Betting odds released for ECU’s matchup against Gardner-Webb

In search of its first win of 2023, East Carolina’s football team opened as a two touchdown favorite over Gardner-Webb on Saturday, ahead of the team’s matchup against the Runnin’ Bulldogs from the FCS ranks. The line initially opened at 13.5 in favor of ECU on FanDuel, and has since gone up to 14.5. The line was not released until late in the week due to ECU playing an FCS team.

The total for the game is set at 54 points. Rain is in the forecast in the Greenville area throughout the day, but the major effects of tropical storm Ophelia are expected to be gone by kickoff. Still, it could be a wet day on the Bagwell Field turf, and a wet ball could make it difficult for both teams to consistently move the ball after heavy rainfall on Friday night and Saturday morning. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, with a broadcast on ESPN+.

Gardner-Webb enters the game 1-2 overall. The Bulldogs opened the year as a 24-point underdog against App State, covering in an eventual 45-24 loss (Gardner-Webb led 24-21 late in the third quarter before the Mountaineers ran away in the final period). G-W beat Elon in a 34-27 matchup in Week 2, and lost to Tennessee State this past weekend.

ECU is 0-3 for the first time since 2017. The Pirates have been underdogs in each of their previous three matchups, falling to Michigan, 30-3, losing to Marshal, 31-13, and dropping one to App State, 43-28.

The Pirates have had the lead in each of the last two games, but have been outscored 48-10 in the second half, managing just three points on offense in those halves. A trick play touchdown ignited Marshall’s comeback in Week 2. ECU led App State 21-10 late in the second quarter before mistakes led to a Mountaineers touchdown on the ensuing drive right before halftime, allowing App State go grab momentum and roll from there.

“Those things are what is keeping us from consistently playing at the level throughout a full four quarters to be able to get the win,” ECU head coach Mike Houston said on Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “You can address each of them individually, but the big focus has got to be what we're doing on the practice field on Sunday, today, tomorrow, Thursday.

“My big focus is as coaches is that we've got to continue to teach and instruct that we're putting the players in the very best situation so that they can be successful. I know that the players are very motivated to be successful and right now the big focus is on us. We've got to keep working together, keep putting in the effort and push ourselves to improve.”

ECU ranks dead last in the FBS in offensive touchdowns and yards per game. Quarterback Alex Flinn started at App State with mixed results. Mason Garcia started the first two games of the year. A starting quarterback for Saturday’s game has not been formally named.

Saturday's matchup will mark the second-ever meeting between ECU and Gardner-Webb. The Pirates won, 48-9, in 2019.