South Alabama is well-coached and came close to qualifying for a bowl for a second consecutive season. One of their victories last season came on the road as 17 1/2-point 'dogs to San Diego State. Meeting an SEC foe is huge for South Alabama. The Jaguars are going to be far more motivated for this matchup than Mississippi State, which has a home game against South Carolina next week and then plays at LSU the following week.

Those, of course, are both SEC contests. Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen isn't interested in running up a big score against South Alabama, or tipping his hand to South Carolina and LSU by pulling off any trickery or twists in this matchup..

Mullen is more interested in replacing Dak Prescott. The Bulldogs have a huge question at quarterback. They also have problems in the secondary losing both projected starting cornerbacks.

Note, too, that Jaguars defensive coordinator, Kane Wommack, is the son of Mississippi's defensive coordinator. So you know he picked the brain of his father to help defend against Mississippi State.