Saturday, December 5th, 2015

L.T. Smith Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday at L.T. Smith Stadium in the Conference USA Championship game. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 7.5 point favorites and the over/under was set at 71.

Nick Mullens finished his last game with 386 yards through the air for Southern Mississippi. He completed 24 passes out of 37 attempts for a 65% completion percentage. Ito Smith led the Golden Eagles in rushing with 169 yards. He averaged 8 yards per carry on his 22 rushing attempts for the game. Michael Thomas was the team leader in receiving with a total of 162 yards and 7 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 23 yards per reception. As a team in that game Southern Mississippi got a total of 25 first downs by way of 6 rushing, 18 passing, and 1 by penalty. They ran 73 total plays for 555 yards for the game. The Golden Eagles ran for 169 yards on 36 attempts.

Brandon Doughty finished his last game with 370 yards through the air for Western Kentucky. He completed 27 passes out of 39 attempts for a 69% completion percentage. Anthony Wales led the Hilltoppers in rushing with 131 yards. He averaged 5 yards per carry on his 24 rushing attempts for the game. Tyler Higbee was the team leader in receiving with a total of 92 yards and 6 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 15 yards per reception. Western Kentucky got a total of 31 first downs by way of 10 rushing, 18 passing, and 3 by penalty. They ran 83 total plays for 546 yards for the game. The Hilltoppers ran for 176 yards on 43 attempts.

Southern Mississippi is averaging 41.7 points per game on the offensive side of the ball. They are completing 24.8 passes per game on 38.5 attempts for a 64.3 percent completion percentage and average 340.2 yards in the passing department per game. The Golden Eagles are running for an average of 194.7 yards per game on 36.7 attempts for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. They also run 75.2 plays per contest and average 7.1 yards per play for an average of 534.8 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are averaging 24 first downs per game and they accumulate 69.5 penalty yards per game via 7.3 penalties.

Southern Mississippi gives up an average of 207.8 passing yards and 22.4 points per game on the defensive side of the ball. They allow 17.8 completions per game on 33.8 attempts for a completion percentage of 52.7. The Golden Eagles give up 143.3 rushing yards per contest on 35.5 carries for a 4 average per carry. Southern Mississippi gives up 351 total yards per game including 5.1 yards per play. They force 1.8 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 6.1 penalties per game that total 60.2 yards as a unit.

Western Kentucky is putting 44.2 points on the board per game on the offensive side of the ball. They complete 27.7 passes per game on 38 attempts for a 72.8 percent completion percentage and average 361.1 yards in the passing department for each outing. The Hilltoppers run for an average of 158.6 yards per game on 32.8 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry this season. They also run 70.8 plays per game and average 7.3 yards per play for a total of 519.7 yards per game. The Hilltoppers get an average of 24.8 first downs per game and they average 60.7 penalty yards per game via 6 penalties.

Western Kentucky gives up 238.4 passing yards per outing and 25 points per game on the defensive side of the ball. They allow an average of 18.6 completions on 33.9 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 54.8. The Hilltoppers give up 154.4 rushing yards per game on 37.3 carries for an average of 4.1 yards per carry. Western Kentucky gives up 392.8 total yards per game including an average of 5.5 per play. They create an average of 2.3 turnovers per game and 5 penalties for 44.1 yards each game.

Southern Mississippi Betting Trends

Southern Mississippi is 5-7-0 against the over/under so far this season

Southern Mississippi has an ATS record of 10-2-0 this season

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky is 9-3-0 against the over/under so far this season

Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 6-6-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Southern Mississippi

11/30/15 LB Anthony Swain Undisclosed injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Western Kentucky
11/30/15 LB Elijah Parker Undisclosed injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Western Kentucky
11/30/15 DB Kalan Reed Undisclosed injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Western Kentucky
09/30/15 DL Wil Freeman Undisclosed out for season

Western Kentucky

11/29/15 DB Wonderful Terry Ankle out indefinitely
09/13/15 RB Leon Allen Knee out for season
08/13/15 OL Matt Nord Foot out indefinitely

Josh's Pick: Take Southern Mississippi

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