Alabama juggernaut of the last 16 years. The Crimson Tide got a big win over Georgia but also lost to Vanderbilt and looked shaky in a narrow victory over South Carolina.

With revenge on its mind and a potential SEC championship berth on the line, look for LSU to cover the +3 points and maybe win outright.

LSU’s running game ranks last in the SEC with 115.3 yards per game, but it has been good in some key conference games. It will have a chance to do well again Saturday against Alabama’s defense, which ranks third-worst in the league against the run.

Tigers freshman RB Caden Durham has had some clunkers in his first season, but he also has had some big performances. He ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a win over South Carolina and for 101 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Arkansas.

Speaking of running games, look for Alabama QB Jalen Milroe to perform well on the ground. Milroe has 12 rushing TDs this season and has scored in every game but the loss at Tennessee.

In last season’s game against LSU, Milroe rushed 20 times for 155 yards and four touchdowns. The juice is high on his anytime TD prop for this game for a reason. He’s going to find the end zone Saturday.

Alabama vs. LSU moneyline odds analysis

Why Alabama could win as the favorite

Best odds: -138 at FanDuel Sportsbook

Following a three-week stretch that featured two losses and one too-close-for-comfort win, Alabama righted the ship with a 34-0 victory over No. 21-ranked Missouri. If the Crimson Tide truly turned the corner last week, they will be well-positioned to beat LSU on Saturday.

Alabama’s defense was great against Missouri, and its offense returned to the level it had early in the season.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is coming off a three-interception game against Texas A&M. If Alabama can make some big defensive plays early, it could force doubt into Nussmeier’s mind. That’s a terrible mentality for a quarterback.

Why LSU could win as the underdog

Best odds: +125 at bet365 Sportsbook

The Tigers are the second-best passing team in the SEC with 332.8 yards per game but the worst rushing offense. The bonus this weekend is that Alabama has been average against the run. Even in last week’s shutout win over Missouri, the Crimson Tide allowed 167 rushing yards.

That bodes well for LSU’s offense to succeed on the ground. When the ground game is successful, the passing game opens up. The Tigers haven’t had a lot of balance on offense, but they should Saturday.

That’s how you win in the SEC.

Read More

General

New Hallmark Christmas movies to binge watch this weekend

Hallmark is kicking off the 2024 Christmas season early this year with three new Christmas movies set to premiere this weekend.

These new Hallmark holiday movies include Trivia at St. Nick’s on Friday, Santa Tell Me on Saturday and ‘Tis the Season to Be Irish on Sunday.

Those without basic cable can still watch new Hallmark Christmas movies the same day they premiere with either Philo or Fubo. Both offer free trials for new subscribers, however, Philo is the cheaper option at $28 a month after its 7-day free trial.

Philo is also the only option that also offers the Lifetime channel for those who want to watch Lifetime’s new Holiday movies this year as well.

Those who do have regular cable can also watch these new movies the day after they premiere using the Lifetime app.

Be sure to check out more details about these upcoming HallmarkChristmas movies below.

Premiere Date: Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time)

Synopsis: When students all flee an elite university in Vermont for winter break, the locals and faculty hunker down for their favorite time of year – the annual Christmas Bar Trivia Tournament! For Celeste (Sursok), a Type-A astronomy professor, this event combines the magic of Christmas with her greatest comfort in life: knowing the right answer. But when her colleague drops out of the tournament to do a month-long lecture tour in Asia, Celeste’s team must adopt Max (Daugherty), the football team’s new offensive coordinator. To Celeste, Max seems like nothing more than a grown-up class clown – though he brings an undeniable knowledge of sports trivia (a category their team has always fallen short in).

Premiere Date: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time)

Synopsis: When Olivia, a successful interior designer, finds an old letter from Santa promising she’ll meet the love of her life by Christmas Eve—and that his name will be Nick—she’s stunned to meet not one, but three guys named Nick. As she navigates these holiday romances, Olivia also finds herself drawn to her charming co-worker, Chris, throwing her magical Christmas quest into question. With the clock ticking toward Christmas Eve, Olivia embarks on a heartwarming and humorous journey to uncover her true soulmate.

