Free NCAA Football Prediction: Pirates vs. Mountaineers Odds
Looking for East Carolina Pirates vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers free picks? College football betting sees the Pirates taking on the Mountaineers on Thursday, September 2 at Back of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 1 predictions like this East Carolina Appalachian State free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 1
East Carolina Pirates vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2021
Time: 7:30 pm EST
Venue: Bank of America Stadium
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: Pirates +10, Mountaineers -10
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: East Carolina -+333 | Appalachian State -450
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 56.5
The East Carolina Pirates will take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers from Bank of America Stadium. Both programs agreed to renew the rivalry after nine seasons, and App State leads the all-time series 19-12.
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East Carolina Pirates
East Carolina Pirates finished with a 3-6 record last season after winning their final two contests. The Pirates went 4-8 during a full 2019 season, and they’ll look to make their first bowl game since 2015.
Mike Houston enters his third season as head coach, posting a 7-14 record in his first two seasons.
Holton Ahlers returns at quarterback for ECU. The three-year starter threw for 1921 yards, with 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He tossed for 3,387 yards in 2019, and he brings experience to the position.
Rahjai Harris will start in the backfield for the Pirates. He came in and led ECU with 624 rushing yards and four scores in his first year. Keaton Mitchell had a solid freshman year as well, adding over 500 total yards of offense. Slot receiver Tyler Snead returns after leading ECU in receiving for two years. He caught 53 passes for 524 receiving yards, and five scores in 2020.
Appalachian State Mountaineers
The Appalachian State Mountaineers posted a 9-3 record last year. They won six of their first seven games and came in second in the Sun Belt Conference.
Shawn Clark led the Mountaineers to their sixth straight bowl appearance in his first season as head coach.
Chase Brice will make his first start for the Mountaineers Thursday. In three years at Duke and Clemson, Brice started sixteen games and threw for 3,193 passing yards with 19 touchdowns to 19 interceptions. He was solid in his lone season as Duke’s starter, and he should mesh nicely with the App State offense.
Senior Daetrich Harrington led the team in rushing with 595 yards and seven scores, before an injury halted his season after just six games. Nate Noel stepped in and rushed for 484 yards and three touchdowns during his first year. Senior Thomas Hennigan led the team in receiving with 45 catches for 571 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Pirates are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 non-conference games.
- Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
- Over is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 games overall.
- Over is 8-2 in Mountaineers last 10 games in September.
Free Week 1 NCAA Football Pick
These two schools enter this game on the heels of two very different seasons. Appalachian State continues to break through in the Sun Belt after their jump to the FBS, while ECU has struggled for most of that same time frame.
4* Free Week 1 NCAA Betting Pick: Appalachian State -10
Bet on Appalachian State to cover, and take the over and be mindful of Hurricane Ida’s travel and the weather conditions, as a rainy night game could sway the scoreboard.
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