Southern Miss score prediction vs ULM: College football week 10
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HATTIESBURG – It’s been 62 days since Southern Miss football last won a game.
The Golden Eagles (1-7, 0-5 Sun Belt Conference) appeared on their way toward snapping their six-game losing streak last week when they took a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter at Appalachian State, only for it to evaporate.
This week could be a good spot for Southern Miss with a home game at MM Roberts Stadium against Louisiana-Monroe (2-6, 0-5) on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN+). Like the Golden Eagles, the Warhawks are in their own rut of a six-game losing skid. They’ve had similar results too, with competitive losses to Arkansas State, Texas State and App State, as well as a blowout loss to South Alabama.
ULM has also won just two road games in the past five seasons. Pair that with Southern Miss showing some signs of hope against App State, and it’s a 2.5-point favorite.
“I think we are getting really close to getting over the hump,” Southern Miss coach Will Hall said.
ULM’s two wins came in the first two weeks of the season, first against Army and then against Lamar. Its other two losses came against Texas A&M and Georgia Southern.
ULM freshman quarterback playing well
ULM freshman Blake Murphy took over at quarterback mid-game two weeks ago at Georgia Southern and made his first career start last week against Arkansas State. He’s impressed in both of his appearances.
Despite splitting duties early against Georgia Southern, Murphy still threw for 320 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Then in his first start last week, Murphy completed 56.8% of his throws for 300 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. He’s the first ULM freshman to throw for over 300 passing yards in back-to-back games in over 46 years.
“They’re gonna run the quarterback when they need to,” Hall said. “He can make some plays though and he is certainly somebody we got to be ready to defend.”
Murphy has wide receiver Tyrone Howell at his expense, who is tied for first in the Sun Belt with six touchdown catches.
Southern Miss defense among the worst in the country
Southern Miss’ defense is allowing 39.4 points per game, dead last in the FBS.
“It’s not only frustrating for us as coaches, it’s frustrating for the players,” first-year defensive coordinator Dan O’Brien said. “They pour their heart and soul into it and they’re doing a great job of attacking it every day.”
The defense appeared to be in decent shape through the first half against App State, limiting it to 14 points while forcing two turnovers and three punts. But it all wore down in the second half with the Mountaineers posting 34 points.
Season-ending injuries in the secondary have played a key part and Southern Miss is yet to overcome them.
O’Brien said it’s caused them to scrap a lot of their defensive philosophies they planned to use entering the season.
“In terms of all of the things we started the season off with, it’s kind of been pushed aside on the backburner,”…
Read More: Southern Miss score prediction vs ULM: College football week 10 2023-11-05 13:05:02