East Carolina vs. BYU Odds Picks, Predictions (10/28/2022)

Friday night during week nine of the College Football year gives us a matchup of the East Carolina Pirates facing off against the BYU Cougars. Both of these teams are competing to make a bowl game this season and each are close to meeting that six-win margin. East Carolina travels to Provo, Utah with a 5-3 record and wins over South Florida, UCF, and Memphis. BYU enters this game even at 4-4 with wins BYU and South Florida early, but enters this game on a 3-game losing streak with losses to Notre Dame, Arkansas, and Liberty. They desperately need this win to get back on track of a season that once had them ranked in the top-25. East Carolina needs one more win to get their sixth-win and qualify for bowl-eligibility. Let’s get into this game’s matchup picks and predictions.

East Carolina vs. BYU Betting Odds


BYU at home enters this game as tight favorites at moneyline odds of -157. They are currently spread line favorites of just 3 points so many are projecting this to be a tight game. Which makes sense with how both of these teams stand with similar records, have wins against similar teams, and both have a similar average in points per game. East Carolina averages 33 points per game while BYU averages 30.1 points per game. East Carolina averages approximately 470 yards per game and BYU averages approximately 400. What I think is having bookmakers side with the Cougars is playing at home in Provo. Cougar Stadium is a tough place to play as they were already able to win against a top-ten Baylor team in double overtime in that stadium earlier this year. Both QBs have very similar stats as well with Jaren Hall and Holton Ahlers so it’s expected to come right down to the wire.

The over/under is 62 points total. Both of these teams score around a little more than 30 points total so the total line makes sense. BYU allows 31.6 points per game while East Carolina allows 23.1 per game.

East Carolina vs. BYU Picks & Predictions

My Pick: East Carolina +3 (-106)
I think East Carolina finds a way to cover and possibly win this game with the losing streak that BYU has been on while East Carolina has been playing well football after a double OT win against Memphis as well as a huge performance against USF winning 34-13. QB Holton Athlers has been able to throw for nearly 2,500 passing yards and has 18 TDs on the year. RB Keaton Mitchell has been a weapon as well with nearly 700 rushing yards and 8 rushing TDs.

The biggest difference is the defense. While their offenses average near the same and points they have an 8-point difference margin in points allowed. BYU has six interceptions on the season so if they can get some turnovers on the defensive side that could help the Cougars slow down the Pirate offense. Althers has five INTS this year.

The over/under line at 62 points is an interesting one with these teams hovering close to 30 points per game and I could see this line being quite close in the final score here. I would side with the over here as I can see this game becoming a big offensive game between these two teams. It would also be fun to have this kind of matchup between these two teams end up in a shootout.

East Carolina vs. BYU Key Matchup

How will Jaren Hall fare against this East Carolina secondary? Check out the key matchups and mismatches for BYU vs East Carolina below.

Jaren Hall vs. East Carolina Defense

The biggest matchup will be that of the BYU offense and QB Jaren Hall against East Carolina’s defense. As stated earlier, the biggest difference is their points allowed on defense so if East Carolina can slow down the Cougar’s tempo that could severely help them overcome a hostile environment in Provo. Hall has over 2,000 passing yards and just 3 INTs so far this year. The Pirate defense has been able to take the ball through the air 8 times this year so if they force any errors from Hall in this game it could help East Carolina in covering this matchup.

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Jack is a Hoosier by birth and Hoosier by alum. Full of hot takes but sharper predictions. Residing now in the Chicago area. When he's not chowing down on deep dish pizza and Italian beef, he's watching and betting sports. Junkie for everything CBB, NBA, NFL, CFB, and MLB. Here to feed you a system to follow that might even be better than the one Tom Brady was gifted his whole career.

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