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Score prediction and research report

Gillberg
Score prediction and research report

Alabama football will host South Florida on Saturday at Saban Field in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Crimson Tide moved up one spot from no. 5 to no. 4 in the coaches poll this week after a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky. It marked Kalen DeBoer’s debut victory as Alabama’s head coach.

No. 4 Alabama is set to face the Bulls at 6 pm CT Saturday on ESPN. Alabama plans to honor former coach Nick Saban with pregame and halftime festivities on Saturday.

Here’s our scouting report on the Bulls, how they stack up against the Crimson Tide and a score prediction for the game.

South Florida Players to Know

Quarterback Byrum Brown returns for a second year in coach Alex Golesh’s offense. The junior became South Florida’s first 3,000-yard passer last season and led the team in rushing yards (801 yards, 11 TDs). In South Florida’s 48-3 win over Bethune-Cookman last week, Brown completed 13 of 20 passes for 152 yards and no interceptions while adding eight carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. The Bulls offense finished with 403 yards of total offense.

Wide receiver Sean Atkins returns as Brown’s top receiver in 2023, with the former player becoming USF’s first 1,000-yard receiver in program history last season. Brown had four catches for 42 yards in the season opener, but has yet to score a touchdown this season. The Bulls also return running back Nay’Quan Wright, who finished second on the team in rushing last season (797 yards, 8 TDs). In last week’s game, Wright ran for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, outside linebacker Mac Harris leads the USF defense with seven total tackles, including two for loss, along with a quarterback hurry in last week’s contest. Linebacker Rodney Hill ranks second on the team with seven total tackles, half a tackle for loss, along with a quarterback hurry.

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Alabama vs South Florida Football History

Saturday will mark the third meeting between Alabama and South Florida, with last year’s contest being one Alabama would like to forget.

The Crimson Tide made the trip to Tampa, Florida last season in what was arguably the team’s worst performance of the season. Jalen Milroe was benched in the loss to Texas the week before, with Tyler Buchner getting the nod, but was eventually replaced by Ty Simpson after a slow start. At halftime the game was tied at 3 with a late Alabama score putting the game out of reach as they won 17-3.

This year will be DeBoer’s first against South Florida in his head coaching career. It will be Golesh’s second time facing Alabama as a head coach, but he is familiar with the Crimson Tide program, having previously served as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. Golesh served as the Vols’ offensive coordinator in 2022 when they beat Alabama and snapped a 15-year losing streak to the Crimson Tide.

Prior to last year’s game, the first contest between the two programs was played on August 30, 2003 in Birmingham, Alabama winning 40-17.

How Alabama-South Florida stacks up on offense

Third down conversion rate:

Alabama: 61.5% (20th nationally)

South Florida: 53.3% (tied for 40th)

Pass Offense:

Alabama: 266.0 yards per game (55th)

South Florida: 272.0 yards per game (98th)

Red Zone Offense:

Alabama: 4 for 5 (82nd)

South Florida: 6 for 7 (tied for 69th)

Fewest bags allowed:

Alabama: 1.0 sacks per game (tied for 42nd)

South Florida: 3.0 sacks per game (tied for 103rd)

Scoring Offense:

Alabama: 63 points per game (7th)

South Florida: 48 points per game (tied for 29th)

How Alabama-South Florida stacks up on defense

Third Down Defense:

Alabama: 16.7% (13th)

South Florida: 18.8% (tied for 19th)

Yards Allowed:

Alabama: 103 yards per game (tied for 16th)

South Florida: 122 yards per game (tied for 33rd)

Red Zone Defense:

Alabama: 0 for 2 (tied for 1st)

South Florida: 0 for 1 (tied for 1st)

Rush Defense:

Alabama: 42 yards per game (14th)

South Florida: 28 yards per game (20th)

Bags:

Alabama: 1.0 sacks per game (tied for 83rd)

South Florida: 3 sacks per game (tied for 35th)

Scoring Defense:

Alabama: 0 points per game (tied for 1st)

South Florida: 3 points per game (tied for 14th)

Alabama vs South Florida football score prediction

Alabama 42, South Florida 10: Alabama made it clear that it looks to leave last year’s game in the past and should have no problem handling South Florida on Saturday. This will be the Crimson Tide’s final home game before SEC play begins on Sept. 28 against no. 1 Georgia.

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