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East Carolina football hopes late-season momentum can carry over into 2021

By Jackson Caudell

Holton Ahlers, East Carolina Football. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Holton Ahlers, East Carolina Football. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Houston, East Carolina Football. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Houston, East Carolina Football. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

How will East Carolina football fare in 2021?

If East Carolina wants to go back to a bowl game, they are going to have to earn it. Their non-conference schedule includes games versus App State and Marshall, and their conference schedule has games against Cincinnati and UCF.

It is not going to be easy for the Pirates in 2021.

  • Game 1: App State (L) — The Pirates open with a neutral site showdown against one of the favorites in the Sun Belt.
  • Game 2: South Carolina (W) — I am going out on a limb here, but I think the Pirates can upset the Gamecocks at home.
  • Game 3: at Marshall (L) — Marshall is the favorite in the C-USA and I think their defense will keep the Pirates at bay (no pun intended).
  • Game 4: Charleston Southern (W) — This should be the easiest game on the schedule for ECU and they should win big.
  • Game 5: Tulane (L) — Tulane is a tough team under Willie Fritz and should have a really solid running game in 2021.
  • Game 6: at UCF (L) — UCF is going to be much too explosive for the Pirates in Orlando.
  • Game 7: at Houston (L) — I think the Cougars are a sleeper in the AAC and get the win here.
  • Game 8: South Florida (W) — USF is rebuilding and I think the Pirates offense gets it done.
  • Game 9: Temple (W) — The Owls might be the worst team in the AAC this season and I like East Carolina in this matchup.
  • Game 10: at Memphis (L) — The Tigers are one of the top teams in the AAC and I think they win in a shootout here.
  • Game 11: at Navy (W) — Navy is never an easy win due to their running game, but I like the Pirates on the road.
  • Game 12: Cincinnati (L) — The toughest game on the schedule is probably going to end poorly for the Pirates.

Final record: 5-7, 3-5 AAC

ECU is going to have to survive the first part of the season and pull some upsets along the way. They luck out and get South Carolina in the first year of a rebuild, but games against App State and Marshall are going to be very tough — 5-7 might be the kind of record that puts a lot of pressure going forward on head coach Mike Houston.

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