UTEP at Southern Miss: Inside The Numbers

Southern Miss. is the most improved team in Conference USA, and as of now controls their own destiny to the Conference USA championship game.

UTEP had a nice, and much needed win at home against FAU, but the jury is still out on whether the Miners can put it all together in the second half of their season.

The two teams are complete opposites in most advanced, and standard stat categories.

Here are the ones that jump out the most.

5------The number of Southern Miss. pass catchers who have 20 catches on the season, and average 10 yards or more per catch. #explosive.

3.4%----Is the sack percentage on Southern Miss. quarterback Nick Mullins in 315 drop backs.

6.7----Southern Miss. has averaged this number per offensive play this season, the UTEP defense is allowing 7.5 yards per play this season.

10.3-----This is what opponents average per pass attempt this season against UTEP.  Southern Miss. is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt.

1.1%-----Is UTEP's sack percentage in standard passing downs. Southern Miss' defense has an 11.5% sack rate on passing downs.

1.33----Marks the Southern Miss. Standard Downs IsoPPP which measures explosive plays on standard downs.  UTEP's ranks 126th in the nation on defense in this category, showing how tough it will be in slowing down the Golden Eagle offense.

60%------Of the time Southern Miss scores a touchdown in the red-zone.  UTEP's defense allows opposing teams to score TD's at a 55 percent rate.  This was an area UTEP improved upon against FAU, can it make its way to Hattiesburg?

24%-----Is Southern Miss' stuff rate on run plays.  UTEP is at a struggling 22.9% on the offensive side of this stat.  If Southern Miss. can stuff UTEP's early down rushes, it could be a long day for the UTEP offense.

8.7-----Is what Southern Miss. running back Ito Smith is averaging on big play opportunities this season which happens on 40 percent of his total rushes.

17.7%------This marks Southern Miss. total defensive havoc rate which measures tackles for loss and sacks.  The national averages 16.2.

4.19-----UTEP is averaging this many points per their offensive trips inside the opponents 40-yard line.  Southern Miss' defense is allowing 4.15 points.  UTEP has to make the most of their trips inside the 40, and red-zone.

-4-----Southern Miss' turnover margin on the year, and UTEP's biggest key in keeping the score close.

90----The amount of points Southern Miss. has scored in the third quarter this season.  They have outscored their opponents 90-54 this season in the third quarter.

10-----Pass breaks up by Southern Miss. safety Kalan Reed so far this season.  Southern Miss. pass deflections to in completions percent  on defense is at 33 percent ranking them 59th in the nation.

11----Is how many Southern Miss. players average more than 10-yards per catch on the season.