The Army Black Knights head into Birmingham today for a midday showdown against the UAB Blazers, carrying a shaky 1-3 record into this American Athletic Conference matchup. It's make-or-break for Army, still smarting from a 28-6 drubbing by East Carolina last week, where their vaunted ground game sputtered out just 290 total yards. Dewayne Coleman, the quarterback trying to steady the ship, managed only 36 passing yards in that loss, though he did scratch out a rushing touchdown. Meanwhile, UAB sits at 2-2, licking wounds from a 56-24 blowout at Tennessee, but they've shown some home grit with back-to-back wins at Protective Stadium before that road trip.
Indeed, the Blazers' defense has been leaky, allowing over 400 yards in three of four games, yet they've forced turnovers in bunches—something Army, with its option offense, might exploit if Coleman can avoid the two picks he's already thrown this season. Prediction here leans toward Army covering the 6.5-point spread, given their 67.9% win probability in simulations and a historical edge; they thumped UAB 44-10 last year in West Point. But UAB's home underdog bark could bite if Army's road woes persist—they're 0-2 away this fall, outscored 45-20 in those tilts.
However, let's not overlook the total at 57.5; both squads have pushed overs in recent outings, with UAB's games averaging north of 60 points. Noah Short's 127-yard rush against ECU hints at Army's potential to grind out 300-plus on the ground, while UAB's Jacob Zeno might sling it deep to keep pace. Moreover, Army's discipline issues—15 penalties last game—could hand UAB short fields. Still, the Black Knights' triple-option remains a nightmare for defenses not drilled on it, and UAB's front seven looked gassed against Tennessee's speed.
Quick note on injuries: Army's fullback Ay'Jaun Marshall is questionable with an ankle tweak, which might crimp their blocking schemes. UAB seems healthier, but their secondary is banged up from the Vols game. In a conference where parity reigns, this feels like Army's chance to right the ship before the schedule toughens. Yet, football's funny—upsets lurk in October sun.
What does this mean for Army's bowl hopes, or UAB's bounce-back bid?