Premiere Date: Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time)

Synopsis: Rose, a nomadic house flipper, heads to Ireland to renovate and sell a cottage, but her plans are upended when she meets Sean, a local realtor determined to preserve his town’s heritage. As she works on the cottage and embraces Irish Christmas traditions, Rose finds herself falling for Sean and questioning her fear of settling down. Together, they must confront their pasts and discover if love is worth taking root.

Read More

General

Sur La Table Black Friday doorbusters you can get now for less than $25

We’re still a couple of weeks away from Black Friday but there’s no need to wait to find bargains. Upscale kitchen and home goods site Sur La Table has rolled out Black Friday Doorbusters for less than $25. We’ve looked through and found our favorites:

The Sur La Table Reversible Teak Carving Board is made from sustainable end grain teak wood with a canal around the perimeter that catches juices and prevents spilling. It’s normally $39.95 but is on sale for $19.96.

Sur La Table Double-Wall Latte Glasses lets you enjoy your morning brew in a set of two beautiful cups made from borosilicate glass. The glasses are double-walled to make sure your hands stay cool, while the microwave and dishwasher-safe design makes them easy to clean. They are normally $29.95 but are on sale for $17.96.

Sur La Table Electric Salt & Pepper Mill Set makes it easier to season things up with just a touch of a button. The set features an adjustable ceramic grinding mechanism that lets you easily change the coarseness level to suit your preference. Normally $79.95, it’s on sale for $24.96.

Brighten up your kitchen with a set of three Sur La Table Striped Kitchen Towels. You can choose from a variety of colors ranging from a subdued gray to ruby red. The towels are on sale for $21.96 and are buy one set, get one free.

Sur La Table Ash Wood Cheese Paddle can elevate your tablescape. Normally $29.95, it’s on sale for $17.96. Perfect for serving your favorite cheeses and other hors d’oeuvres.

You can see all of Sur La Table’s Black Friday Doorbusters here.

• Stanley just dropped a surprise 24-hour sale on ‘Maple Glow’ products
• This Instant Pot bundle is $59 during Target’s early Black Friday Sale
• Ninja Thirsti Drink System, a best-seller, is on sale
• This OLAPLEX hair style kit is on sale for just $28 this week
• Caitlin Clark signature basketballs are available at Target for only $20

Read More

General

Our expert NFL prop bets for Jalen Hurts, Jahmyr Gibbs and Tua Tagovailoa for NFL Week 10

Week 10 of the NFL season is well underway, but Alabama Crimson Tide fans longing to watch their former heroes won’t have to wait long as they can see former quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa alongside former running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Can Hurts lead the Philadelphia Eagles to its fifth consecutive victory? Gibbs has a tough matchup against a stout Houston Texans rushing defense while Tagovailoa continues to improve in what will be his third start since suffering a concussion in Week 2.

Join me as I share my best prop bets for each former Crimson Tide star from three great Alabama sportsbooks for Week 10 NFL games.

Best Jalen Hurts prop bet for Eagles vs. Cowboys

Jalen Hurts Under 25.5 passing attempts

Best odds: -113 at DraftKings Sportsbook

The Philadelphia Eagles meet the Dallas Cowboys in a major NFC East showdown. Jalen Hurts is beginning to return to form, but the Eagles may not need his arm to win this game. Philadelphia is a -7 (-110) favorite, and they face a Dallas defense that allows the 3rd-most rushing yards per game.

Hurts rarely attempts 25 passes and likely won’t on Sunday. Dallas’s offense has numerous injuries, including quarterback Dak Prescott and star wideout CeeDee Lamb.

The way to beat the Cowboys is on the ground. Hurts can hurt Dallas through the air, but Dallas allows the fewest passing attempts per game (27) because their offense can’t score, and opponents don’t need to throw much after the first half.

