The 2013 Southern Mississippi schedule, includes 5 home games and 6 road games. The Eagles have tough road games within Conference USA at East Carolina, Marshal and Louisiana Tech, plus non conference road games vs Nebraska, Arkansas and Boise State, while overall they have 5 teams that were Bowl eligible last year on their schedule as well. The full schedule is listed below, but first let's preview the 2013 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles had an 0-12 year in 2012 and now they look to rebuild with an eye on the future. I do not see it as an easy task, with just 13 starters back overall, including 4 on offense. Their recruiting wasn't strong either as they rank 83d in the nation in that category. Todd Monken has a tough road ahead, but the good news is that after an 0-12 year, things can only get better.
Monken takes over an offense short on talent. Last year this group put up just 19.3 ppg and 323 ypg and it may not get better with just 4 starters back this year. Southern miss used 5 QB's last year and they combined for just 9 TD's and 13 INT's. Transfer Senior QB Allan Bridgford looks to take over the offense and he did play in 7 games last year (3 starts) for Cal last year, but only completed 44% of his passes for 461 yards. The running game will be handed over to true freshman George Payne and he could boost an anemic ground game that was led by Desmond Johnson’s 519 yards. Jalen Richard and his 451 rushing yards and four touchdowns returns as the team’s top running back. The WR corp should be solid with returnees Justin Sims and Francisco Llanos, who each caught 20 passes and Dominique Sullivan, who had 19 catches last year. The OL was a veteran group last year but they were awful and there is less experience this year (20 career start), so improvement may not be there for this group.
The Southern Miss defense allowed 37.8 ppg last year, but it was all their fault as the offense kept turning the ball over and putting this defense in bad field positions all year. The unit does return 9 starters and 14 of their top 17 tacklers from last year, so you would epect them to make some big improvement this year. 20.0 tackles-for-loss and 10.0 sacks. They do lose Jamie Collins, who had 10 sacks and 10 tackles for loss last year, but the unit is going to be solid with 2 other starters back. The back 8 for this team will be a strength as they return all 4 LB's and 3 of 4 fronm their secondary. If the offense stops turning the ball over then you will see significant improvements on this side of the ball.
Monken will put an improved team on the field, but he will also have to deal with a tough early schedule that includes Nebraska, Arkansas, and Boise State on the road in a 3 game stretch from Sept 7th to the 28th. That presumed 1-3 start simply means that just getting back to bowl eligibility might be a major accomplishment in 2013. This team is not up to the level you’re used to seeing at Southern Miss, but they are a lot better than the 0-12 mess that shocked fans in 2012. 5 Wins at most. Key Trends: 11-1 ATS as home favorites vs opponent off BB SU wins... 2-8 ATS as dogs vs opponent off DD SU loss.
2013 Southern Miss Schedule
8/31 Texas State
9/7 at Nebraska
9/14 at Arkansas
9/21 OPEN DATE
9/28 at Boise State
10/5 FIU
10/12 OPEN DATE
10/19 at East Carolina
10/26 North Texas
11/2 at Marshall
11/9 at Louisiana Tech
11/16 Florida Atlantic
11/23 Middle Tennessee
11/30 at UAB
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