East Carolina Pirates (7-5) vs. NC State Wolfpack (6-6)
East Carolina Pirates vs. NC State Wolfpack December 28 2024 – In what promises to be an interesting faceoff, the East Carolina Pirates take on their regional rivals in the NC State Wolfpack in the Military Bowl game. After a slow start, the Pirates finished the regular season on a winning streak that saw their record improve to 7-5. The NC State Wolfpack had an equal record of 6-6 while entering this match off a spirited win against North Carolina in the last minute of the game. This battle hosted at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with both style of game complementing the other as the offense of East Carolina and defense of NC State clash.
East Carolina Pirates vs. NC State Wolfpack December 28 2024 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 5:45 PM ET |
| Where: | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
East Carolina Pirates vs. NC State Wolfpack Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| East Carolina | +180 | +6 | Over 58.5 (-105) |
| NC State | -215 | -6 | Under 58.5 (-115) |
NC State is a 6-point favorite coming into this matchup based on superior defensive stats. However, East Carolina is live as an underdog given their record of 4-2 ATS in their last six matches. The total points of 58.5 indicate a high scoring game and this should favor the over on account of the two teams’ recent scoring runs.
Katin Houser QB vs. CJ Bailey QB
Katin Houser stands out as the main guy for East Carolina’s offense, throwing for 1,859 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. His constancy rating is quite good at 60.6%, while his average reception of Anthony Smith, who gets 20.2 yards per catch, allows him to be a deep threat more than ever. The aggressiveness of NC State’s pass rush will be a test for Houser, specifically his ability to extend the play when he is forced to use his legs.
CJ Bailey is the NC State quarterback who has recorded 2,183 yards through the air and thrown 14 touchdowns during this season. It’s not surprising that Bailey is completing 64.1% of his attempts, however he has developed a problem when it comes to turning over the ball, throwing nine interceptions. He will certainly be in need of Kevin Concepcion’s gameness as a reliable target in order to keep the chains moving.
Pirates’ High-Octane Offense
East Carolina has been performing extremely well in its recent games, A 49-14 victory against FAU included, as Harris has stood out on offense, accumulating 946 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. Smith’s big-play ability has complemented Harris, making them a capable pair to exploit NC State’s defense.
Wolfpack’s Defensive Grit
The performance of NC State across the season has not been the best, but their defense has always played in crucial moments. While they did suffer defeats against Georgia Tech and Duke, their victory against UNC showed what they’re capable of. Jordan Waters has been reliable in the backfield. Concepcion, however, is their best bet at receiving.
East Carolina Pirates Betting Trends
The Pirates have done decently in terms of betting, covering the spread in 4 of their last 6 games. They’ve also managed to go past the total in 5 of their last 7 games which shows they are good for their offensive. Nonetheless, they seem to have problems with the ACC opponents (1-5 SU in their last 6) which is a reason for concern in regard to how they will perform in this matchup.
NC State Wolfpack Betting Trends
Recently, the Wolfpack has performed well Against the Spread (ATS), emerging victorious in four of their last five matches. It’s been seen that their games have often gone over as they shot above the total in four of their last five matches. On the other hand, Their vulnerabilities suggest that when they are expected to win, as evidenced by their record of 1-5 as favorites.
East Carolina Pirates vs. NC State Wolfpack Betting Previews
This game creates an interesting contest of strength. The offensive prowess of East Carolina provides an opportunity for an upset over NC State, more so if Smith is able to connect with Houser for key plays. On the other hand, NC State’s defense will have to check Harris and push the Pirates into situations where they have to pass the ball often to secure a win.
For the gamblers, the spread of Pirates +6 presents value while the over on 58.5 points seems quite alluring considering the scoring patterns of both teams. Prop bets on Harris’ rushing yards or Smith’s receiving totals look to be opportunities with a high upside.
Score Prediction: NC State Wolfpack 31, East Carolina Pirates 27.
