In a battle two schools with nearly opposite play-calling schemes, the Connecticut Huskies (+17) are set to face off against the East Carolina Pirates (-17) at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. This conference game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action live on CBS Sports Network. When these two squads faced one another a year ago, East Carolina knocked Connecticut off by a field goal 41-38.
Connecticut Huskies at East Carolina Pirates Betting Preview
In this Saturday American Athletic Conference matchup, East Carolina is projected as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 17 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently have to wager $1,400 to win $100 back on the Pirates (-1400). The Huskies are getting +780 moneyline odds. Should one school can catch a lucky break in the early stages it’ll create a worthy in-game betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 68.5 points.
The game’s O/U has shifted upward after opening at 65. The original line has stayed firm.
The Huskies are 3-7 against the spread (ATS) and are down 3.0 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an Over-Under record of 5-4. The Pirates are down 4.0 units this season. The team is 3-6 ATS and owns an O/U record of 4-5.
The Huskies have gone 1-9 straight up (SU), including 0-6 SU against AAC opponents. The Pirates are 2-7 SU overall and are also 0-6 SU in conference play.
The Huskies lost to SMU 62-50 in a game where their defense allowed the Mustangs to run for 315 yards on 39 rush attempts, including six rush TDs. Xavier Jones had a productive day for the opposition in that one with 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts. On the offense, David Pindell completed 25-of-38 passes for 215 yards, four scores and one interception. Kevin Mensah (184 yards on 28 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Pindell (181 yards on 21 carries, two TDs) mounted the ground attack. Aaron McLean (seven receptions, 82 yards) and Zavier Scott (seven catches, 32 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on November 10, Tulane took care of this East Carolina team by a score of 24-18. The Pirates defense let the Green Wave pass for 372 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 163 yards. Darnell Mooney was on a different level for Tulane, putting up 217 yards and two touchdowns on six catches. For East Carolina, Holton Ahlers completed 21-of-67 passes for 360 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Ahlers (67 rushing yards on 16 attempts) spearheaded the running game while Trevon Brown (eight receptions, 161 yards, two TDs) and Tyler Snead (five catches, 124 yards) led the East Carolina pass-catchers in the loss.
Connecticut’s run the ball on 58.8 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 54.9 percent across possessions in conference play. East Carolina has an overall rush percentage of 39.4 percent, and has carried the ball 36.9 percent of the time when playing AAC opponents. The Huskies have run for 219 yards per game (including 229 per game against American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 16 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Pirates are averaging 114 rushing yards per game (93 in conference) and have 10 total rush TDs.
The Huskies offensive scheme has tallied 186 yards/contest through the air overall (207 per game against conference opposition) and has 16 passing TDs so far. The Pirates have put up 320 pass yards per contest (327.5 against AAC foes) and have 13 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Connecticut has allowed 331 rush yards and 292 pass yards per game. The East Carolina D has given up 249.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 162.8 yards per game on the ground. The Pirates are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 8.08 to opposing QBs, while the Huskies have allowed a whopping 11.61 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Pindell has amassed 1,485 yards this year, and has connected on 61 percent of his 238 attempts with 13 passing scores and eight interceptions. He has a 5.11 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.34 over the last two games.
Holton Ahlers has completed 63-of-148 passes for 910 yards, four TDs and two INTs for East Carolina. His ANY/A stands at 5.26 for the year and 5.99 over his last two outings.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: Connecticut Huskies at East Carolina Pirates
SU Winner – East Carolina, ATS Winner – East Carolina, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Huskies offense has registered four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Pirates have put up five such plays.
The Connecticut defense has allowed 12 pass plays of 40+ yards, while East Carolina has given up 10 such plays.
The Connecticut offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while East Carolina has created eight such runs.
The Huskies defense has allowed 43 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Pirates have given up 14 such runs.
The East Carolina defense has produced 28 sacks on the year while Connecticut has just 11.
Connecticut has averaged 6.1 yards per rush attempt over its past three outings and 6.3 over its last two.
East Carolina has averaged 3.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.6 over its past two.
In its last three matchups, East Carolina is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Connecticut’s last game going into it was 66. The over cashed in the team’s 62-50 loss to SMU.
Over its last three matches, Connecticut is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for East Carolina’s previous match going into it was 53.5. The under cashed in the 24-18 defeat to Tulane.
East Carolina has lost seven of its last eight games SU, with a two-point victory over Old Dominion on September 29th accounting for its lone win over that stretch.
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