Week One: UTSA versus South Alabama

UTSA at South Alabama--This will be a highly anticipated matchup for both teams as this game introduces the Roadrunners and the Jaguars to FBS football. Both teams are in the transitional stage and are not eligible for any postseason games or conference titles but are using this year to prove that they can play on the FBS level.

Offense: The Roadrunners of UTSA scored a solid 26.6 points per game on offense in 2011 with 364 yards of total offense per game. The Roadrunners put up 144 yards on the ground and 219 in the air making for a very balanced offense. UTSA scored 31 offensive touchdowns on the season to go with another 33 points by field goals. South Alabama had a little more trouble scoring on offense only putting up 24.4 points per game. The Jaguars ran for 154 yards per game while passing for 172 for a total of 326.7 yards per game. The Jaguars were much more efficient on the ground with 21 rushing touchdowns on the season. They also added 8 passing touchdowns but that was offset by 17 interceptions. EDGE: UTSA

Defense: The South Alabama defense was one of the better defenses at forcing turnovers in 2011. In their 10 games, the Jaguar defense recovered 15 fumbles while picking off another 8 passes. The Jaguars were the 16th ranked defense in all of FCS football with only 309 yards given up per game. The Jaguars gave up just over 21 points per game to opponents putting them 27th in FCS scoring defense last fall, The Roadrunner defense was stout in 2011 only giving up 21.4 points per game. Those numbers are slightly skewed due to the level of competition in some of the games. Taking away the three easy games, the Roadrunner defense gave up a more realistic 28.1 points per game. EDGE: USA

Coaching: Larry Coker leads the Roadrunner squad in his second year at the helm of the program. Coker is the former head coach of Miami where he led the team to a FBS national championship in his first year as the head coach. Coker led the Hurricanes to an appearance in the Rose, Orange, and Fiesta bowls as well as two trips to the Peach bowl. He was released from the head coaching job after a disappointing season led to a 7-6 finish and game in the MPC Computers bowl. Coker went 4-6 in his first year at UTSA. Joey Jones is the head coach of the USA Jaguars going into his 4th year at the school. Jones was a former player at Alabama and high school head coach. Birmingham Southern gave Jones a shot at their program where he went 3-7 in his only year at the school. South Alabama then gave him a shot to start their program from the beginning and he has been impressive since. The Jaguars have a 23-4 record in his three years running the program but will face adversity trying to fit into the FBS landscape in the Sun Belt. EDGE: UTSA

The two team have played once. South Alabama beat UTSA 30-27 last fall in San Antonio, Texas.

This game should be about the most evenly matched games of any in week one. The teams were tied at 17 at the end of regulation and it took two overtimes to decide the winner. The slight edge goes to UTSA on offense and USA on defense further complicating who is better. This is one of the few games that is an honest coin flip. Tails won out so I see the Roadrunners avenging their home loss in 2011 with a hard fought win over the Jaguars in week one of FBS football for both teams.