The 49ers (+7.5) are ready to welcome their CUSA counterpart Southern Miss Golden Eagles (-7.5) to Charlotte. This afternoon game will start at 2:00 p.m. ET and spectators can catch the action live on ESPN 3.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Charlotte 49ers Betting Preview
Charlotte is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 7.5 points in this Saturday CUSA game. The Golden Eagles are also receiving -330 moneyline odds while the 49ers are +250. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 45 points. If the favorite falls down early, it will probably create a nice betting opportunity in-game.
The opening line was 7. The game’s total hasn’t moved since it opened at 45.
The Golden Eagles are 3-3 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.4 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 2-3. The 49ers have gained 0.9 units this season. The team is 4-3 ATS and the over has hit in four of its games.
The Golden Eagles have gone 3-3 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against CUSA opponents. The 49ers are 3-4 SU overall and are also 2-2 SU in conference play.
The Golden Eagles enter after a 27-17 victory over UTSA last week where Jack Abraham completed 28 passes on 33 attempts for 269 yards, as well as a score and a pick. Trivenskey Mosley (142 yards on 26 rushes) and Steven Anderson (51 yards on nine carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack in the win while Tim Jones (seven receptions, 107 yards) and Jordan Mitchell (six catches, 41 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
Charlotte just lost a 21-13 game to Middle Tennessee. The defense did its job in the loss, keeping the Blue Raiders to just 111 passing yards and 33 rushing yards. Ty Lee had a solid outing, posting 60 yards and two touchdowns on six catches for Middle Tennessee. For Charlotte, Evan Shirreffs completed 20-of-40 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Benny LeMay (129 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) handled the ground game in the defeat while Victor Tucker (six receptions, 48 yards) and Workpeh Kofa (four catches, 43 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Southern Miss has run the ball on 46.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Charlotte has a rush percentage of 59.3 percent. The Golden Eagles have produced 119 rush yards per game (including 135 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have four scores via handoffs this year. The Niners are logging 143 rushing yards per game (150 in conference) and have 10 total rush TDs.
The Golden Eagles offense has tallied 310 yards/game through the air overall (338 per game against conference opposition) and has 13 passing TDs so far. The Niners have put up 214 pass yards per contest (210.5 against CUSA competition) and have eight total pass scores.
Southern Miss seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 119 yards and pass for 179 yards per game. The Charlotte defense has given up 219.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 83.7 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Eagles are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.79 to opponents, while the Niners have given up a 7.14 ANY/A.
Offensively, Abraham has amassed 1,532 passing yards this season, and has completed 73 percent of his 184 attempts with 12 scores through the air and six interceptions. Abraham’s got a 7.33 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.22 over the last two games.
Trivenskey Mosley (258 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards this season), Tim Jones (266 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Jordan Mitchell (122 receiving yards, two TDs) have each played significant roles lately.
Evan Shirreffs has completed 20-of-40 passes for 209 yards, one TD and two INTs for Charlotte. His ANY/A sits at a horrendous 2.68 for the year and 4.71 over his last two games.
We expect the Niners to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Along with WR Victor Tucker (423 receiving yards, two receiving TDs this season), Benny LeMay (543 rush yards, four rush TDs, 194 receiving yards) and Aaron McAllister (214 rush yards, one rush TD) have really been focal points in the Charlotte offense.
When these two programs faced one another last year, Southern Miss knocked Charlotte off easily 66-21.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Charlotte 49ers
SU Winner – Charlotte, ATS Winner – Charlotte, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Golden Eagles offense has tallied seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the 49ers have accounted for six such plays.
Both defenses have allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Southern Miss defense has given up seven pass plays of 30+ yards while Charlotte has given up 12 such plays.
The Southern Miss offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Charlotte has created eight such runs.
Both teams have allowed five rushing plays of 20+ yards. The Golden Eagles have given up 16 running plays of 10+ yards while the 49ers have given up 15 such plays.
The Charlotte defense has sacked opposing QBs 13 times this year. Southern Miss has produced 11 sacks.
As a team, Southern Miss has averaged 3.3 yards per carry across its last three contests and 3.6 over its last two.
Charlotte has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.1 over its last two.
Over its last three games, Charlotte is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Southern Miss’ last game was set at 43. The over cashed in the team’s 27-17 triumph over UTSA.
Over its last three contests, Southern Miss is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Charlotte’s last match was set at 51. The under cashed in the 21-13 defeat to Middle Tennessee.
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