The East Carolina Pirates (+24) aren’t traveling far to face the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. This afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET and ACC Network will televise the action.
East Carolina Pirates at North Carolina State Wolfpack Betting Preview
East Carolina is the noticeable underdog here and is currently receiving 24 points from oddsmakers. If the Pack fall behind early it’ll produce a solid live betting scenario. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 60.5 points.
Odds have shifted from where they were first posted. The opening line was -25 and the game’s over/under hasn’t moved after being set initially at 60.5.
The Pirates are down 4.0 units so far in 2018 and 4-7 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 6-5. The Wolfpack have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 10.8 units. The team is 5-6 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-6.
The Pirates have gone just 3-8 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Wolfpack are 8-3 SU.
The Pirates came up short to Cincinnati 56-6 in a thumping where the passing attack wasn’t where it needed to be as the Pirates completed 10-of-28 passes for 220 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Holton Ahlers went eight-for-22 for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Reid Herring completed two-of-six for 36 yards and two interceptions. Trevon Brown (three receptions, 45 yards) and Leroy Henley (two catches, 40 yards) handled the receiving duties.
North Carolina State is coming off of a 34-28 win over North Carolina. The defense let the Tar Heels rush for 153 yards on 35 attempts, including two rush TDs. Dazz Newsome had a productive showing in the loss for North Carolina, recording 91 yards on six catches. For North Carolina State, Ryan Finley completed 16-of-28 passes for 200 yards and one interception. Reggie Gallaspy (129 rushing yards on 27 attempts, five TDs) and Ricky Person (66 yards on 16 carries) handled the ground game in the win while Jakobi Meyers (seven receptions, 111 yards) and Thayer Thomas (three catches, 28 yards) led the receiving corps.
East Carolina’s run the ball on 42.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while North Carolina State has an overall rush percentage of 49.3 percent. The Pirates have produced 139 rush yards per game and have 13 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Pack are putting up 135 rushing yards per game and have 23 total rush TDs.
The Pirates offense has averaged 304 yards in the air overall and has 18 passing TDs so far. The Pack have produced 319 pass yards per outing and have 21 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, East Carolina seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 164 rush yards and 256 pass yards per game. The North Carolina State defense has given up 289.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 116.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Pack are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.94 to opposing QBs, while the Pirates have given up an 8.08 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ahlers is up to 1,543 passing yards this year, and has completed 105-of-232 attempts with eight scores through the air and three interceptions. He has a 5.92 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.29 over the past two games.
On the other sideline, Ryan Finley has managed to complete 249-of-372 passes for 3,064 yards, 17 TDs and eight INTs. Finley’s ANY/A sits at 7.93 for the year and 7.96 over his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 14 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: East Carolina Pirates vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack
SU Winner – North Carolina State, ATS Winner – East Carolina, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
The North Carolina State defense has sacked opposing QBs 33 times this season. East Carolina has produced 32 sacks.
The North Carolina State offense has lost five fumbles this season while East Carolina has lost nine.
The Pirates offense has registered six pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Wolfpack have put up seven such plays.
The East Carolina defense has allowed 12 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while North Carolina State has given up 10 such plays.
The East Carolina offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while North Carolina State has created nine such runs.
The Pirates defense has allowed 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Wolfpack have given up 16 such runs.
The Over/Under for North Carolina State’s previous outing was 63. The under cashed in the team’s 34-28 victory over North Carolina.
Over its last three contests, North Carolina State is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Over its last three contests, East Carolina is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for East Carolina’s previous game going into it was 50.5. The over cashed in the team’s 56-6 defeat to Cincinnati.
East Carolina has averaged 5.2 yards per carry across its past three outings and 5.7 over its last two.
North Carolina State has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.4 over its last two.
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