Saturday, November 12, 2016

Dowdy Ficklen Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The SMU Mustangs take on the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Dowdy Ficklen Stadium. The opening line for this game has East Carolina as 5 point favorites. This season the Mustangs are 6-3-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-6-0. The Pirates have an over/under record of 4-5-0 and they are 3-6-0 against the spread.

Ben Hicks finished with 170 yards through the air for SMU last week. He completed 17 passes out of 31 attempts for a 55% completion percentage. The Mustangs were led in rushing by Ke'Mon Freeman, who finished with 83 yards on 16 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 5 yards per carry. Courtland Sutton was the team leader in receiving with a total of 70 yards and 6 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 12 yards per reception. As a team in that game SMU got a total of 19 first downs. Of those first downs, 7 came on the ground while 11 came through the air. They ran 72 total plays for 308 yards for the game. The Mustangs ran for 100 yards on 32 attempts.

Gardner Minshew finished with 336 yards passing for East Carolina last week. He went 29 for 49, resulting in a 59% completion percentage. The Pirates were led on the ground by James Summers, who finished with 56 yards on 13 carries. He ended the game with an average of 4 yards per rush. Isaiah Jones led the team in receiving with 206 yards and 13 catches. He finished the game with an average of 16 yards per reception. East Carolina had 27 first downs total. 6 came from running the ball and 20 came from a pass. They ran 92 total plays for 474 yards for the contest. The Pirates ran for 38 yards on 30 carries as a team.

SMU scores 24.3 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 90th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 19.1 passes on 37.3 attempts for a 51.2 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 241.9 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 57th in college football. The Mustangs run for an average of 163.1 yards per game on 38.6 attempts for an average of 4.2 yards per carry. That ranks them 81st in the nation. They also run 75.9 plays per contest and average 5.3 yards per play for an average of 405 yards per game, ranking their offense 66th overall this season. The Mustangs average 20.2 first downs per game which ranks them 86th in the country. They accumulate 55.6 penalty yards per game via 6 penalties, which ranks 58th in the nation.

SMU allows 255.2 passing yards per game, ranking 94th in D-1, and they allow 32.7 points per contest on defense, which ranks 101st. They give up 22 completions on 37.2 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 59.1. The Mustangs allow 177.8 rushing yards per game on 41.7 carries for an average of 4.3 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 76th in the country. SMU allows 433 total yards per game including 5.5 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 90th in terms of yards per game. They force 2 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 8 penalties for 75.2 yards per game, ranking them 124th among D-1 teams.

East Carolina averages 28 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 68th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 32.6 passes per game on 49.6 attempts for a 65.7 percent completion percentage. They throw for 364.6 yards through the air per game, ranking them 3rd in Division 1. The Pirates run for an average of 135.4 yards per game on 35.6 attempts for an average of 3.8 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 105th on the ground. They also run 85.1 plays per game and average 5.9 yards per play for a total of 500 yards per game, ranking them 18th in the country on offense. The Pirates get an average of 26.1 first downs per game, which ranks 10th in the nation. They average 44.3 penalty yards per game via 5.1 penalties, ranking them 108th in college football.

East Carolina allows an average of 242 passing yards per game, which ranks 82nd in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 30.6 points per contest, which has them ranked 89th in the nation. They give up 17.8 completions on 31.2 attempts for a completion percentage of 56.9 per game. The Pirates allow 196.2 rushing yards per contest on 38.3 carries for a 5.1 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 88th in the country. East Carolina allows 438.2 total yards per game for an average of 6.3 yards per play, which ranks 92nd in D-1. They force 0.9 turnovers per contest and 7.3 penalties for 63.7 yards in each contest, ranking 105th in the nation.

SMU Betting Trends

SMU is 3-6-0 against the over/under this season

SMU has an ATS record of 6-3-0 this season

East Carolina Betting Trends

East Carolina is 4-5-0 against the over/under this season

East Carolina has an ATS record of 3-6-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

SMU

11/07/16 RB Braeden West Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. East Carolina
10/18/16 RB Xavier Jones Shoulder out indefinitely
09/19/16 LB Nick Horton Undisclosed out for season
09/12/16 QB Matt Davis Knee out for season
08/30/16 OL Chad Pursley ACL out for season

East Carolina

11/06/16 OL D'ante Smith Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. SMU
11/06/16 Backup RB Derrell Scott Hamstring "?" Saturday vs. SMU
11/06/16 OL Kyle Erickson Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. SMU
10/06/16 DB Nhyre Quinerly Legal problems has been dismissed
09/27/16 OL Jared Huneycutt Undisclosed out indefinitely
09/27/16 LB Joe Allely Undisclosed out indefinitely
09/20/16 WR Davon Grayson Undisclosed out indefinitely
09/08/16 WR Trevon Brown Academics out for season
08/27/16 DL Darious Commissiong Legal problems out for season

Tony's Pick: Take East Carolina -5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink