North Alabama and Southeast Missouri State square off in the FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Alabama, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
According to the most recent odds from FanDuel, SEMO is a 7.5-point favorite on the spread, while the total for the game sits at 56.5.
So, where does Saturday's Week 0 betting value lie? Let's dive into my North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri State prediction below.
North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State Prediction
- North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State Pick: Southeast Missouri State -7
My North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State best bet is on the Redhawks spread with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State Odds
| North Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -115 | 59 -110o / -110u | +220 |
| Southeastern Louisiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 -105 | 59 -110o / -110u | -270 |
This line opened at Southeast Missouri State -10.5 but now sits at SEMO -7. The total, meanwhile, comes in at 59 after opening at 57.5.
North Alabama Lions Betting Preview: Key Issues for Lions
North Alabama enters its second year under head coach Brent Dearmon, who went 3-8 in 2023.
UNA was fairly up and down last season, losing a close game to Mercer on a neutral field, 17-7, despite entering as a +21.5 underdog. It also defeated FCS playoff participant UT Chattanooga as a 19-point 'dog, and they actually led Tarleton State, 28-17, at the half before being outscored by 32 in the second half.
The Lions also lost to Abeline Christian and Eastern Kentucky despite outgaining both teams by 100 yards. Ultimately, they had too many turnovers that cost them in games where they saw early momentum fizzle out.
North Alabama will now turn to former Stanford quarterback Ari Patu, who's fairly mobile but was used sparingly during his tenure with the Cardinal. UNA also returns four offensive linemen and four wide receiver contributors from last year's squad, so the offense has a few pieces.
The defense is a middle-of-the-road UAC group that surrendered 449 yards per game in conference play, including 505 yards against Utah Tech and 520 against Austin Peay.
The unit seemed to regress as the season played out, especially in pass coverage, with the YPG numbers escalating upward.
This year, the Lions have eight starters back on defense but have position battles that need to be sorted out at all three levels.
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Betting Preview: SEMO Looks to Bounce Back
A very proud FCS program, SEMO experienced a series of unfortunate circumstances last season and fell to 4-7, including a 3-3 mark in conference play in its 11th year under Tom Matukewicz.
There was a brutal three-game stretch midseason that saw the Redhawks catch brutally bad breaks in a one-point loss to Southern Illinois, a three-point loss at Eastern Kentucky and a five-point loss at Central Arkansas.
They also remarkably lost outright as 30-point home favorites against a bad Robert Morris team after veteran starting quarterback Paxton DeLaurent missed the last four games last year due to injury.
DeLaurent returns this season and is a name to watch in FCS this season. However, running back Geno Hess, the program's all-time rushing leader, is gone. The Redhawks also lose some key producers at wide receiver from last year.
Up front, the offensive line is a veteran group that returns five players who saw significant snaps last year. One would expect the unit to improve in pass protection this season and keep DeLaurent clean.
Defensively, SEMO was really down in 2023, surrendering over 500 yards in three games and over 400 yards in three others.
The Redhawks will now look to retool the stop unit through the FCS transfer portal. They have key position battles at linebacker and cornerback as well, but if the transfers hit, the defense could be improved.
SEMO has to find ways to put pressure on the opposing quarterback — an area it struggled in last season, recording only 14 sacks all year.
My North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State Pick
North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State Best Bet
SEMO opened as a favorite of -10.5, but as of writing, this game has been bet down to -7.5. There may still be room to run a bit. I trust that DeLaurent — a major weapon who's coming back from injury — will have a lot to prove in his senior campaign.
Meanwhile, North Alabama has major questions at quarterback, as well as a struggling, unreliable defense of its own.
Ultimately, I'll trust the proven quarterback with the better offensive line in what's likely the start of a bounce-back campaign for SEMO this year.
I'm going to wait to see how far this line falls, but my buy point on SEMO is -7 or better. I'm perfectly comfortable waiting to see if the line gets there.
Pick: Southeast Missouri State -7
How to Watch North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State: Start Time, Channel, Location
| Location: | Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL |
| Date: | Saturday, August 24, 2024 |
| Kickoff: | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV/Streaming: | ESPN |
North Alabama vs Southeast Missouri State Weather
