GREENVILLE — At first glance, and maybe even at second or third, returning home to face a winless Southern Miss team might be the perfect remedy for the Pirates, who desperatly want to put last week’s triple OT loss to Tulane behind them.
After a three-game road stand, East Carolina heads back to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the first time since Sept. 14 as it hosts  USM today at noon.
The Golden Eagles (0-5, 0-1) have been one of the Pirates (4-2, 2-1) biggest rivals since joining Conference USA and that generally means records can get thrown out the window whenever these two teams meet up. Even if Southern Miss is in the midst of a 17-game losing streak that dates back to December of 2011.
“As a player and coach, it has always been a big-boy pad day,” ECU head coach Ruffin McNeill said of playing USM. “It is not a place for anyone who is faint of heart. It was always one of the most physical contests that I’ve played in and been a part of.”
The Golden Eagles, led by first-year coach Todd Monken, have faced some stiff competition this year as they took on Nebraska, Arkansas and Boise State before falling 24-23 to FIU in their Conference USA opener, which was followed by a bye week.
The two teams have faced each other 39 times and USM holds a 27-11 series record, however, the Pirates have won three of the last four meetings.

ECU offense vs. USM defense
From a statistical standpoint, the Pirates offense was its normal high-powered self last weekend as it ran 90 plays for 543 yards in their 36-33 triple OT loss to the Green Wave.
Junior quarterback Shane Carden completed 41 of his 55 attempts for a school-record 480 yards and one touchdown. However, Carden’s lone interception proved to be a critical one as it was returned 99 yards for a score.
A rare mistake for a player who is on pace to have a historic season. Carden arrives at the midway point in the year having completed 73.6 percent of his passes for 2,017 yards and 13 touchdowns, putting him on track to surpass Dominique Davis’s single-season records of 3,967 yards and 39 touchdowns set in 2010.
While Carden’s stats have been phenomenal, ECU offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley said his leadership has been his best attribute.
“The thing with this offense is that it gives you opportunities where if you play well your quarterback is going to put up stats,” Riley said. “The biggest thing you have to have is leadership, you have to have a guy who understands how to motivate guys and those are really his strengths.”
Following Carden up the record books is junior WR Justin Hardy, who is coming off a school-record-setting 17-catch, 230-yard performance versus Tulane.
Hardy, who has compiled 57 receptions for 639 yards this year, is on pace to eclipse single-season marks set by Dwayne Harris, who in 2010, caught 101 passes for 1,123 yards.
The ECU offense suffered another setback this week as it was announced that H-Back Zico Pasut (foot) will be out 6-8 weeks and WR Davon Grayson (knee) will be gone for the season.
Including Grayson, ECU has now had to deal with the departure of six wide receivers that were expected to be on the roster at the end of the spring. Senior Reese Wiggins will get the starting nod today in place of Grayson, while freshman DaQuan Barnes has been elevated into the two-deep.
The Southern Miss defense has had its fare share  of struggles this season but may not be as bad as its 37.7 points allowed per contest would indicate.
The Eagles rank fourth in the conference in total defense (379.8 ypg), which means that their high point totals are likely a byproduct of having to constantly work with a short field.
Safety DeBarriaus Miller leads the Eagles in tackles with 43, while hybrid DE/OLB Octavius Thomas and DT Adam Williams have two sacks apiece.

ECU defense vs. USM offense
Though the final score shows the Pirates allowed 36 points in their triple OT loss to Tulane, the Green Wave only had 19 points at the end of regulation. And when you factor in that seven of those points were the result of a Tulane interception that was returned for a touchdown, the ECU defense only allowed 12 points throughout the course of the first four quarters.
It’s been a solid year for a unit that has been much maligned during McNeill’s tenure with the Pirates.
Under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Rick Smith, the Pirates arrive at the halfway point in the schedule boasting the No. 3 rushing defense in the nation (81.3 ypg), while ranking 17th in the country in sacks per game (2.8) and is 36th in total defense (360.3 ypg).
The Pirates will look to fatten those stats today against an anorexic USM offense that is has posted only 12.2 points per contest.
While their scheme may be similar to the Pirates, the Eagles offense hasn’t had nearly as much success.
Senior quarterback Allan Bridgford has completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,118 yards and six touchdowns, but has thrown 11 interceptions in five games.
When asked if Bridgford would start against the Pirates USM coach Todd Monken simply said “yes.”
Tyre’oune Holmes has been Bridgford’s main target, catching 32 passes for 224 yards, while Markese Triplett leads the team in TD receptions with two.
The Pirates have placed a premium on stopping the run this season and that shouldn’t be much of a problem today as USM averages a C-USA-13th best 75 yards per contest.
Safety Damon Magazu leads ECU with 39 tackles, and with two interceptions, is tied for the team lead in picks with CB Adonis Armstrong. Defensive ends Lee Pegues and Terrell Stanley are tied for the most sacks with 3.5 each.