East Carolina may end up proving to be one of the top five teams in its conference by the end of the year. The Pirates just happen to play in a tough league.
ECU is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in American Conference play. They’ve played well, earning the No. 14 spot in this week’s HERO Sports Group of Five Top 25 Media Poll.
But ECU may not end up playing for a conference championship after the Pirates lost 26-19 at Tulane. They also have to take on Memphis, which is tied for first in the G5 Top 25, later this year.
But the Pirates could still finish the season with a winning record and a bowl appearance. For that to happen, they’ll want to win today.
ECU is hosting Tulsa, which already shocked the college football world this year with its win at Oklahoma State. But the Golden Hurricane are 2-4 overall, as they haven’t beaten another FBS opponent yet this year. Most recently, they lost against Tulane 31-14 and at Memphis 45-7.
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Tulsa vs. East Carolina Spread & Betting Odds
East Carolina is a -16.5 college football betting odds favorite against Tulsa, with the Over/Under being 54.5 as of this writing.
The moneyline for Tulsa is +575, while it’s -800 for East Carolina.
Tulsa vs. East Carolina On TV
The matchup between Tulsa and East Carolina will be televised on ESPN.
The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 16. The contest is taking place at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina.
Tulsa vs. East Carolina Prediction
I predict East Carolina will win and cover the 16.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Over 54.5 total points.
Tulsa has lost pretty handily against the top-tier teams in the American. And I think ECU is in the top half of the league in terms of talent.
Tulsa is in the bottom half of the American in terms of scoring defense (26.3 points per game allowed) and total defense (384.8 yards per game allowed). So I’m expecting ECU’s offense to shine.
Pirates quarterback Katin Houser has thrown for 1,689 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions on a 68% completion rate and has rushed for three touchdowns. London Montgomery is the Pirates’ leading rusher, as he has 240 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. And wide receivers Anthony Smith (30 catches for 406 yards and one TD), Yannick Smith (29 catches for 370 yards and two TDs), and Brock Spalding (25 catches for 337 yards and two TDs) have been critical in the passing game for ECU as well.
The Pirates also have one of the best defenses in the American. They’ve allowed the fewest points per game (15.5) and the second-fewest yards per game (329.8) in the league. I think they’ll play well on that side of the ball, and that ECU will play complementary football in a blowout win.
