Week 11: C-USA Feasting Favorites

Hey guys, below are a trio of games that I like this weekend. If you’re looking for a sneaky underdog or a small favorite, this won’t be your cup of tea. As always, feel free to leave a question or comment. You can also follow me on Twitter @Smithers513. Good luck!

UAB @ Marshall -23.5

At this point in the season, teams are who they are. UAB is just bad. The Blazers are 2-6 on the year, and their only win against an FBS team was a 27-24 win at FIU. Things aren’t going to get any easier for UAB on Saturday when they head to Marshall on Saturday. Marshall is 5-3 on the year, but is a perfect 5-0 at home, with the closest margin of victory being 24 points of UTSA. Marshall should be well rested, after smoking Southern Miss 61-13 last week at home. This is Marshall’s last home game before hosting ECU for the season finale. Marshall QB Rakeem Cato is a stud, and leads a Thundering Herd offense that is 13^th in the NCAA in scoring at over 40 ppg. UAB allows 38.4 ppg defensively, ranking them 118^th in the NCAA. This is simply a horrible matchup for UAB. Marshall is going to get to 52+ points, do we think UAB gets to 28? I don’t. Take the Herd.

Tulsa @ East Carolina -17

The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes will head to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium to take on the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday at 3:45 EST. Tulsa is 2-6 on the year, and is simply not a good football team. The Golden Hurricanes have only won a single game in the last two months, which was against UTEP. There are a quite a few matchup disadvantages that lead me to take East Carolina. ECU has a high powered offense, and averages about 37 ppg. They are also 34^th in the NCAA in points allowed per game at 22.1. Tulsa is horrible offensively, ranking 108^th in the NCAA in scoring at 20.1 ppg. The Golden Hurricanes don’t make up for it defensively either, allowing 31 ppg, ranking them 89^th in the NCAA. ECU is going to score, and do it in bunches. They have a quick strike offense and are 10^th in the NCAA in passing.  Tulsa is going to have to match them offensively to keep themselves in the game, and the statistical evidence points to the contrary, with Tulsa ranking 80^th and 78^th in passing and rushing yards per game. Also, let’s factor in the sandwich spot for Tulsa, who’s coming off a 34-15 loss to UTSA at home and has Marshall at home Thursday night. ECU runs away with this one, and I’m happy to lay the 17 points.

UTEP @ North Texas -25

See a recurring theme with these? At this point in the year, I look to fade teams that I think have packed it in for the year. UTEP is 1-7 on the year, and has absolutely nothing to play for. The Miners are on the last leg of a 3 game road trip, having lost their last two games to Rice and Texas A&M by a combined score of 102-14. I see little reason in thinking that the Miners are able to regroup and put together an inspired performance against a well coached North Texas team. The Mean Green have had extra time to prepare for this game, and have a bye next week, so I expect a fully focused effort from them. North Texas is 6-3 on the year, and will be favored in their final two games of the year, giving them a very real chance at an outstanding 9-3 season. UTEP obviously doesn’t do many things well as a football team, ranking 120^th in the NCAA in points allowed per game at 41. North Texas has a solid offense and a good defense as well, with the defense allowing under 20 points per game. North Texas should come out and blow the doors off an awful and lifeless UTEP team. I see a 49-14 win in the Mean Green’s future.