Look for Hurts to throw the football, but not 26 times. The Eagles are riding a four-game winning streak, and the offense is humming. RB Saquon Barkley and Hurts’ legs will play a larger role than Hurts’ arm will need to, and he will close this game Under 25.5 passing attempts.

Best Jahmyr Gibbs prop bet for Lions vs. Texans on SNF

Gibbs anytime touchdown

Best odds: (-110 at bet365 Sportsbook)

The Detroit Lions travel to the Lone Star State for a Sunday Night Football matchup with the Houston Texans. Jahmyr Gibbs has played a major role for the 7-1 Lions. He’s scampered for 656 yards and has recorded seven rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD.

Gibbs has recorded a touchdown in four of his last five. He’s recorded two multiple TD games and gets enough targets in the passing game to be a threat to receive a scoring strike from Jared Goff.

Houston allows fewer than one rushing touchdown per game, but Gibbs has been electric. He gets 11-15 carries per game, and his ability to shake tacklers and his 6.4 yards per attempt leads me to believe Gibbs will find the end zone Sunday night against the Texans.

Best Tua Tagovailoa prop bet for Dolphins vs. Rams on MNF

Tagovailoa Over 1.5 passing touchdowns

Best odds: (-114 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

The Miami Dolphins head west for a Monday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. Tua Tagovailoa is coming off his best game of the season. He threw for 231 yards with a pair of scoring strikes in a 30-27 away loss to the Buffalo Bills.

His Week 9 start was the second since returning from a concussion. He looked confident in the pocket, the Dolphins O-line allowed only one sack, and it’s all systems go for the southpaw from the fifth-year All-Pro.

Tagovailoa has a great matchup Monday night. The Rams passing defense is mediocre. Miami is trying to shake a three-game losing streak, and Tagovailoa looks more confident with every snap.

The Rams surrender nearly two passing TDs per game and 1.8 scoring strikes per home game. Tagovailo is surrounded with pass-catching weapons and faces a Rams defense he can beat. Look for Tagovailoa and the Dolphins to take to the air and the Alabama grad to throw at least two TD passes.

Read More

General

Bloody, naked man arrested after drug-fueled Calera crime spree, police say

A 36-year-old man is behind bars after he was found naked, bloody and damaging vehicles and homes in Calera.

Caleb Jon Sims was taken into custody early Friday and remains held without bond in the Shelby County Jail.

Calera police officers were dispatched about 2:30 a.m. to Camden Cove after a resident called 911 reporting a naked man was damaging vehicles and homes.

Chief David Hyche said all available officers responded and began searching for the suspect. Additional calls came in reporting the suspect in a different part of the neighborhood.

Hyche said “the very large male suspect” was naked and found covered in blood. It appears he injured himself during the rampage, police said.

Sims moved toward officers, refusing their commands, and was hit with a Taser stun gun and taken into custody, Hyche said.

Sims admitted to being under the influence of a controlled substance, was placed under arrest and transported to the hospital.

Hyche said at least 18 victims with property damage have been identified.

Sims is charged with public intoxication, public lewdness and disorderly conduct. Many more charges are expected for the property damage.

“This man admitted to being under the influence of drugs and is very fortunate that a citizen or officer didn’t have to use deadly force for their own protection,’’ Hyche said.

“To all those who have argued with me over the years that drugs are a victimless crime and criticized law enforcement for enforcing drug laws,’’ he said, “families in Camden Cove with property damage and those terrorized by this event would disagree.”

“The suspect also could have easily been a victim of his own choices this morning,’’ Hyche said. “He is very lucky that our officer had the opportunity to safely deploy his taser to get him under control long enough to apply handcuffs. I also see the damage that drug use does to the families of users. They are victims as well.”

If you discover damage you believe was caused by Sims, you are asked to call Calera police at 205-668-3505.

Read More

General

Alabama schools hit with whooping cough outbreaks: What parents need to know

Pertussis cases continue to pop up across Alabama as public health officials confirm a drastic increase in 2024.

This week, Creekside Elementary School in Harvest notified parents that a case of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, was reported at the school, according to News 19.

