East Carolina Pirates - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

The Pirates earned a rare bowl berth in 2006 after finishing second in the C-USA East with a 7-6 mark. But they fell to South Florida 24-7 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl and return just five starters return to an offensive unit that was 31st in the country in passing. Worse yet, the duo of quarterback James Pinkney and receiver Aundrae Allison is gone.  Rob Kass gets the first chance to replace Pinkney, and he will benefit from four returning players on the offensive line, who should protect him while he gets acclimated to the first team.  Philip Henry, who snared 33 passes for 472 yards, will attempt to fill the void left by Allison.  Chris Johnson, who scored four times in 2006, had an impressive spring and is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 running back for the Pirates. 

Defensively, seven starters are back, but leading tackler Jamar Flournoy is gone as are two other members of 2006’s starting secondary. The Pirates were 35th in the nation in passing defense last season, and it will be a tough task for coach Skip Holtz to squeeze an equivalent performance from this season’s crew.  The front seven will have to do better at putting pressure on the opposing quarterback, as they were 101st in sacks.  Without someone to harass the quarterback, it could be a long season for the Pirates’ depleted secondary.  Linebackers Quentin Cotton (68 tackles) and Fred Wilson (64 tackles) are going to have to carry the load. 

A three-week stretch in September could decide East Carolina’s fate, as the Pirates host Southern Mississippi before heading to West Virginia and Houston.  The Pirates then close the season at Memphis and hosting Tulane, who finished last in the C-USA East and West divisions, respectively.  The Pirates may fall a couple of notches in the conference, unless someone steps into the secondary to minimize the damage.

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