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SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI EAGLES @ U ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM BLAZERS >>>> OVER 51.5
Southern Mississippi (3-2) at UAB (3-3) @ 8:00 PM EST. *ESPN
FACTS & STATS: Site: Legion Field (83,091) -- Birmingham, Alabama. Television: ESPN. Home Record: USM 2-1, UAB 2-1. Away Record: USM 1-1, UAB 1-2. Neutral Record: USM 0-0, UAB 0-0. Conference Record: USM 2-1, UAB 1-2. Series Record: Southern Mississippi leads, 5-0.
GAME NOTES: The UAB Blazers try to get back on the right track when they return to Legion Field this Friday to do battle with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in Conference USA play. After opening league play with a convincing 45-26 victory over Rice, the Blazers have gone on to drop their next two conference tilts, including a 20-19 setback to Marshall last weekend. The two-game slide came on the heels of a three-game win streak, leaving the team an even 3-3 for the year. The record is quite disappointing for UAB, which lost its three games by a combined nine points. As for the Eagles, they concluded a brief two-game homestand with a 52-31 victory over UCF last weekend. It was the second win in the past three games by USM, which improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Eagles have had the Blazers' number over the past several years and are a perfect 5-0 in the all-time series between the schools. While USM has come out on top in each of the meetings it still has been a rather competitive series, as the Blazers have lost the five games by a combined 23 points.
Although the Eagles are averaging a healthy 34.2 ppg this season, the offense hasn't been able to sustain long drives and that is evident in the sub par 333.6 total ypg the team is netting. The main problem has been an ineffective ground attack which is averaging a mere 97.0 rushing ypg. Last weekend was a prime example of how the Eagles' offense has operated this season, as they gained a solid 351 total yards which led to a whopping 52 points in a win over UCF. The team rushed for just 73 yards on 31 carries, while airing it out to the tune of 278 yards. Dustin Almond put forth his best effort of the season and threw for 277 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception. It was just what USM needed from Almond, who has now completed 57.2 percent of his tosses for 1,105 yards with 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Antwon Courington has provided Almond with an open target often and currently leads the team with 24 receptions for 329 yards and five scores. Last weekend, he pulled in four passes that went for 47 yards and two touchdowns. As for the dismal ground attack, it is paced by Larry Thomas, who has rushed for just 277 yards and two touchdowns in five games.
The Eagles' defense was supposed to be among the top in C-USA this season, but they have been anything but thus far. The unit is allowing 24.4 ppg and behind a way to 384.0 total ypg. However, the defense has been able to come up with big plays and has already recorded 18 turnovers (seven interceptions) in just five tilts. USM came up with five of those turnovers in a winning effort last weekend vs UCF. The defense limited the Golden Knights to 356 total yards, including just 96 on the ground. Kevis Coley paced the Eagles with 12 tackles and a sack, while Tom Johnson added seven stops and a game-high three sacks. Coley has clearly been the team's most productive player on this side of the ball this season and heads the club with 55 tackles to go along with a pair of sacks.
The Blazers certainly have one of the most explosive offenses in the league and are currently averaging a solid 27.2 ppg behind a healthy 422.0 total ypg. The team has relied heavily on its air attack, which is gaining 295 ypg compared to just 127 ypg on the ground. Last weekend, UAB posted 432 total yards of offense, including 187 rushing yards, but could not overcome 15 penlites for 112 yards lost in a 20-19 setback to Marshall. Darrell Hackney paced the team in defeat by throwing for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 20-of-35 pass attempts. He has been one of the top QBs in the league thus far and has completed 66.0 percent of his tosses for 1,737 yards with 10 touchdowns against four interceptions. His main outlet has been Reggie Lindsey, who has posted 30 receptions for 539 yards and five scores thus far. Lindsey however, was held in check last weekend and finished with just two catches for 39 yards. One player who did produce at a high level in last weekend's loss was Dan Burks, who rushed for 115 yards on 18 carries. He currently leads the team's ground attack with 301 yards, while Corey White checks in a close second with 250 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball is where the Blazers have surprised many, as they are giving up a modest 21.0 ppg behind 333.8 total ypg. Although the unit is giving up 204.5 ypg through the air, it has made up for some of those yards by intercepting 11 passes. Last weekend, the Blazers' defense put forth a great effort in limiting Marshall to just 251 total yards, including only 99 on the ground. However, UAB's special teams let it down, as a pair of blocked punts set up two scores by Marshall, including the game-winner with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Dominique Cosper paced the Blazers in defeat with 10 tackles, while Orlandus King added six stop of his own. The two are tied for the team-lead in sacks (three) this season, while King is tops in tackles with 44.
This is a big game for the Blazers, as they can ill-afford another loss in league play. Although the team has not played up to par the last few weeks, UAB possesses some great talent and with a big effort from its offense it should be able to prevail in a close one this Friday.
