Grambling vs. Southern: 49th Annual Bayou Classic Preview, Prediction, Odds
NEW ORLEANS - The highly anticipated annual showdown between the Grambling State Tigers (3-7, 2-5 SWAC) and Southern University Jaguars (6-4, 4-3 SWAC) is about to go down in the 49th Annual Bayou Classic.
Grambling and Southern University met in the 46th annual Bayou Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Nov. 30. Grambling would lose the game 30-28. Credit: © Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star, Monroe News Star via Imagn Content Services, LLC
BAYOU CLASSIC LIVE THREAD
BAYOU CLASSIC PREVIEW
The G-Men enter the clash with nothing but bragging rights and respectability on their minds.
Last season Grambling won 29-26 after Garrett Urban booted a last-second game-winning field goal from 25 yards. Today, the Jaguars seek vengeance.
Southern must win to secure the SWAC West title over Prairie View. Then the Jaguars will battle Jackson State Tigers (11-0, 8-0 SWAC) in the 2022 SWAC Football Championship game on Dec. 3 in Jackson, MS.
Grambling and Southern will have highly-touted high school recruits and transfer portal players observing the Bayou Classic outcome. Eric Dooley and Hue Jackson compete for the hotbed of talent in the Gulf Coast region. A victory will give one program the postseason recruiting edge over the other.
ODDS
- Spread: Grambling +11.5 (-110) | Southern -11.5 (-118)
- Moneyline: Grambling (+310) | Southern (-500)
- Total: 51.5 - Over (-112) | Under (-108)
- Game Info: Saturday, Nov. 26 | 12 PM CT | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
- Broadcast Info: NBC/PEACOCK | Grambling State Sports Radio Network | The Peach (KPCH-99.3 FM) in LA
- Series History: Southern leads the all-time series 39-34. Bayou Classic series is tied at 24-24.
Check the Latest Odds from SI Sportsbook
PREDICTION
I must preface this prediction by saying I grew up a Southern Jaguars fan. My father earned two degrees from SU, and my cousin Kenny "The Body Snatcher" Times was the Defensive MVP in the 1979 Bayou Classic upset.
Southern has the second-ranked offense and defense in the SWAC.
McCray leads the fifth-ranked Jaguars passing offense with 206.2 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Grambling quarterback position has been a revolving door since Hue Jackson's arrival. The Tigers are 11th in the conference with 142.5 passing yards per game.
The second-ranked Jaguars defense surrenders 282.3 yards per game, while the ninth-ranked G-Men allow 398.1 yards per contest.
Rushing the football may give Southern the advantage. The Jaguars (#2) rush for 207.0 yards per game compared to 164.8 yards per game by the Tigers (#5).
Keep an eye on the special-team unit for each squad. Both rank toward the league's bottom, with Southern (10th) converting 7 of 12 field goal attempts and Grambling (12th) notching only 5 of 11 field goal attempts.
Keep in mind how a rash of recent upsets has thrown the "Wacky SWAC" in turmoil! For instance, underdogs Mississippi Valley beat Prairie View, Alabama A&M rallied to defeat Texas Southern, and UAPB downed Alabama State in the 98th Turkey Day Classic.
Lest we forget, this is the "Grand Daddy Classic" of all HBCU rivalries across the country. I wouldn't be surprised if Grambling threw an "Upset Party" in the Bayou Classic!
HBCU Legends predicts a close and uncomfortable 38-31 win for Southern in the 49th Annual Bayou Classic. Are the Jaguars the better team?
We shall see.
HBCU Legends' Recent Articles
- James Houston IV's Debut Was a 'Sacking' Success
- James Houston Elevated From Lions Practice Squad
- Coach Prime Critics Reach a New Low
- FAMU Wins 2022 Women's SWAC Volleyball Tournament
- Deion Sanders Bests Eddie Robinson's Early SWAC Record
- FAMU Snubbed from FCS Playoffs
- Deion Sanders, Trei Oliver Up for FCS Coach of the Year
- SWAC West Out of Control