Patrick Magee of the Sun-Herald has something like a preview of the game
“Last year, I got a couple of hits on him and he’s still getting it off,” USM redshirt junior defensive end Jacques Turner said. “It’s like you didn’t even hit him. We’ve just got to try to get him with the ball.”
This is an incredibly important game for both teams. Coming into this season the four teams with a realistic shot were North Texas, Southern Miss, UAB, and Tech. That is in no particular order because I could see any one of those teams getting hot at the right time and making the big run.
Each team has a weakness and some of them are even glaring.
UAB has already stumbled in conference play against WKU. There are question marks around their run game. QB Tyler Johnston III is throwing lots of interceptions — 4 against WKU and 2 against Rice — and Spencer Brown is hurt and has not gotten loose against anyone. The defense led by Garrett Marino is still tremendous, however.
LaTech is still the tough, talented team we all saw last season but with a slightly different configuration. A loss to them is understandable, and yet they always look like they are playing down to their opponent.
In the story above, there is much mention of the lack of sacks from the USM squad. That works in NT’s favor. The biggest problems in the Littrell era have come from teams with strong defensive lines. They can get the pressure on Mason Fine while still committing many defenders to his targets.
USM QB Jack Abraham is good, and NT will have to find a way to deal with his many weapons. This is a big game.