I expect a lot of pts.
Southern Mississippi (3-2) at UAB (3-3) @ 8:00 PM EST. *ESPN
FACTS & STATS: Site: Legion Field (83,091) -- Birmingham, Alabama. Television: ESPN. Home Record: USM 2-1, UAB 2-1. Away Record: USM 1-1, UAB 1-2. Neutral Record: USM 0-0, UAB 0-0. Conference Record: USM 2-1, UAB 1-2. Series Record: Southern Mississippi leads, 5-0.
GAME NOTES: The UAB Blazers try to get back on the right track when they return to Legion Field this Friday to do battle with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in Conference USA play. After opening league play with a convincing 45-26 victory over Rice, the Blazers have gone on to drop their next two conference tilts, including a 20-19 setback to Marshall last weekend. The two-game slide came on the heels of a three-game win streak, leaving the team an even 3-3 for the year. The record is quite disappointing for UAB, which lost its three games by a combined nine points. As for the Eagles, they concluded a brief two-game homestand with a 52-31 victory over UCF last weekend. It was the second win in the past three games by USM, which improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Eagles have had the Blazers' number over the past several years and are a perfect 5-0 in the all-time series between the schools. While USM has come out on top in each of the meetings it still has been a rather competitive series, as the Blazers have lost the five games by a combined 23 points.
Although the Eagles are averaging a healthy 34.2 ppg this season, the offense hasn't been able to sustain long drives and that is evident in the sub par 333.6 total ypg the team is netting. The main problem has been an ineffective ground attack which is averaging a mere 97.0 rushing ypg. Last weekend was a prime example of how the Eagles' offense has operated this season, as they gained a solid 351 total yards which led to a whopping 52 points in a win over UCF. The team rushed for just 73 yards on 31 carries, while airing it out to the tune of 278 yards. Dustin Almond put forth his best effort of the season and threw for 277 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception. It was just what USM needed from Almond, who has now completed 57.2 percent of his tosses for 1,105 yards with 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Antwon Courington has provided Almond with an open target often and currently leads the team with 24 receptions for 329 yards and five scores. Last weekend, he pulled in four passes that went for 47 yards and two touchdowns. As for the dismal ground attack, it is paced by Larry Thomas, who has rushed for just 277 yards and two touchdowns in five games.
The Eagles' defense was supposed to be among the top in C-USA this season, but they have been anything but thus far. The unit is allowing 24.4 ppg and behind a way to 384.0 total ypg. However, the defense has been able to come up with big plays and has already recorded 18 turnovers (seven interceptions) in just five tilts. USM came up with five of those turnovers in a winning effort last weekend vs UCF. The defense limited the Golden Knights to 356 total yards, including just 96 on the ground. Kevis Coley paced the Eagles with 12 tackles and a sack, while Tom Johnson added seven stops and a game-high three sacks. Coley has clearly been the team's most productive player on this side of the ball this season and heads the club with 55 tackles to go along with a pair of sacks.
The Blazers certainly have one of the most explosive offenses in the league and are currently averaging a solid 27.2 ppg behind a healthy 422.0 total ypg. The team has relied heavily on its air attack, which is gaining 295 ypg compared to just 127 ypg on the ground. Last weekend, UAB posted 432 total yards of offense, including 187 rushing yards, but could not overcome 15 penlites for 112 yards lost in a 20-19 setback to Marshall. Darrell Hackney paced the team in defeat by throwing for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 20-of-35 pass attempts. He has been one of the top QBs in the league thus far and has completed 66.0 percent of his tosses for 1,737 yards with 10 touchdowns against four interceptions. His main outlet has been Reggie Lindsey, who has posted 30 receptions for 539 yards and five scores thus far. Lindsey however, was held in check last weekend and finished with just two catches for 39 yards. One player who did produce at a high level in last weekend's loss was Dan Burks, who rushed for 115 yards on 18 carries. He currently leads the team's ground attack with 301 yards, while Corey White checks in a close second with 250 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball is where the Blazers have surprised many, as they are giving up a modest 21.0 ppg behind 333.8 total ypg. Although the unit is giving up 204.5 ypg through the air, it has made up for some of those yards by intercepting 11 passes. Last weekend, the Blazers' defense put forth a great effort in limiting Marshall to just 251 total yards, including only 99 on the ground. However, UAB's special teams let it down, as a pair of blocked punts set up two scores by Marshall, including the game-winner with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Dominique Cosper paced the Blazers in defeat with 10 tackles, while Orlandus King added six stop of his own. The two are tied for the team-lead in sacks (three) this season, while King is tops in tackles with 44.
This is a big game for the Blazers, as they can ill-afford another loss in league play. Although the team has not played up to par the last few weeks, UAB possesses some great talent and with a big effort from its offense it should be able to prevail in a close one this Friday.
I expect a lot of pts.