This follows at least four other cases that have been reported in Alabama schools over the last few weeks.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) previously confirmed whooping cough outbreaks in schools in Limestone, Madison, Jackson and Lauderdale Counties.

The agency told News 19 it has received reports of 124 cases of the disease so far this year, compared to the 41 cases reported in 2023.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that whooping cough cases were climbing back up to pre-pandemic levels.

As of October, 18,506 cases of whooping cough had been reported so far in 2024, according to the CDC. That’s the most at this point in the year since 2014, when cases topped 21,800.

Whooping cough is caused by bacteria infecting the mouth, nose and throat and is spread through the air by coughing. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection and can usually be treated by a five-day antibiotic course, according to the ADPH.

Schools are advising parents to take their child to a physician if they have cold symptoms followed by a cough.

The ADPH and the CDC also strongly recommend that parents look into the new whooping cough booster “Tdap,” for children 11 years and older.

In Alabama, the “Dtap” Pertussis vaccine is given until 7 years of age and vaccine protection begins to fade in older children. The booster helps increase protection for adolescent students, who public health officials say are getting hit the hardest this year.

Read More

General

Anders Carlson makes quick return to the NFL

After kicking in the San Francisco 49ers’ past two games, Anders Carlson might kick for the New York Jets on Sunday.

The 49ers released Carlson on Tuesday with regular kicker Jake Moody ready to return from an ankle injury. San Francisco had used the former Auburn kicker as a practice-squad elevation for two contests.

On Friday, the Jets released kicker Riley Patterson and signed Carlson for their practice squad. Either Carlson or Spencer Shrader will kick for New York when it plays the Arizona Cardinals at 3:25 p.m. CST Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

After making 35-of-38 field-goal attempts last season for the Jets, Greg Zuerlein went 9-of-15 in New York’s first eight games this season. The misses included a potential game-winner from 50 yards in the closing seconds of a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sept. 29 and misfires from 32 and 43 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 14.

The Jets placed Zuerlein on injured reserve with a left knee injury on Oct. 30 after he had missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt and an extra-point try in a 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots in New York’s previous game.

The Jets signed Patterson and Shrader for the practice squad and used Patterson the next day in a 21-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Oct. 31. Patterson made his three kicks – all extra points. Houston returned four kickoffs for 106 yards after New York’s opponents had returned five kickoffs for 111 yards in the first eight games.

As a practice-squad elevation, Carlson made all five of his field-goal attempts and 3-of-4 extra-point tries while kicking for San Francisco in a 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20 and 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 27. Carlson made a career-long 55-yard field goal against Kansas City.

When he signed with San Francisco, Carlson had been a free agent since Aug. 27, when the Green Bay Packers released him after he served as the team’s kicker in the 2023 season.

Carlson joined the Packers as a sixth-round selection from Auburn in the 2023 NFL Draft. He displaced 16-year veteran Mason Crosby as Green Bay’s kicker and became the first rookie in league history to make a field goal in 17 regular-season games. But with the playoffs included, he also had the most misses on extra points with six and on total kicks with 13 in the NFL in 2023.

In his first NFL season, Carlson made 27-of-33 field-goal attempts and 34-of-39 extra-point tries in the regular season and 2-of-3 field-goal attempts and 7-of-8 extra-point tries in two postseason games.

In 2024, Green Bay had an offseason/training camp/preseason kicking competition between Carlson and Greg Joseph, who had been the Minnesota Vikings’ kicker for the previous three seasons. But when the time came to set the regular-season roster, the Packers cut Carlson and Joseph and claimed Brayden Narveson after he had been waived by the Tennessee Titans. Narveson has since been replaced by veteran Brandon McManus.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

Read More

General

Comic-book icon loves Alabama football as much as superheroes

The titular caped crusader in “Absolute Superman” doesn’t appear in the new DC Comics series’ debut until two-thirds of the way in. It’s deft, immersive and patient storytelling. And reminiscent of how director Steven Spielberg didn’t reveal the shark until deep into classic blockbuster “Jaws.”

