The Old Dominion Monarchs and East Carolina Pirates are ready to square off on the grass at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. This afternoon matchup gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET and ESPN 3 is scheduled to televise the action.
Betting Preview: Old Dominion Monarchs vs. East Carolina Pirates
This Saturday pairing shows the Monarchs as the underdogs and they’re currently getting 5 points. The Monarchs are also receiving +180 moneyline odds while the Pirates are -220. There could be multiple solid live betting possibilities in the game.
The line opened at -7 and early action has been slanting to the Monarchs.
The less-than-stellar Monarchs are 1-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 4.4 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 3-1.
The Pirates have lost 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 1-2.
The Monarchs are 1-3 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Pirates are 1-2 SU.
The Monarchs are coming off a resounding 49-35 win over Virginia Tech last week. Blake LaRussa completed 30-of-49 passes for 495 yards and four touchdowns. Jeremy Cox (130 rushing yards on 20 attempts, two TDs) led the ground attack. Travis Fulgham (nine receptions, 188 yards, one TD) and Jonathan Duhart (nine catches, 142 yards, three TDs) shared the receiving duties in the win.
East Carolina just lost a 20-13 game to South Florida. The defensive unit allowed the Bulls to eat up the clock by rushing for 115 yards on 32 attempts, including two rush TDs. Jordan Cronkrite put up a good showing for South Florida, accounting for 129 rushing yards and a score on 15 attempts. For East Carolina, Reid Herring completed 21-of-48 passes for 253 yards and one interception. Holton Ahlers (48 rushing yards on 12 attempts, one TD) and Darius Pinnix (30 yards on 12 carries) mounted the running game while Trevon Brown (six receptions, 99 yards) and Blake Proehl (five catches, 50 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
When glancing at offensive play-calling, each squad has a strikingly similar (46-54) run-pass ratio on the season. The Monarchs have rushed for 120.5 yards/game and have seven scores on the ground this year. The Pirates are totaling 148.0 rushing yards per game and have five total rush TDs.
The Monarchs offensive scheme has logged 296.3 yards per game in the air overall and has seven passing TDs so far. The Pirates have recorded 286.7 pass yards per contest and have three total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Old Dominion has allowed 229.0 rush yards and 284.3 pass yards per game. The East Carolina defense has given up 200.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 119.3 yards per game on the ground. The Pirates are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.36 to opposing QBs, while the Monarchs have allowed an ugly 8.72 ANY/A.
Offensively, LaRussa has put up 678 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 42-of-68 attempts with five scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got a pristine 10.29 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 10.69 over the last two outings.
Jonathan Duhart (375 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns on the year), Jeremy Cox (207 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Travis Fulgham (246 receiving yards, one TD) have each played key roles of late.
In the home locker room, Reid Herring has connected on 58-of-113 passes for 562 yards, two TDs and three INTs. Herring’s ANY/A stands at a mediocre 4.05 for the year and 6.23 across his past two outings.
We’re looking for the Pirates to control tempo by feeding the ball-carriers early and often. In addition to Trevon Brown (156 receiving yards this season), Anthony Scott (73 rush yards) and Darius Pinnix (30 rush yards) have been significant focal points in the East Carolina offense.
Old Dominion Monarchs at East Carolina Pirates NCAA Tip
SU Winner: East Carolina, ATS Winner: East Carolina
Team Betting Notes
- Old Dominion, as a team, has rushed for 4.2 yards per carry over its past two games.
- East Carolina has averaged 4.0 YPC over its last two.
- East Carolina has lost one fumble this season while Old Dominion has let two get away.
- The Monarchs offense has tallied three pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Pirates have put up one such play.
- The Old Dominion defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while East Carolina has given up two such plays.
- The Old Dominion offense has created five rushing plays of 20+ yards, while East Carolina has created four such runs.
- The Monarchs defense has allowed eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Pirates have given up five such runs.
- Each team defense has recorded seven sacks this year.
