by Ken Task.
The specified location would save the backup with a humanly recognizable file name. Think there is an option to save the file with the short course title in there somewhere other wise it's something like backup-moodle-[crseIDnumber]-datetimestamp.mbz.
One way to really know if automated backups to specified directory will work for you and how it functions is to try it out! ;)
'spirit of sharing', Ken