Rare Tuesday Night Game Has East Carolina Favored By 5 Over Memphis

NFL News - October 27th, 2009 - Written by Scott

A rare Tuesday night game is set to take place as two Conference USA rivals square off. Memphis (2-5, 1-3) is looking to turn their season around as they host East Carolina tonight. The Pirates (4-3, 3-1) are in a 3-way tie for first in the East Division, according to recent NCAA Football Standings, and will need a win to keep their conference hopes alive. They are coming off a route over Rice last weekend 49-13. Memphis is off to a horrible start this year and lost their third conference game last weekend to Southern Miss 36-16. East Carolina has won their last three meetings with the Tigers, including last years' 30-10 win.

East Carolina is led on offense by quarterback Patrick Pinkney. Pinkney has thrown for 1,299 yards and 7 touchdowns, but does have 8 interceptions on the year. The Pirates running game has been explosive over the past four games behind a veteran offensive line. They are averaging 153 yards on the ground over this four game span and are led by Dominique Lindsay. Lindsay has rushed for 431 yards and 3 touchdowns on the year. Pinkney has spread the ball around to his group of wide outs, but Dwayne Harris has emerged as his favorite target. He has 465 yards and 3 touchdowns this year.

The Pirates have excelled defensively in takeaways this season and are ranked 10th in the nation with 17 turnovers. They have done a great job stopping the run and have held their opponents to just 53 yards the past two games. They will need to continue this to force the Tigers to go to the air as their quarterbacks have already thrown 11 interceptions on the year.

Memphis will turn to Will Hudgens as their starting quarterback after losing Tyler Bass for the season who had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Hudgens has passed for 645 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. Running back Curtis Steele has been on a tear over the past two games where he has rushed for 376 yards. For the season, he has 517 yards and 5 touchdowns. The offensive line has done a great job in protecting their quarterbacks and allowed just 7 sacks this year. Hudgens should have plenty of time to connect with the Tigers' leading receiver Duke Calhoun. Calhoun has 673 yards and 5 touchdowns on the year.

Defensively for the Tigers, they have not been impressive this season. They are allowing 218 yards through the air and 186 yards rushing per game. Their red zone defense has not been effective as they have allowed their opponents to score on 25 of 27 attempts.

East Carolina will be favored on the road by 5 according to Betus Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 47 1/2.

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