UTSA Roadrunners vs East Carolina Pirates Betting Pick & Prediction 9/28/24
East Carolina and UTSA are both coming into this week five matchup with 2-2 records, and the game is set for 4:00 ET at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville. The over/under line is at 53.5 points, and the East Carolina Pirates are the -4.5 point favorites. ESPN+ will be handling the TV broadcast as the Roadrunners and Pirates look to move above .500 on the season.
UTSA ROADRUNNERS VS EAST CAROLINA PIRATES BETTING PICK
The Pick: East Carolina Pirates -4.5
This game will be played at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium at 4:00 ET on Saturday, September 28th.
WHY BET THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES:
- We have the East Carolina Pirates winning this one by a score of 33 to 26
- Not only do we have the East Carolina Pirates winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at -4.5
- Look for this game to go over the line of 53.5 points
Will The UTSA Roadrunners Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
UTSA evened their season record to 2-2 with a decisive 45-7 victory over Houston Christian. The Roadrunners were in control from the start, leading 10-0 after the first quarter and extending their lead to 31-7 by halftime. They added another touchdown in the third quarter and closed out the game by keeping Houston Christian off the board in the fourth quarter.
There were no betting lines available for this matchup, but the combined score of 52 points would have resulted in a push if there had been an over/under line.
In their 45-7 victory over Houston Christian, UTSA’s offense put up 540 total yards. The Roadrunners’ ground game was effective, rushing for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Owen McCown completed 72% of his passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. His passer rating for the game was 139.33.
Brandon High Jr. led the rushing attack with 74 yards on nine carries, averaging 8.2 yards per attempt. In the passing game, Willie McCoy caught two passes for 85 yards and one touchdown.
UTSA’s defense was dominant in their last game, holding Houston Christian to just 7 points and 180 total yards. The Roadrunners allowed only 53 rushing yards on 31 attempts and limited Houston Christian to 127 passing yards on 13 completions. Overall, UTSA’s defense allowed just 12 first downs in the game.
Are The East Carolina Pirates Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
East Carolina is looking to bounce back after a 35-24 loss to Liberty on the road. The Pirates, who were +7.5 point underdogs, not only fell short of the upset but also failed to cover the spread. This game’s over/under line was 54.5 points, but the teams combined for 59 points, hitting the over. East Carolina is now 2-2 for the season.
The Pirates fell behind early, with Liberty taking a 14-0 lead. East Carolina managed to close the gap to 17-7 by halftime and then made it 24-21 in the third quarter. However, they were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter, resulting in the loss.
East Carolina’s offense, led by quarterback Jake Garcia, put up 331 yards in their 35-24 loss to Liberty. Garcia completed 20 of 36 passes for 204 yards, with one interception and a passer rating of 60.42. Chase Sowell was his top target, hauling in five receptions for 72 yards.
The Pirates’ offense moved the chains 21 times but struggled to finish drives, settling for 24 points. On the ground, they managed 127 yards on 32 carries, with Rahjai Harris leading the way with 47 yards on 13 attempts. East Carolina’s rushing attack was effective in the red zone, scoring three touchdowns on the ground.
East Carolina’s defense will be looking to improve after allowing 415 total yards and 35 points in their last game. The Pirates were particularly vulnerable against the run, giving up 192 rushing yards and a touchdown. In the passing game, they allowed 223 yards and four touchdowns, while managing to intercept one pass.