East meets West as the East Carolina Pirates (3-3) host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (3-2). Check out the East Carolina vs. Tulsa prediction and game preview.

East Carolina vs. Tulsa Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 17
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, North Carolina
Network: ESPNEWS

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Why You Need To Care

Two of the American’s more exciting offenses will square off this weekend at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. And bowl eligibility could be at stake as both teams hover around the .500 mark. East Carolina is coming off a tough loss at BYU that snapped a two-game winning streak. Tulsa, meanwhile, rallied to end a two-game losing streak, beating Louisiana-Monroe.

Why Tulsa Will Win

The Pirate D is coming off one of its worst games of the season, allowing 508 yards to an up-and-down BYU attack. And power running games give ECU trouble. So, while and Dane Evans and the passing game get much of the credit for Tulsa’s 36 points per game, 220-pound Zack Langer has scored 10 times and will again provide this attack with balance.

Why East Carolina Will Win

Not only do the Pirates have enough offensive talent, including complementary quarterbacks Blake Kemp and James Summers, to stay with Tulsa, but they have the better defensive personnel as well. ECU has posted at least 35 points in each of the last three games, including in an upset of Virginia Tech. And led by hard-charging LB Montese Overton, the Pirates will test LT Evan Plagg and the rest of a Hurricane line playing well this fall.

Player Who Matters

Keevan Lucas is out, but the East Carolina defensive backs must still contend with a spate of quality receivers. Keyarris Garrett is uniquely qualified to step up and be the No. 1, and Josh Atkinson and Justin Hobbs are terrific counterparts. In the first significant action of his career, Hobbs, a true freshman, caught five balls for 82 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win.

What’s Going To Happen?

The defenses will be a step behind the offenses as both teams freely move up and down the field. In what figures to be an entertaining and competitive matchup, East Carolina will nuance the passing of Kemp with the running of Summers to remain unbeaten in Greenville.

East Carolina vs. Tulsa Prediction

Final Score: East Carolina 40, Tulsa 34, Line: East Carolina -10.5, o/u: 78
Must See Rating: 5: Trojan War, 1: The Muppets … 2

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