CFN preview

[indianmustang]

CFN Prediction: Auburn 38 ... Tulane 10 ... Line: Auburn -32
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Knights of Prosperity) ... 2

SMU (4-3) at East Carolina (2-4), 3:00 EST, Saturday, October 21
Why to watch: SMU capped a volatile week which saw its quarterback get suspended, and reinstated, by rallying for a key comeback win over Marshall. That quarterback, freshman Justin Willis, came off the bench in the second quarter to go 20-of-23 for 208 yards and four touchdowns. Each Mustang win is a colossal step toward bowl eligibility and the program’s first postseason game in 22 years. One week after pasting Virginia for a breakthrough win, East Carolina regressed in a flat 31-10 loss to Tulsa. The Pirates will be closing out a five-game homestand before spending the balance of the season away from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Why SMU might win: He may only be a freshman, but Willis has become an improvisational difference-maker. He’s proven that over the last month, hoisting the Mustangs on his shoulders and accounting for 17 touchdowns to just a pair of picks. Willis’ hot streak will continue against a Pirate team that’s 82nd nationally in total defense and 73rd in scoring defense. For a change, he’ll also get support from a sporadic running game that’ll find more daylight than usual against one of the country’s worst run-stopping units. The return of all-league DE Justin Rogers is a big boost for a defense that’ll get plenty of chances for sacks Saturday.
Why East Carolina might win: The Pirates won’t have much success on the ground against Conference USA’s best run defense, so they’ll opt instead to unleash James Pinkney and Aundrae Allison, who’s back from a high ankle sprain, on SMU’s 114th-ranked pass defense. Yeah, Pinkney’s been awful the last two weeks, but this is exactly the type of opponent he needs to get back on track. The return of Allison will certainly help. The Mustangs are just 103 on the road this year.
Who to watch: Freshman Emmanuel Sanders is growing up alongside Willis, while maturing into SMU’s top playmaker at receiver. This weekend, he’ll be looking to extend to six his school-record for consecutive games with a touchdown catch against the suspect Pirate secondary.
What will happen: The masses haven’t caught up with SMU’s ascent, but this is a pretty good football team that’s begun to take on the personality of head coach Phil Bennett. The Mustangs will turn ECU one-dimensional, snuffing out a late rally for win No. 5.
CFN Prediction: SMU 30 … East Carolina 24 ... Line: East Carolina -6
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Knights of Prosperity) ... 2