Photo Courtesy: Joseph Dowling
Brought to you by: Big Shucks
By Zach Walker
Game Info
SMU Mustangs vs East Carolina Pirates
Saturday – November 12 – 11:00 am
TV: ESPNN
Dowdy-Ficklin Stadium – Greenville – North Carolina
Records Before the Game
SMU Mustangs: 4-5 (2-3 in AAC)
East Carolina Pirates: 3-6 (1-4 in AAC)
Who’s got the advantage?
When SMU has the ball: I don’t know whether the Mustangs were uninterested or what, but the Mustangs were extremely flat last week. Four players perhaps escape the scrutiny, Ke’Mon Freeman, Courtland Sutton, Justin Lawler, and Jamie Sackville. But, the rest of the team played a less than all effort. The Mustangs are playing a team coming off of game against Tulsa, which I swear has happened like four times this season. The Mustangs really just need to get back to playing inspired football. The Mustangs had the wind ripped from their sail early in the Memphis game, and couldn’t regroup, though it was only about five minutes into the game. The Mustangs must keep their head up, and in the game. The Pirates allowed James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer to run all over their defense, and Braeden West should look to have a big game, with a nice follow-up punch of Ke’Mon Freeman. Ben Hicks needs to be sharp, though the Pirates aren’t a danger to really take the ball away, or get after the quarterback, but Hicks needs to put his foot down and get another big road win. Dayon Pratt is taking up the Zeek Bigger role as the main man in the middle of the ECU defense, he’s going to try and prevent the Mustangs from stampeding over his home turf. (So awful, that pun…) ADVANTAGE: SMU. I think last week was an anomaly, and will get back on track.
When East Carolina has the ball: Do you truly understand, or rather comprehend what Zay Jones is doing right now?! He has 127 receptions for a crispy 1300 yards and five scores. One hundred and twenty-seven catches, and he’s got three games to go in this season. That means the defense knows the ball is going to Jones, and they still can’t do a damn thing about it. The Mustangs got thrown on last week against Memphis. The Tigers went straight after the Mustangs’ secondary and got them discouraged early. Philip Nelson started really flat against Tulsa and got bull-penned. He’ll get his shot against the SMU defense which got Swiss-cheesed last weekend, and he’ll be firing towards Zay because he’s apparently uncoverable. The Mustangs defense must heat the water around the quarterback, and get Nelson is trouble by forcing chances. ADVANTAGE: SMU. Zay is going to get his end done, but the SMU defense is going to play a complete flip effort from a week ago.
What will it take for the Mustangs to win?
Getting back on track. The entire team played uninspired during homecoming. They need that energy back.
Prediction: SMU 31 – ECU 28
