Philadelphia, PA (Best E Casino) - EAST DIVISION:
EAST CAROLINA - The Pirates were one of several C-USA teams to have off this week, as they prepare for a Sunday night bout against UCF on November 2nd. In its last appearance, ECU snapped a three-game slide with a 30-10 triumph over Memphis. The win improved the team to 4-3 overall and 2-1 within the conference.
MARSHALL - The Herd were out of action this past week, but will take to the field against Houston on Tuesday October 28th. After a 3-1 start to the season, Marshall has fallen on tough times, losing its last three outings. On October 18th, the Herd were dealt their first league loss of the season, as they dropped of a 23-21 decision at UAB.
MEMPHIS - The Tigers threw for 231 yards and ran for 285 more, as they outlasted Southern Miss, 36-30, this past weekend. Curtis Steele led the charge with 178 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, as the Tigers snapped a two-game slide. Third-string quarterback Brett Toney threw for 102 yards and a score, while fourth-stringer Tyler Bass passed for 130 yards and a score and ran for 51 yards and another touchdown. Toney and Bass earned playing time after starter Arkelon Hall and backup Will Hudgens were injured last week against ECU. Bass however, left last game with an injury, leaving Toney as the lone quarterback. Carlos Singleton had seven catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns for Memphis, which will have the week off before battling SMU on November 8th.
SOUTHERN MISS - The Golden Eagles simply couldn't slow down Memphis, allowing the Tigers to rack up 516 total yards in a 36-30 setback. Southern Miss itself, rolled up 416 total yards, but it wasn't enough to snap a five-game slide. The Eagles have also lost four straight C-USA games for the first time ever and they are assured of no better than a .500 finish for the first time since 1993. Austin Davis passed for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the setback, but threw a costly pick late in the contest. He also paced the team with 121 yards on eight carries, while Damion Fletcher went for 100 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. DeAndre Brown was the team's main target, as he pulled in eight balls for 110 yards and two scores. Southern Miss will try to notch its first league win this weekend when it hosts UAB.
UAB - The Blazers were idle this past week and are set to play at Southern Miss this coming weekend. UAB is coming off its first league victory in four tries, as it edged Marshall 23-21 on October 18th. The win put the breaks on a three-game slide and marked the team's first win against a FBS program this season. Quarterback Joe Webb has clearly been the squad's most productive player and he has got the job done with his arm and legs. For the season, Webb has rushed for 723 yards and seven touchdowns, in addition to throwing for 1,726 yards and eight more scores.
UCF - The Knights turned the ball over three times and managed just 187 total yards, as they watched a 19-14 halftime lead evaporate into a 49-19 loss over the weekend. Rob Calabrese guided UCF, which lost its second game in a row, with 124 yards and two touchdowns on 8-of-15 pass attempts. Brian Watters was clearly his primary target, pulling down seven of those passes for 121 yards and both scores. Now at just 1-2 within the conference, the Knights will host East Carolina in another Sunday night bout this weekend.
WEST DIVISION:
HOUSTON - Since the Cougars are set to play at Marshall on Tuesday October 28th, they had this past week off. Houston has reeled off three straight victories to kick off its C-USA campaign and overcome a 1-3 overall start to the season. Quarterback Case Keenum is having an outstanding season for the Cougars and he has already passed for 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions.
RICE - Chase Clement threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for two more, as the Owls cruised past Tulane 42-17 over the weekend. Clement completed 20- of-25 pass attempts for 168 yards, while rushing eight times for 57 yards. C.J. Ugokwe had 111 yards and a score on 18 carries, as Rice won its second straight game and improved to 4-1 within the league. James Casey caught both touchdown passes and he finished with six receptions for 51 yards. Jarett Dillard however, didn't catch a touchdown, snapping his streak of 11 straight games with at least one. He posted four catches for 41 yards in the win. Rice will return to play this weekend versus Texas-El Paso.
SMU - In non-conference action, the Mustangs fell victim to Navy's explosive ground attack in a 34-7 setback this past weekend. Navy didn't attempt a single pass, but it ran the ball 77 times for a whopping 404 yards. The Ponies were limited to just 170 total yards and only eight first downs in dropping their seventh straight game. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for only 157 yards and a touchdown in the loss, while Aldrick Robinson snared seven balls for 94 yards and a score. SMU will take the week off before taking on Memphis on November 8th.
TEXAS-EL PASO - The Miners had the week off to regroup from a poor effort that resulted in a 77-35 loss to Tulsa on October 18th. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for UTEP, which dipped to 3-1 within the conference. At 3-4 overall, the Miners will try to level their record at home this coming weekend.
TULANE - The Green Wave were outgained 230-34 on the ground, as they were handled by Rice 42-17 this past weekend. Tulane also turned the ball over three times in suffering its third loss in a row. Kevin Moore had a rough one under center, as he hit on just 9-of-20 tosses for 136 yards and two picks. He was replaced by Joe Kemp, who fared much better in throwing for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-20 pass attempts. Brian King pulled in seven passes for 103 yards, as the Green Wave dipped to 1-3 in the conference. Tulane will step out of league play this weekend to take on nationally-ranked LSU.
TULSA - The 19th-ranked Hurricane remained undefeated, as they scored 35 unanswered points in the second half of a 49-19 triumph over UCF. David Johnson threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and he added two more scores on the ground for Tulsa, which exacted some revenge after losing to UCF in last year's C-USA Championship game. Damaris Johnson ran for a score and threw one as well, as the Hurricane improved to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference. Tulsa will step out of league play this coming weekend to take on Arkansas of the SEC.