Jason Aaron, the acclaimed comic book writer helming “Absolute Superman, explains his pacing: “I think you know, part of it is that this is a big story, right? Like this is not Superman fully formed in issue one. He’s still struggling to kind of figure out who he is, how he fits in here, still working to understand his powers and what they can do and to control them. And so this is a raw version of Superman, and that will continue to be the case for a while.”

“Absolute Superman” is a return to the beginning. Not just for Kal-El — Superman’s given name on his home planet Kypton, before taking on his Earth name, Clark Kent — but Aaron, too.

“Superman was such a big part of me becoming a comic book fan as a kid,” Aaron, an Alabama native and longtime Kansas resident, says during a recent video call. “I just moved recently, so I’m still in the process of setting up my office and filling it with toys and trades and stuff I’ve collected over the course of 50 years of being a nerd. And there’s so much Superman stuff from when I was a kid.”

There’s a Superman nightlight. A Superman lamp, too. And a chunk of “kryptonite” Aaron bought in the early ‘80s after clipping an offer out of an issue of “DC Comics Presents” and sending it off to receive a spray-painted green rock in return by mail.

“The first comics I ever read,” Aaron says, “were Superman books off the spinner rack from a drug store in Jasper. The ‘Superman’ film in ‘79 was a big deal for me. So, Superman is one of the big reasons why I’m here, why I fell in love with comics and why I pretty quickly realized I want to do that someday.”

Aaron made his name writing Marvel Comics titles like “Wolverine,” “Black Panther,” “The Incredible Hulk” and “Captain America.” But during his 15 years at Marvel, wanting to get a shot at Superman was always in the back of his mind. Especially during Aaron’s legendary run on “Thor,” which saw long-running supporting character Jane Foster pick up the God of Thunder’s hammer, powers and persona.

“Then this opportunity came along,” Aaron says, “and I was like, ‘Well, I can’t say no to this,’ because this is the kind of thing that won’t happen every day. The chance to not just do Superman in an ongoing series, but to do my own take on Superman. How to reinterpret that character as If I was creating him today — you know, not 1939 [the year the character debuted], but 2024. What does that story look like?”

“Absolute Superman,” featuring artwork by Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola, looks amazing. The visuals strike a balance between classic and contemporary.

“I think the average person maybe doesn’t understand how many people might be involved in making one comic book,” Aaron says. “I’ve worked on so many different projects where you might have four or five different countries represented in the creative team on one comic.

“You can be born in, you know, in small town in the backwoods of Alabama, and work with artists in Serbia and Spain and Australia, and just every place on the planet you can think of. These people from wildly different places coming together, to sort of tell this same story and make this thing happen.”

And turn-around those those stories on quickly. Unlike Hollywood superhero movies, which involve years to produce, comic books are serialized monthly.

“One of the things,” Aaron says, “that’s really cool and magical and so gratifying about comics is the immediacy of it. I sit down and write a script which is similar to a screenplay, it’s just broken down into specific images, and then there’s a whole team of people who pick up the ball after that and run with it.”

Aaron’s script for the debut issue of “Absolute Superman” mixes relatable themes of working-class struggles, corporate greed and exploitation with the exotic settings and fantastical powers essential for page-turning escapism.

“If you boil the story of Superman down to its core,” Aaron says, “it’s the story of an immigrant, right? Really, the original version is more like the story of Moses, where it’s this child in a basket sent down the river who comes here. This version of the origin is very, very different. And doing a story of an immigrant in 2024 is different than 1938, so Kal-El’s path has been a lot darker and more troubled, and he did not have that idyllic upbringing in Kansas [as in the character’s traditional origins].

“The one big part of this story that’s the same as all the other Superman stories is Kal-El is very much the last son of Krypton. So when he comes here, he is alone. He is in a place where he is not welcome, where he has no connections of family or friends. Nothing. He’s the only person alive who remembers his home, remembers his parents, and the lessons and warnings from the destruction of Krypton. The question when the story starts, is, what does he do with all that? Where does he go from here? Is there a place for him on Earth, and if so, where is I and how does he get there?”

