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East Carolina Pirates 2023 game-by-game predictions

By Austin Lloyd

SALT LAKE CITY UT- OCTOBER 28: Holton Ahlers #12 of the East Carolina Pirates celebrates their win over the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium October 28, 2022 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY UT- OCTOBER 28: Holton Ahlers #12 of the East Carolina Pirates celebrates their win over the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium October 28, 2022 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) /
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GREENVILLE, NC – SEPTEMBER 05: CoCo Hillary #6 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers is hit hard by the defense of the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Greenville, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, NC – SEPTEMBER 05: CoCo Hillary #6 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers is hit hard by the defense of the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Greenville, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

@ Michigan (L)

The Michigan Wolverines have made back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff, and they are known for having a large and intense gameday atmosphere that few can outshine. I’d bet my house on the Pirates getting walloped in this one.

Marshall (L)

While still limping from the beatdown they endured in their season opener, the Pirates will welcome Marshall into Greenville.

The Thundering Herd not only won nine games last year but also have what I believe could be the Group of 5’s best shot at a CFP appearance this season. In other words, it’s awfully difficult for me to not imagine the Herd joining Michigan in ECU’s loss column.

@ Appalachian State (L)

Boy, this slate couldn’t be starting off any worse, could it?

App State is no stranger to being viewed as East Carolina’s more-attractive sibling, and especially with the former concluding its 2022 regular season only one win behind the latter, it should be capable of maintaining that image in this home game.

Gardner-Webb (W)

It doesn’t matter how bleak I have things looking as the Pirates enter this affair, I firmly believe that they have no business losing this one. In fact, the final tally being decided by anything less than three scores would be a travesty.

Though it may not look like much on its own, a win over an FCS opponent is better than no win at all, and that’s what ECU fans will have to remember as their guys get ready for what will surely be some problematic league play.

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