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Alabama State vs. UTSA prediction and game preview for the season-opener between the Hornets and the Roadrunners.

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Alabama State vs. UTSA Game Preview

Broadcast Info

Date: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

Alabama State vs. UTSA Storylines

The Roadrunners enter the new season being led by former LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson, who will try to get the program headed in the right direction after initial success under Larry Coker. Wilson has never even been a head coach at the college level, as he is most known for his recruiting prowess. But “selling” will be needed to get the players on the current roster to believe that success is possible.

SWAC member Alabama State looks to build on the six-win debut of head coach Brian Jenkins. There are intriguing offensive pieces in quarterbacks Ellis Richardson and Quinterris Toppings as well as running back Khalid Thomas, and the defense returns seven of its top nine tacklers, including league defensive player of the year Kourtney Berry.

Alabama State vs. UTSA Betting Odds

Spread: UTSA -28.5

Over/Under: NA

Matchup to Watch

Alabama State front seven vs. UTSA O-Line

The Roadrunners allowed an FBS-worst 44 sacks last season, while the Alabama State defense returns seven of its top nine tacklers, including SWAC defensive player of the year Kourtney Berry. Keep an eye on whether or not the UTSA O-Line can assert its will in the trenches, especially when the ball is given to running back Jarveon Williams, who was fourth in the league in rushing yards per game last fall.

Advantages

Offense: UTSA. The Roadrunners managed to score at least 30 points six times last season despite dealing with injuries, and Wilson was able to bring in some intriguing transfers on that side of the ball. Wilson and veteran coordinator Frank Scelfo have a strong run game and underrated corps of receivers to work with this fall.

Defense: Alabama State. The Roadrunners yielded 33.8 points per game last season, and new coordinator Pete Golding has installed a 3-3-5 base defense. Meanwhile, Alabama State has Berry and a veteran unit.

Special Teams: Alabama State. UTSA did not finish well in special teams efficiency rankings last season.

Coaching: Even. Wilson is an upper-echelon recruiter, but we have yet to see what he can do as a coordinator or as a head coach.

Intangibles: This will be a fired-up UTSA squad that will be looking to resemble the Coker teams that fared well when the program first began playing.

Alabama State vs. UTSA Prediction

Before the Roadrunners travel to battle Colorado State in Week 2, they will take care of business at the Alamodome on opening weekend.

Final Score Prediction For Alabama State vs. UTSA: UTSA 30, Alabama State 16

MORE: 2016 College Football Bowl Projections