ECU vs FAU preview, will the Pirates stay hot?
East Carolina is set to host Florida Atlantic in an American Athletic Conference matchup tonight, at 8 p.m. ET in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.The game will be nationally broadcasted on ESPN2.
The Pirates enter the game with a 4-4 overall record, aiming to build on their recent 56-34 victory over Temple. This win marked the debut of interim head coach Blake Harrell, who took over following the departure of Mike Houston. The Pirates' offense showed significant improvement under Harrell's leadership, with quarterback Katin Houser throwing for 269 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Temple.
The FAU Owls, currently at 2-6, are seeking their first conference win of the season in addition to their first road victory. They have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 30.1 points per game, and have lost three consecutive games, including a 44-21 defeat to South Florida. Offensively, running back CJ Campbell Jr. has been a bright spot, leading the team with 506 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Key Players to Watch
ECU Pirates: Quarterback Katin Houser has been instrumental in revitalizing the Pirates' offense, particularly with his five-touchdown performance against Temple. Running back Rahjai Harris also contributed significantly in that game, adding versatility to ECU's offensive attack. Omar Rodgers has been really good for the Pirates, he has 57 tackles and one INT on the season.
FAU Owls: Quarterback Cam Fancher, a junior transfer from Marshall, has been leading the Owls' offense this season. Through six games, Fancher has completed 122 of 206 passes (59.2%) for 1,460 yards, with six touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also contributed on the ground, rushing for 367 yards and three touchdown on 97 carries, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Running back CJ Campbell Jr. complements the offense with 743 yards of total offense, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and contributing both on the ground and through the air. Defensively, freshman safety CJ Heard has been a standout, leading the team with 61 total tackles.
The most recent encounter was on November 11, 2023, when ECU secured a 22-7 victory in Boca Raton. In that game, kicker Andrew Conrad was pivotal, making five field goals, and the Pirates' defense recorded five sacks, stifling the Owls' offense. A win for ECU would be crucial in their pursuit of bowl eligibility, as they need to secure two more victories in their remaining games. The Pirates have shown resilience and adaptability under interim coach Blake Harrell, and a strong performance against FAU could set a positive tone for the remainder of the season.
Prediction
The Owls have struggled with tempo this season so I expect John David Baker to have a tempo filled script to start the game. Blake Harell is really good at disguising a lot of looks in his defense so I expect him to try and confuse Fancher most of the night. My final score prediction is, ECU- 51 FAU- 35. Go Pirates!