SLC Week 4 Preview – for September 26 Games
UCABEAR (AnyGivenSaturday.com), SLC Contributor | September 24, 2015
Before we go into the previews let’s look at the Southland teams and the leaders in the conference so far. Keep in mind these stats are not true indicators of a team’s status in conference.
Points per game- Lamar and Sam Houston are leading the conference with about 45 per game.
Scoring defense- McNeese is leading the way with just 10 points per game.
Yards per game- Sam Houston leads the conference at nearly 600 per game but allows nearly 600 per game also.
Total Defense- UIW, McNeese and HBU are only allowing around 315 per game but only get 300 per game.
Rushing offense is led by Sam Houston, Lamar, and SLU at about 252 YPG.
Rush Defense is led by SLU and McNeese at about 80 per game.
Passing leader is Sam Houston at 343 per game.
Passing defense leader is ACU at 145 per game.
Keep in mind these stats come from the SLC playing lower division schools, FCS opponents, and FBS schools. True conference numbers can’t be figured out until conference play begins for all teams.
This week’s games:
SFA (0-3) at ACU (1-1)
Stephen F. Austin is averaging 16 PPG and allowing 44 PPG.
ACU is averaging 31 PPG and allowing 27 PPG.
This is my toss up game of the week. I think with SFA’s defense struggling and giving up 44 PPG, this should be an ACU win by a small amount.
Rushing- ACU is only rushing 109 YPG and allowing 215 YPG.
Passing- ACU is passing for 227 YPG and allowing 145 YPG.
Rushing- SFA is rushing for 153 YPG and allowing 243 YPG.
Passing- SFA is passing for 188 YPG and allowing 281 YPG.
It appears from the stats that ACU will use the pass game to its advantage against SFA. With the home field advantage for ACU and SFA’s defense struggling I see ACU winning. While you can’t count either coach out, SFA’s coach Clint Conque just doesn’t have the weapons he’s had in the past.
ACU BY 3.
UCA (0-2) at NWST (0-3)
This appears to be the battle of the defeated. But it’s not. UCA has had massive struggles with the Demons at their place. However UCA had a bye week last week after a good performance against top 25 FBS school Oklahoma State.
UCA Rushing 105 YPG vs. NWST Rush Defense allowing 358 YPG. UCA has the edge. NWST Rushing for 162 YPG vs. UCA Rush Defense allowing 164 YPG. TIE
UCA is passing for 235 YPG and NWST is allowing 191 YPG. TIE
NWST is passing for 133 YPG and UCA is allowing 393 YPG. NWST has the edge.
Game is at NWST. UCA allows too many YPG passing however NWST allows too many rushing yards. Toss up.
I will say UCA by the thinnest of margins only because of the UCA run game eating up the clock. UCA also had a week off for rest and game planning.
BEARS BY 7.
Mississippi College D2 (2-1) at McNeese (2-0)
McNeese is rushing for 240 YPG and only allows 85 YPG. They pass for 162 and allow 231 YPG. But I don’t think this will make much of a difference against Mississippi College. MC recently lost to North Alabama and McNeese is on a higher level than UNA. I dub this one the BLOODBATH game. No need to preview this shutout.
MCNEESE BY 35
HBU (1-2) at SHSU (0-2)
The perennial whipping child comes to Sammy land to get its yearly dose of smack-down. After the Bearkats fell to Lamar, the next victim, had better be ready to play.
Sam rushing 255 YPG vs. HBU rush defense 142 YPG. Sam has the edge.
HBU rushing 213 YPG vs. Sam rush defense 251 YPG. TIE
Sam passing 343 YPG vs. HBU pass defense 174 YPG. Sam has the edge.
HBU passing 160 YPG vs. Sam pass defense 330 YPG. HBU slight edge.
Comparing the rushes and passing tendencies of both teams leads me to believe that Sam’s rushing and passing game will be far too much for HBU.
SAM BY 35
UIW (2-1) at UTEP (FBS) (1-2)
Hard for me to pick UIW in this matchup against an FBS opponent. UTEP has played Arkansas and Texas Tech to start the season. UIW has slipped by Texas A&M-Kingsville and Nicholls State.
UTEP is just too much for UIW.
UTEP BY 21
Nicholls (0-2) at Colorado (FBS) (2-1)
Colorado is on a roll beating in state opponent Colorado State. Nicholls has lost to UIW and UL-Monroe and scored a total of 10 points all season. This one should not be close either.
Nicholls allows 182 YPG rushing and 261 YPG passing.
Colorado gains 300+ YPG rushing and nearly 200 YPG passing.
Colorado is just too strong for Nicholls.
COLORADO BY 28 or more.