Sun Belt Sports Fans

Kick-Off: 4:00 PM (EST)

Location: Legion Field

All-Time Series: Troy leads 4-3

Last Meeting: Troy 27, UAB 14 (Sept. 19, 2009)

Vegas Says: Troy -3.5

The third game of the season may be seem too early in the season to declare it desperation time, but that’s exactly what time it is for coach Neil Callaway’s Blazers. With visits to Tennessee and Conference USA foe Central Florida looming, the time to notch victory numero uno of the 2011 season is Saturday.

If the Blazers are to get off the schneid, they’ll need sophomore quarterback David Isabelle to be more consistent in the passing game.  Isabelle has been electric when running the ball, rushing for three touchdowns and 248 yards on 38 carries, but less than effective when airing it out, completing only 16 of 34 passes for 188 yards to go along with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Senior wideout Frantrelle Forrest is Isabelle’s top target.

Troy may be just the tonic Isabelle, Forrest, and the UAB passing game need, however, as the Trojans conceded 348 yards through the air in last week’s 41-38 loss to Oklahoma State and 221 passing yards in a season-opening 30-27 win over Bowling Green.

The inverse is true for UAB’s inexperienced defense, as a Troy offense that is averaging 34.5 points and 443 yards of total offense per game figures to be exactly what the Blazers don’t need to see at this point in the season.  Freshman quarterback Corey Robinson leads the pass-happy Trojan attack for a program that has ruled the Sun Belt Conference in recent years.

Tim Coyne
DFN Sports Staff Writer