2011 Predictions & Game Story
Week 8 - East Carolina at Navy
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Oct. 22 East Carolina 38 … at Navy 35
CFN Analysis: COMING
(AP) ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Dominique Davis set two NCAA records for consecutive completions, connecting on all 26 of his first-half throws to extend his streak to 36 straight over two games, and East Carolina squeezed past skidding Navy 38-35 on Saturday night.
Davis, a 6-foot-3 senior, broke the single-game record of 23 straight completions, set in 1998 by Tee Martin of Tennessee against South Carolina and tied in 2004 by Aaron Rodgers of California versus Southern California.
Davis completed his final 10 passes against Memphis last week, so his stunning first half against Navy gave him 36 completions in a row -- breaking the NCAA mark of 26 set by Rodgers in 2004.
After going 26 for 26 for 251 yards before halftime, Davis' streak ended when he misfired on his first attempt in the third quarter.
East Carolina (2-4) at Navy (2-4) Oct. 22, 3:30, CBS Sports Network
Here’s The Deal … This week’s matchup between East Carolina and Navy is a study in offensive contrasts if there ever was one. The Pirates prefer to air it out. The Midshipmen will be content to grind it out 60 times from their triple-option formation, much the way they did in last fall’s 76-35 demolition in this game. The Academy has dropped four in-a-row, including a heartbreaker to Rutgers last Saturday, its longest such losing streak since 2002. It’ll need to turn things around immediately in order to qualify for a ninth consecutive bowl game.
The Pirates have issues of their own that need to be addressed. Yeah, they’re coming off a win, but that had more to do with the competition, Memphis, than anything else. A week earlier, ECU got hammered by Houston, 56-3, a stark reminder of how far it is from being a contender in Conference USA. If the Pirates fail to exact revenge on the Mids for last season’s debacle, their postseason margin for error will further dwindle.
Why East Carolina Might Win: When Navy’s opponents have committed to the pass, they’ve had plenty of success in 2011. And that’s exactly what the Pirates plan to do on Saturday afternoon. The Midshipmen have produced just four sacks all season, and have allowed a whopping 70% completion percentage, a combination that will have East Carolina QB Dominique Davis salivating.
While the Air Raid attack has been light on the artillery this year, Davis did go 28-of-37 for 307 yards, three touchdowns and no picks a week ago. With plenty of help from receivers Lance Lewis and Justin Hardy, he’ll exploit an overmatched Navy secondary.
Why Navy Might Win: Run early and run often. The Pirates know exactly what’s coming, but it won’t make a darn bit of difference. The hapless East Carolina defense, which ranks 85th nationally against the run, will be force fed a steady diet of QB Kriss Proctor and FB Alexander Teich. Navy features a punishing ground game that’s averaging 332 yards a game. Once the Pirates have been properly worn down, Proctor will bury it on well-times play-action strikes to RB Gee Gee Greene or wide receiver Brandon Turner or Matt Aiken.
What To Watch Out For: The East Carolina passing attack might make the rest of the Navy D wince, but not DE Jabaree Tuani. The senior cherishes a chance to face an opponent that makes no bones about its desire to go up top. He’s been among the Academy’s best pass rushers since arriving from Madison, Tenn. He’s quick off the snap and uses the proper technique and leverage to get around the edge. In what may have been a preview of this week’s game against a banged-up Pirates line, he had 2.5 stops for loss against Rutgers last week.
What Will Happen: East Carolina will hang with Navy, but only for so long. Eventually, the bottom will fall out of the Pirates’ ship, and the rushing yards will flow freely throughout the defense. The Midshipmen will endure little resistance from the ECU D, bludgeoning it with the familiar combination of Proctor to the outside and Teich on the inside. Davis will pilot a comeback run in the final quarter, only to be denied on a long, time-consuming drive courtesy of the unrelenting Mids offense.
CFN Prediction: Navy 34 … East Carolina 24
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Navy -8.5 O/U: 64.5
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