South Florida vs. East Carolina prediction and game preview. The Bulls try to improve to 5-4 as they travel to Greenville to take on the Pirates.
The South Florida Bulls (4-4) travel to the East Carolina Pirates (4-5), both looking to improve their bowl resumes. Check out the South Florida vs. East Carolina prediction and game preview.
Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Network: CBS Sports Network
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At this stage of the season, it’s all about angling for bowl eligibility, which matters to East Carolina and especially South Florida. The Bulls, which lost at Navy last weekend, last bowled in 2010, and any postseason appearance could profoundly impact third-year coach Willie Taggart’s job security. The Pirates have dropped two straight, needing to get back on track immediately. Last Friday’s 31-13 loss at UConn was the low point of the season.
The Bulls are catching a Pirate team that was just awful in all phases in Week 9. ECU couldn’t stop Arkeel Newsome, and will have similar struggles with USF’s tandem of QB Quinton Flowers and RB Marlon Mack. ECU must also contend with a South Florida front seven that’s been stout versus the run when not facing Dalvin Cook and Navy’s triple-option.
The Pirates have been a different team in Greenville, starting 3-1, including a win over Virginia Tech. Plus, ECU has a more diverse offense than South Florida, which is rooted deeply in the ground game. The Pirates can run the ball with Chris Hairston and Marquez Grayson, and boast the eclectic QB tandem of James Summers and Blake Kemp.
The onus falls on ECU linebackers Zeek Bigger, Montese Overton and Jordan Williams to fill lanes and corral Flowers when he runs the zone-read. Bigger is the team’s best run defender, yet a liability in coverage. Overton, meanwhile, excels against the pass, dropping back to blanket receivers and tight ends.
After back-to-back losses, ECU must get back on track … and the team knows it. The Pirates will be tested by improved South Florida, but they’ll deliver their best game in a month. South Florida had all kinds of problems with Navy’s Keenan Reynolds, so look for Summers to get more touches this week.
Final Score: East Carolina 24, South Florida 21, Line: East Carolina -4, o/u: 54
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