Thursday, May 24th, 2012
The Virginia Tech Hokies will to rebound when they travel to face the East Carolina Pirates in a college football game on Thursday night in prime time. Kick off time at East Carolina is scheduled for 7:45PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN. The LVSC college football odds makers have set the opening point spread in this game and the Virginia Tech Hokies opened as a 9-point favorite. The early money from the college football betting public has come in on the road favorite, as the Virginia Tech Hokies are currently an 11-½ point favorite.
When they met last season East Carolina pulled off the 27-22 upset victory in a game played at East Carolina. East Carolina was able to move the ball on the Hokies with 158 rushing yards and 211 through the air on the Hokies defense. Virginia Tech made 2 critical turnovers in defeat. Virginia Tech is 5-3 this season and in the midst of a 2 game losing streak. Virginia Tech had problems last Thursday night generating offense against a stout North Carolina defense as the team fell 20-17 at home. The team was tied at 17 late but a crucial fumble deep in Hokies territory set up North Carolina’s game winning field goal in the closing seconds. Virginia Tech could not get their running game going against the Tar Heels with just 95 rushing yards on 33 carries. After three straight games with 70% or better accuracy passing the football, Hokies starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor could only complete 47% of his passes last week with no touchdowns and no interceptions. In Virginia Tech’s past two road games they lost at Georgia Tech 28-23 and survived Duke 34-26 as a 17-point favorite. On defense Virginia Tech allows 19 points per game, 4.7 yards per play against average and 316 yards a game to their opponents. East Carolina is 5-3 this season and coming off a 38-19 win last Friday night at Memphis. East Carolina torched the Memphis Tigers defense with 275 rushing yards and 222 through the air in victory. The Pirates did fail against high profile programs losing at West Virginia 35-20 and at North Carolina 31-17 failing to cover the spread in both contests. A senior quarterback leads East Carolina as Patrick Pinkney has completed on 57% of his passes with 8 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He has been starting for East Carolina the past 3 seasons so he is experienced. Senior running back Dominque Lindsay leads East Carolina with 5.8 yards per carry average on 99 carries on the season. Defensively the Pirates allow 22 points a game and 357 yards to their opponents. East Carolina has been good this season against the run allowing an average of just 108 yards per game and just 3.39 yards per carry against average.
For the Latest CFB Odds Please Visit our CFB Odds Page
CFB Trend: East Carolina Pirates are 2-0 ATS in their past 2 meetings with the Virginia Tech Hokies
The Wagerline consensus has 61.1% of the CFB bettors on Virginia Tech –11 1/2
Tags: college football betting odds, virginia tech hokies versus east carolina pirates college football betting odds pick preview