In addition to his impressive superhero credits, Aaron Aaron’s known for Vertigo Comics’ Vietnam War-themed “The Other Side,” Native American crime series “Scalped” and Image Comics’ “Southern Bastards,” set in his home state in fictional Craw County. In February, he’ll debut his latest creator-owned series “Bug Wars,” via Image.

“Since I was a child playing in my backyard in Piney Woods Alabama, I have made up stories,” Aaron says. “Back then, it was me with Star Wars toys and He-Man toys, setting them up in the weeds in the woods, and coming up with these elaborate fantasy stories that never existed anywhere except in my own head. That’s what I did for fun, it’s what I loved to do, and that grew into writing.”

During our video call, Aaron looks as you’d expect a comic book writer to. Glasses. Wizard-worthy beard. His T-shirt’ depicts the “Empire Strikes Back” vehicle AT-AT Walker. Aaron speaks in a raspy hushed tone born to describe other realms.

But the eyes can deceive, for his other lifelong passion is decidedly un-nerdy. Aaron’s a huge University of Alabama’s football fan.

“There’s not always a big crossover between those two,” he says, “but I think when you look at them both, there’s a lot of similarities. In football, like in comics, there’s heroes and villains. There are the teams you love, the teams you hate. There’s stories. Story of a game, story of a season, story of career.

“When you when you paint your face and get decked out to go to a game, it’s not that different than somebody dressing up like Batman or Harley Quinn to go to a comic convention. I’ve got my framed Daniel Moore paintings, Alabama shakers and helmets and Nick Saban prayer candles, all kinds of football related toys, just like I do my Marvel and DC toys. So that I think fans are not that different between those two.”

Read More

General

Gamecock buzz: Jax State looks to extend winning streak in matchup with Louisiana Tech

WHAT: Jacksonville State at Louisiana Tech.

WHEN: 3:30 p.m., Saturday.

WHERE: Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, La.

SERIES: Jacksonville State leads 1-0.

TV: CBS Sports Network.

LINE: Jacksonville State by 10.

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: If Jacksonville State can clinch bowl eligibility and win its sixth straight game.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Will Tre Stewart continue to dominate?

It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but Stewart shined once again in last week’s game against Liberty, which pitted two of the best Group of Five running backs against each other. In Jax State’s four conference games, Stewart has run the ball 93 times for 694 yards and 11 touchdowns, being one of three FBS players with multiple games of running for four touchdowns; he’s run for over 100 yards in all four of those games and has eclipsed 200 in the last two. He’ll face a Louisiana Tech run defense that’s allowed the 28th-least rushing yards of the 134 FBS teams.

2. How will Jax State’s offensive line fare against Kolbe Fields?

If there’s one player who’s filled up the stat sheet this season, it’s Fields at linebacker. The LSU transfer currently sits at a team-high 57 total tackles (30 solo) to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and an interception. The linebacker, who sat out last season after transferring to the program, has been the program’s highest-graded starter, according to PFF, and has excelled in the team’s run defense.

3. Will Jax State remain red hot?

After three straight losses to open its season, Rich Rodriguez‘s group has rattled off five straight wins and sits tied atop Conference USA with Western Kentucky at 4-0 in conference play. In the five-game span, the Gamecocks have totaled 2,649 yards of total offense (529.8 yards per game) and outscored opponents 234-85. Should Jax State win this game, it’ll clinch bowl eligibility for the second straight season and give the program its longest win streak since the 2017 season, when it won seven straight. Will the Gamecocks continue their dominant success on the road this Saturday?

KEY MATCHUP

Louisiana Tech receiver Tru Edwards vs. Jax State’s secondary

Edwards has been one of the most productive receivers in the conference, already having doubled his catches from last season with four games left on the schedule. The wideout has hauled in 46 catches for a team-high 566 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 12.3 yards per catch and over 70 yards per game.

BY THE NUMBERS

464.9 — The number of yards Jax State’s offense is averaging per game, which ranks atop Conference USA and 12th among all FBS teams.

Read More