East Carolina vs. SMU Prediction
Will No. 25 SMU return to its dominant self following its first loss of the year when the Mustangs host East Carolina today at Noon ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
163 East Carolina vs. 164 SMU
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Noon ET – Gerald J. Ford Stadium
TV: ESPNU
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, SMU is the favorite at home, as the Mustangs are getting odds of -21.5 points against East Carolina. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 72.5 points. The public betting currently has 55 percent going on SMU as the home favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
SMU falls to Memphis
The SMU football team had its unbeaten run come to an end last week in a tough 54-48 loss at Memphis. The Mustangs are now 8-1 on the season, 4-1 in the AAC, 6-3 against the spread and 8-1 with the over.
SMU still has one of the top offenses in the nation, as the Mustangs are averaging 43.6 points and 509.6 yards per game. Defensively, SMU is giving up 30.7 points and 401.6 yards per contest. Shane Buechele is having a great year, throwing for 2,781 yards and 23 touchdowns while Xavier Jones has rushed for 906 yards and 15 touchdowns. James Proche and Reggie Roberson Jr. have combined for 117 receptions for 1,644 yards and 16 touchdowns. Roberson is dealing with a foot injury that has him questionable to play this afternoon. The defense is led by Patrick Nelson, who has 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks and one interception.
Pirates lose a fourth straight
ECU has dropped four straight games coming into this weekend. The Pirates are coming off a 46-43 loss at home to Cincinnati in a close game, but it was still a loss. ECU is now 3-6 on the year, 0-5 in the AAC, 5-4 against the spread and 6-3 with the under.
The Pirates are not really excelling in any area this season. ECU is giving up 30.2 points and 422.2 yards per game on defense, while the offense is putting up 23.9 points and 403.8 yards per contest. Holton Ahlers is leading ECU right now with 2,207 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, while also rushing for 277 yards and five scores. Demetrius Mauney is the leading rusher with 390 yards and a score, while CJ Johnson has 44 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns. Kendall Futrell is having a nice season on defense with 50 tackles and nine sacks.
College Football Betting Trends
SMU
The Mustangs are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven home games, but just 2-6 ATS in their last eight conference games.
ECU
The Pirates are just 5-15 against the spread in their last 20 road games and 12-32-1 ATS in their last 45 conference games.
Prediction:
SMU has won three of the last five and covered in four of the last five against ECU. The Pirates have struggled to stop anyone this year, even giving up 46 to Cincinnati last weekend. While it was a competitive game against a good team, the loss probably took out any hopes for ECU to do anything this year. SMU should be plenty fired up after a tough loss. The Mustangs still have championship aspirations and should be able to light up this ECU defense with ease. I don’t expect much from the Pirates’ offense on the road, so I feel pretty safe about SMU covering this spread.
College Football Week 11 Prediction: SMU -21.5
Related: East Carolina vs. SMU Total Prediction