BYU’s defense could not have had a much better start to the season, with just a single field goal allowed in two games. However, the Cougars have yet to face a challenge from a decent offense. That should change this week, as BYU visits Greenville, North Carolina for an intriguing contest vs. East Carolina (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
The Cougars (2-0) crushed Portland State 69-0 to open the season, then strolled past Stanford 27-3 two weeks ago.
Portland State managed all of three first downs and 51 total yards, while the Cardinal compiled just a dozen first downs and 161 yards.
There’s certainly something to be said for beating who’s in front of you, and BYU has done that with aplomb.
However, before they step into Big 12 play next week when they visit Neon Deion and the Colorado Buffaloes, the Cougars must successfully navigate a potentially tricky cross-country trip.
The Pirates are expected to be a middle of the pack team in the American Conference this season, but they have an experienced and talented quarterback in Katin Houser, who is off to an excellent start.
Can Houser help the Pirates take down a Power 4 squad and enter conference play with confidence high? Read on for our BYU vs. East Carolina prediction and best bets. Also, get the best value odds from top online sportsbooks such as BetOnline.
BYU vs. East Carolina Prediction and Best Bets
Prediction: East Carolina to win
Almost nothing can be taken from the Cougars’ two comprehensive victories. Portland State is absolutely atrocious, and Stanford is one of the worst Power 4 teams.
That makes it hard to handicap this game from their side. You are more or less just guessing who they are and who they could be.
Instead, it is much easier to approach this one from the other side. That is especially because East Carolina opened the season with a tough 24-17 loss at NC State. Therefore, you can reasonably assess what they may look like against a decent Power 4 team.
In the two games since, NC State running back Hollywood Smothers put up 304 yards against Virginia and Wake Forest. So, East Carolina (22 carries, 76 yards) did a rather admirable job against him. How the Pirates fare vs. BYU RB LJ Martin could be key to the outcome.
That is the weak point for East Carolina offensively and something they need to do at least serviceably to take some pressure off of Houser vs. BYU.
He certainly can win games with his arm, but it is not the optimal path against a team with a good defense.
Ultimately, definitively picking a side for BYU vs. East Carolina requires more guesswork than hard numbers or clear research. But from here, it looks like anything but a gimme for BYU.
This is a rare opportunity for ECU to upset a Power 4 team at home, and there is nothing to lose for the Pirates, who have a steady senior hand at QB. The Cougars, on the other hand, are taking untested true freshman QB Bear Bachmeier into a night game in a hostile environment. For me, that spells trouble for BYU.
BYU vs. East Carolina Best Bets
1) East Carolina +6.5 (-110 at BetOnline)
At NC State, the Pirates went three-and-out on their first four drives, fell into a 17-0 hole in the first half, and trailed 24-7 in the second half. But they scored on consecutive possessions to pull within a touchdown and stayed in it because NC State missed two fourth-quarter field goals.
Then, on their final possession, they drove inside the 10 and knocked on the door of a potential tie in the final minute. However, the Wolfpack made a game-clinching stop on a 4th and 1 to escape with the victory.
So, they have held their own on the road against decent Power 4 opposition. And were it not for that slow start, a missed field goal to close the first half (which was 10 yards longer than it should have been due to a holding penalty on the play prior) being stopped on fourth down three separate times, it could have been a different result.
That there’s no love between ECU and NC State might have helped fuel the Pirates’ performance in that game. But there should be plenty of fuel to keep them fired up against BYU at home as well.
Part of the allure of this matchup is that East Carolina has a real chance vs. BYU
At the very least, this game should not be decided until the fourth quarter. After missing an opportunity at NC State, ECU will not want to let down the riled-up masses and let this one slip.
2) BYU Team Total Under 27.5 Points (-105 at Bovada)
Two weeks ago, the Cougars managed all of 27 points against Stanford. Despite beating Boston College 30-20 last week, the Cardinal are still a very bad team. So, those 27 points were not exactly an effort to write home about.
Is defense the calling card for East Carolina? It isn’t. But it’s hard to see BYU finding the end zone four or more times or getting three touchdowns and three field goals.
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