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The East Carolina Pirates (1-4) will host the SMU Mustangs (3-2) on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET.
The Pirates are expected to lose by double digits (currently +12) versus the Mustangs (with an over/under of 51.5 points).
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Game Info for SMU vs. East Carolina
- Game Day: Thursday, October 12, 2023
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Greenville, North Carolina
- Stadium: Bagwell Field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | -12 | -109 | -111 | 51.5 | -110 | -110 | -446 | +336 |
SMU Pick Insights
- SMU is 1-3-0 against the spread this season.
- SMU is 1-1 against the spread when favored by 12 points or more this season.
- Each SMU four games with a set total this season have gone under the over/under.
SMU Stats & Insights
- On defense, SMU has been a top-25 unit, ranking 23rd-best by surrendering just 315.6 yards per game. The offense ranks 38th (433.8 yards per game).
- SMU is averaging 33.8 points per game on offense (36th in the FBS), and ranks 27th on defense with 18.4 points allowed per game.
- SMU ranks 49th in passing yards this year (256 per game), but has been playing really well on defense, ranking 21st-best in the FBS with 181.6 passing yards allowed per game.
- SMU is averaging 177.8 rushing yards per game on offense (45th in the FBS), and ranks 62nd on defense with 134 rushing yards allowed per game.
- SMU is putting up a 40.8% third-down conversion rate on offense (66th in the FBS), and ranks 43rd defensively with a 35.1% third-down percentage allowed.
- SMU has the 22nd-worst turnover margin in college football at -4, forcing two turnovers (127th in the FBS) while turning it over six times (38th in the FBS).
SMU’s Best Players
- Preston Stone has 1,191 yards passing for SMU, completing 58.8% of his passes and collecting 11 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He’s also helped out on the ground with 68 rushing yards (13.6 ypg) on 29 carries with one rushing touchdown.
- Jaylan Knighton has 332 rushing yards on 51 carries with two touchdowns.
- LJ Johnson Jr. has been handed the ball 27 times this year and racked up 153 yards (30.6 per game) with one touchdown.
- Jordan Hudson has hauled in 10 catches for 178 yards (35.6 yards per game) to lead the team so far this season. He’s found the end zone two times as a receiver.
- Jake Bailey has put together a 175-yard season so far, reeling in 17 passes on 20 targets.
- Roderick Daniels Jr. has been the target of 16 passes and compiled eight catches for 173 yards, an average of 34.6 yards per contest. He’s found the end zone two times through the air this season.
- Nelson Paul has three sacks to lead the team, and also has four TFL and 11 tackles.
- Isaiah Nwokobia is the team’s tackle leader this year. He’s collected 24 tackles, two TFL, and one sack.
- Cale Sanders leads the team with one interception, while also collecting nine tackles and one pass defended.
East Carolina Betting Insights
- East Carolina has covered the spread twice in five opportunities this season.
- East Carolina is a perfect 1-0 against the spread when an underdog by 12 points or more this year.
- Out of East Carolina’s five games with a set total, two have hit the over (40%).
East Carolina Pick Insights
- East Carolina ranks eighth-worst in total yards per game (300.2), but it has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 32nd in the FBS with 328.6 total yards ceded per contest.
- East Carolina has been sputtering offensively, ranking 22nd-worst in the FBS with 21 points per game. It has been more effective defensively, surrendering 25.6 points per contest (72nd-ranked).
- East Carolina’s passing game has been struggling, ranking 16th-worst in the FBS with 169.2 passing yards per game. It has been more productive on the defensive side of the ball, giving up 210.4 passing yards per contest (45th-ranked).
- With 131 rushing yards per game on offense, East Carolina ranks 98th in the FBS. Defensively it ranks 44th, surrendering 118.2 rushing yards per contest.
- East Carolina’s defense has been a bottom-25 unit on third down this season, ceding a 44.6% third-down conversion percentage, which ranks 24th-worst in the FBS. Offensively, it ranks 105th with a 44.6% third-down rate.
- East Carolina has a +1 turnover margin this season, which ranks 52nd in the FBS.
East Carolina’s Best Players
- Alex Flinn has thrown for 611 yards (122.2 yards per game) while completing 49.1% of his passes and tossing one touchdown pass with five interceptions this season.
- Rahjai Harris has run for 217 yards on 57 carries so far this year while scoring four times on the ground.
- Mason Garcia has run for 177 yards across 33 attempts, scoring one touchdown.
- Jaylen Johnson has racked up 206 receiving yards on 20 receptions to pace his team so far this season.
- Jsi Hatfield has collected 202 receiving yards (40.4 yards per game) on 14 receptions.
- Chase Sowell’s 24 targets have resulted in 15 receptions for 148 yards.
- Jeremy Lewis has racked up one sack to lead the team, while also picking up four TFL and 12 tackles.
- East Carolina’s top-tackler, Julius Wood, has 35 tackles and two TFL this year.
- Antoine Jackson leads the team with one interception, while also collecting 11 tackles and one pass defended.
