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Playing in just three road games this season could spell trouble for the East Carolina Pirates as they will be hitting the road in a conference battle in week 10. East Carolina is one of the nation’s best underdogs and they will look to win out, starting with this contest.
On the other hand, the Temple Owls have played just three times at home this season, going 2-1 in those games. The Owls have already doubled their win total from a year ago (4) and are two wins away from tying their total from 2012 and 2013, combined.
East Carolina boasts one of the best passing offenses in the entire nation as it ranks third in pass yards per game behind senior Shane Carden‘s impressive aerial attack. Carden has passed for 2,574 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing about 64 percent of his throws — a majority of them have gone to senior wide out Justin Hardy; Carden also has three rushing scores. Hardy, one of college football’s all-time reception leaders, has been stellar this year, catching 61 passes for 779 yards and six touchdowns. Isaiah Jones is second on the team with 52 catches for 553 yards and four scores while Cam Worthy is third, grabbing 23 passes for 496 yards and a single touchdown. The run offense isn’t quite as impressive, ranking 50th nationally, as senior Breon Allen leads all rushers, by a wide margin, with 569 yards and six scores on 7.6 yards per touch.
Temple’s offense hasn’t been anything special to date, ranking just 77th in passing yards per game and an even less impressive 107th in the run department. The Owls are led by sophomore quarterback P.J. Walker who is probable for this week’s contest after aggravating an ankle injury in the first quarter of Temple’s week nine loss. On the year, Walker is completing 58 percent of his passes for 1,469 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions; he also has 147 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground. Walker’s favorite target this season has been Jalen Fitzpatrick who has caught a team-high 30 passes for 432 yards and five scores. Jahad Thomas is the only other receiver to note as he has caught just eight passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. Thomas also leads the run game with 334 yards on 6.2 yards per carry while Jamie Gilmore is second with 190 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Owls have been one of the most effective teams in the nation this year. Temple ranks a solid 48th in yards allowed as well as owning the 18th-best scoring defense in the country. East Carolina has been less impressive than the Owls, ranking 48th in points allowed per game as well as ranking 51st in yards allowed per contest. Owl fans at Lincoln Financial Field will be hoping for a huge upset in week 10.
East Carolina will travel to Temple to take on the Owls at 12 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 1. The game will be broadcasted on ESPNews.
PREDICTION: East Carolina 30, Temple 21
Want to see the Pirates take on the Owls in week 10? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
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