The East Carolina University Pirates (2-1, 2-1 Home) kick off their American Athletic Conference schedule at home against the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen (0-2, 0-1 AAC) at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday. The Pirates are 16.5-point favorites, and the total is 49.5. Navy is coming off a crushing 37-13 loss at the hands of Memphis at Jack Stephens Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on September 10. Tai Lavatai was 3 of 7 for 99 yards and a touchdown. Maquel Haywood ran eight times for 54 yards. Anton Hall Jr. caught one pass for 62 yards and a touchdown. East Carolina beat Campbell 49-10 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium last Saturday. Holton Ahlers threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns. Keaton Mitchell carried 13 times for 185 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Winstead hauled in six receptions for 112 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Pirates won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 38-35 victory in November. Ahlers threw three touchdowns for East Carolina, as Tyler Snead scored twice. Lavatai tossed two touchdowns for Navy.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Midshipmen are averaging 10.0 points per game so far this season, 129th in FBS, and they are facing a Pirates defense that has surrendered 17.3 PPG (35th). Meanwhile, East Carolina has scored 36.0 points a game this season, 51st in the nation, and Navy is allowing 25.5 PPG (68th).The Midshipmen rank as one of the country’s worst teams in passing yards per game (117.0, 126th), while they are 45th in rushing yards (199.5). The Pirates are 101st in passing yards allowed per game (262.0) and 21st against the run (83.7).East Carolina is 34th in the country in passing yards per game (282.0) and 31st in rushing (213.3). Navy’s defense has proven strong on the ground, as the Midshipmen are 4th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (52.0). Against the pass, the Midshipmen are 125th (302.0).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through two games, Lavatai has thrown for one touchdown and 117.0 yards per game to lead Navy in passing. Haywood leads the team in rushing with an average of 41.0 yards a game over two games. He’s also been crucial in the passing game, leading the team in total receiving yards (38.5 yards a game).Ahlers has seven passing touchdowns (2 INT) with 269.0 yards per game through three games to lead East Carolina. In three home games this season, he has thrown for seven TDs (2 INT) and an average of 269.0 yards. Mitchell has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 124.7 yards a game through three games. He has three touchdowns. Winstead has been the primary target in the Pirates’ aerial attack, averaging 84.7 yards per game through three appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
East Carolina (-750)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
