Just looking realistically at it, ECU is giving up a ton of points. 34 to James Madison, 38 to UConn, 56 to WVU and 64 to VT. USF has scored 30+ in 21 straight games. I really don't think this is the week ECU can break that. But 26 points is a big spread. I don't think USF will win by that amount, that is hard to cover. Charlie Strong doesn't run up scores like Willie Taggart.

ECU traditionally covers the spread when underdogs at home. USF has scored a lot of points but has been sloppy doing it. It will take a couple of breaks going ECU's favor and a quick start to have a chance to win. ECU will also have to improve in the trenches. This seems to be the biggest glaring weakness on both sides of the ball. I have covering the spread but losing 38 - 24.

(09-26-2017 05:32 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  ECU traditionally covers the spread when underdogs at home. USF has scored a lot of points but has been sloppy doing it. It will take a couple of breaks going ECU's favor and a quick start to have a chance to win. ECU will also have to improve in the trenches. This seems to be the biggest glaring weakness on both sides of the ball. I have covering the spread but losing 38 - 24.

We haven't covered in either of our games as a home underdog this year. Other that that, I think you have a point.

(09-24-2017 07:54 PM)fanhood Wrote:  The way ECU played today, this may be tough. Even though ECU is 1-3, with a loss to an FCS program, they appear to have their **** together. This will be a close game.

Are you high?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

(09-26-2017 05:32 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  ECU traditionally covers the spread when underdogs at home. USF has scored a lot of points but has been sloppy doing it. It will take a couple of breaks going ECU's favor and a quick start to have a chance to win. ECU will also have to improve in the trenches. This seems to be the biggest glaring weakness on both sides of the ball. I have covering the spread but losing 38 - 24.

Since you are averaging giving up 48, and we are averaging scoring 41 per game, I think we'll score about 45. I don't think we'll cover 24 points, you'll probably get in the range of 24-31. Our defense is very good this year, but every game, something is amiss which keeps things closer than they should be. Special teams, slow starts, penatlies, offensive miscues, etc. We still have not played a complete game yet.

(09-25-2017 08:23 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Just looking realistically at it, ECU is giving up a ton of points. 34 to James Madison, 38 to UConn, 56 to WVU and 64 to VT. USF has scored 30+ in 21 straight games. I really don't think this is the week ECU can break that. But 26 points is a big spread. I don't think USF will win by that amount, that is hard to cover. Charlie Strong doesn't run up scores like Willie Taggart.

agree. I dont think we will cover but keep the scoring streak going which means ECU would need to score 30+ points to stay in it

(09-26-2017 09:53 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(09-25-2017 08:23 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Just looking realistically at it, ECU is giving up a ton of points. 34 to James Madison, 38 to UConn, 56 to WVU and 64 to VT. USF has scored 30+ in 21 straight games. I really don't think this is the week ECU can break that. But 26 points is a big spread. I don't think USF will win by that amount, that is hard to cover. Charlie Strong doesn't run up scores like Willie Taggart.

agree. I dont think we will cover but keep the scoring streak going which means ECU would need to score 30+ points to stay in it

I hope that ECU stacks the box and makes Flowers beat us with his arm. I know he can throw but I still think that is the lesser of two evils.

ECU will definitely score on the USF defense. Problem is the ECU defense is atrocious.

What ECU learned from the UCONN game:
1. Sirk can throw. 30/39, 396 yards, 3 TD, 0 Int
2. Receivers can catch. 4 receivers caught 29 passes, averaging 14 yards per catch.
3. ECU can move the ball when the quarterback isn't getting his brains bashed in. If USF keeps the pressure on/gets to Sirk, this could turn into a rout.
4. O-line has got to show up.

(09-26-2017 02:46 PM)mikeinoki Wrote:  What ECU learned from the UCONN game:
1. Sirk can throw. 30/39, 396 yards, 3 TD, 0 Int
2. Receivers can catch. 4 receivers caught 29 passes, averaging 14 yards per catch.
3. ECU can move the ball when the quarterback isn't getting his brains bashed in. If USF keeps the pressure on/gets to Sirk, this could turn into a rout.
4. O-line has got to show up.

5. We still don't have a Secondary.

USF National Rankings As of Week 4
Blocked Kicks 1
Passes Intercepted 1
Turnover Margin 1
Turnovers Gained 1
Winning % 1
Blocked Punts 2
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 2
Rushing Defense 3
First Down Offense 5
Rushing Offense 9
Time of Possession 11
Team TFL 12
Team Sacks 13
Total Defense 13
First Down Defense 20
Scoring Offense 21
Total Offense 21

(09-26-2017 04:18 PM)Sellular1 Wrote:  USF National Rankings As of Week 4
Blocked Kicks 1
Passes Intercepted 1
Turnover Margin 1
Turnovers Gained 1
Winning % 1
Blocked Punts 2
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 2
Rushing Defense 3
First Down Offense 5
Rushing Offense 9
Time of Possession 11
Team TFL 12
Team Sacks 13
Total Defense 13
First Down Defense 20
Scoring Offense 21
Total Offense 21

I'll be very curious to see how ECU offense does. No offense, but every offense that USF has faced thus far has been totally awful.

