Southern Methodist @ East Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2015 ) East Carolina 49, Southern Methodist 23

All eyes will be on receiver Zay Jones when East Carolina, which needs to win its final three games to earn a bowl bid, hosts SMU in an American Athletic Conference game Saturday. Jones needs 19 catches to become the FBS career leader in receptions but may have to do it with a backup quarterback because Philip Nelson is questionable with a shoulder injury as the Pirates seek their second win in their last eight outings.





Nelson was pulled in the second quarter of last week's loss to Tulsa but has reportedly thrown the ball well in this week's practice. With a school-record 127 receptions for 1,300 yards and five touchdowns this season, Jones is also on track to break the single-season standard for average receptions of 14.11. The path to a bowl game may seem a bit easier for the Mustangs, who need two wins in their final three games for a postseason berth, but host conference powers Navy and South Florida in the final two contests. SMU has to rebound from a humiliating loss to Memphis last week on Homecoming Day.
TV: Noon, ET, ESPN News. LINE: East Carolina -7.5.

ABOUT SMU (3-6, 1-4 AAC): Things crumbled quickly for the Mustangs after two impressive wins over No. 11 Houston and at Tulsa with a 51-7 loss to visiting Memphis, which led 31-7 after only 10 plays. SMU lists top running back Braeden West (764 yards, six touchdowns) as questionable to play Saturday with an undisclosed injury. Regardless of who carries the ball, coach Chad Morris was livid after last week's flop and responded with grueling practices. "He wanted to get a strong point across, that this was unacceptable and it's not going to happen again under his watch," defensive end Justin Lawler said.
ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (3-6, 1-4): Gardner Minshew, who was 29-of-49 for a career-best 336 yards and a touchdown in last week's 45-24 loss at Tulsa, would get the start if Nelson (2,477 yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions) is unable to go. The Pirates, who will be without linebackers Kendall Futrell and Joe Allely on Saturday, continue to be gashed on the ground, ranking 11th in the 12-team conference against the run after Tulsa's James Flanders rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns and D’Angelo Brewer went for 180 yards and a score. East Carolina should move the ball well no matter who plays quarterback as the Pirates are by far the AAC's top passing offense at 364 yards per game while SMU ranks 11th defending the pass.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Jones is 29 receptions ahead of Louisiana Tech's Trent Taylor for the nation's lead and trails Taylor by 18 yards for the lead in that category.
2. SMU is tied for ninth in the country with 14 interceptions and tied for 20th with 18 takeaways.
3. East Carolina leads the series 4-2 and has won the last two, including a 49-23 victory last season in Dallas.

PREDICTION: East Carolina 38, SMU 28