(09-26-2017 05:16 PM)The Knight Time Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 04:18 PM)Sellular1 Wrote:  USF National Rankings As of Week 4
Blocked Kicks 1
Passes Intercepted 1
Turnover Margin 1
Turnovers Gained 1
Winning % 1
Blocked Punts 2
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 2
Rushing Defense 3
First Down Offense 5
Rushing Offense 9
Time of Possession 11
Team TFL 12
Team Sacks 13
Total Defense 13
First Down Defense 20
Scoring Offense 21
Total Offense 21

I'll be very curious to see how ECU offense does. No offense, but every offense that USF has faced thus far has been totally awful.

The defense will be tested by the ECU offense. I'm watching yo see if it can continue to play at the level of past two weeks.
Of course the defense was ready for Temple after the things they said after running all over USF last year. They wanted to destroy Temple. They won't have that mentality vs ECU, so can they get up to same level is a question

My heart says ECU wins 34-31, my head says USF takes it 45-24, but I'm concerned that it might end up something like 56-17 USF.

(09-26-2017 10:08 PM)B easy Wrote:  My heart says ECU wins 34-31, my head says USF takes it 45-24, but I'm concerned that it might end up something like 56-17 USF.

At least you have all possible outcomes covered so you'll continue to feel good.

(09-26-2017 10:28 PM)Sellular1 Wrote:  

(09-26-2017 10:08 PM)B easy Wrote:  My heart says ECU wins 34-31, my head says USF takes it 45-24, but I'm concerned that it might end up something like 56-17 USF.

At least you have all possible outcomes covered so you'll continue to feel good.

I'll only feel good about it if we win but at least I'm going on vacation 2 days later for a consolation prize either way.

(09-26-2017 10:08 PM)B easy Wrote:  My heart says ECU wins 34-31, my head says USF takes it 45-24, but I'm concerned that it might end up something like 56-17 USF.

Thats not concern you're feeling its reality buried underneath false hope. This is will not be competitive.

(09-26-2017 07:29 AM)pcm0103 Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 07:54 PM)fanhood Wrote:  The way ECU played today, this may be tough. Even though ECU is 1-3, with a loss to an FCS program, they appear to have their **** together. This will be a close game.

Are you high?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Fanhood must be our biggest fan right now. I could shout a rallying cry like "Don't Give Up the Ship," but this might encourage USF.

Just to be frank, USF has played absolutely pitiful competition so I'm not really sure how to gauge them. You guys have beaten who you should have, like you should have though.

We may be lumped into that pitiful category after Saturday but we took it on the chin against two really good football teams in VT and WVU. I have no explanation about JMU other than they are good and our coaches did not have us ready to play. Since we've gone with Prunty as DC we have actually looked like a really good football team in the 1st half last weekend and against VT but completely collapsed the second halves defensively. Our S&C guy was big time back in the day but the last several years we have looked small and out of shape, I think Connors best years are behind him and he needs to be pushed to retire after this year. Our D looks gassed in the second half of these games.

That said I think we'll be ahead or close going into the half then unfortunately USF pulls away as VT did. I can only hope it's not to the same extent lol.

(09-27-2017 11:41 AM)DownEastPirate Wrote:  Just to be frank, USF has played absolutely pitiful competition so I'm not really sure how to gauge them. You guys have beaten who you should have, like you should have though.

We may be lumped into that pitiful category after Saturday but we took it on the chin against two really good football teams in VT and WVU. I have no explanation about JMU other than they are good and our coaches did not have us ready to play. Since we've gone with Prunty as DC we have actually looked like a really good football team in the 1st half last weekend and against VT but completely collapsed the second halves defensively. Our S&C guy was big time back in the day but the last several years we have looked small and out of shape, I think Connors best years are behind him and he needs to be pushed to retire after this year. Our D looks gassed in the second half of these games.

That said I think we'll be ahead or close going into the half then unfortunately USF pulls away as VT did. I can only hope it's not to the same extent lol.

I agree about players looking out of shape. When Ruff was fired Connors was interviewed on Pirate radio basically saying Ruff wouldn't let him train players the way he wanted. He also talked about how he and Mo were on the same page, but this was early on. I know there are more restrictions on training than back in the day, but I don't know how much is on Connors and how much on the HC.

Go Pirates. Take back the ship.