The East Carolina Pirates (3-3) return home to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for a Thursday night AAC showdown against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-4). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. This is the only college football game on the slate before the weekend.
East Carolina looks to bounce back after a tough 26-19 loss to Tulane, while Tulsa enters on extra rest following a 45-7 defeat to Memphis.
Below, we’ll break down our East Carolina vs. Tulsa prediction and the top PrizePicks player props for Thursday’s AAC matchup under the lights in Greenville.
East Carolina vs. Tulsa Prediction, Preview: Thursday, Oct. 16
Here’s a full look inside the East Carolina vs. Tulsa prediction for Thursday’s AAC showdown, including team previews and PrizePicks plays.
East Carolina Preview vs. Tulsa
Head coach Blake Harrell’s Pirates are trending upward, despite last week’s heartbreaking loss at Tulane. ECU had the game tied late before surrendering the go-ahead touchdown with 35 seconds left.
Offensively, the Pirates have shown flashes but continue to search for consistency. QB Katin Houser has been solid overall, throwing for 1,689 yards and 8 touchdowns through six games, though he managed just 180 passing yards in New Orleans. Expect Harrell and OC John David Baker to emphasize a faster tempo early against a Tulsa defense that’s allowed 31 or more points in their last two games this season.
The backfield rotation remains key. Sophomore RB London Montgomery and Senior RB Marlon Gunn Jr. have emerged as the most effective options, combining for 109 yards over the last two games. Their ability to keep drives on schedule will be critical, especially with right tackle Bryce Weaver sidelined after foot surgery.
Defensively, East Carolina’s front has been middle-of-the-pack, allowing 136.5 rushing yards per game. The challenge is tightening up against the pass after Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff torched them for 347 yards. Expect ECU to bring more pressure this week against Tulsa QB Baylor Hayes, who’s posted a 38.4 PFF passing grade with nine turnover-worthy plays in four outings.
Tulsa Preview vs. East Carolina
First-year head coach Tre Lamb has this Golden Hurricane squad playing hard, even if the record doesn’t show it. Tulsa’s two wins — including an upset at Oklahoma State — prove this team can punch above its weight when the offense stays balanced.
Lamb’s biggest task has been finding stability under center. Hayes has struggled with turnovers, and the Tulsa offense ranks outside the top 100 in both EPA/Pass and EPA/Rush. That lack of efficiency has been compounded by a shaky offensive line, allowing 15 sacks already.
Defensively, Tulsa has some real playmakers. EDGE J’Dan Burnett (6 sacks, 15 pressures) is a force on the edge, and CB Elijah Green has been a lockdown presence with 5 interceptions and no touchdowns allowed in coverage. If those two can create a turnover or two, the Golden Hurricane might just hang around longer than expected.
Still, the numbers don’t lie — Tulsa ranks near the bottom of the AAC in yards allowed (6.0 per play). That’s not ideal against a run-heavy ECU team that thrives on tempo.
East Carolina vs. Tulsa Picks for Thursday Night
This AAC clash offers intriguing PrizePicks plays with real-money upside based on usage, matchup trends, and efficiency data.
East Carolina QB Katin Houser Projection: 260.5 Pass Yards
Houser’s production has cooled after a fast start, but the efficiency remains solid.
He opened the year with 314 yards against Campbell, but has settled into the 200–290 range over the past month. The senior had 11.4 yards per completion last week versus Army. Tulsa’s secondary has been leaky, allowing multiple quarterbacks to surpass 250 yards and ranking outside the top 90 (409.8 yards per game).
If Houser avoids turnovers and finds rhythm early, this could be the night his consistency finally matches his arm talent.
Tulsa RB Dominic Richardson Projection: 53.5 Rush Yards
Richardson’s workload has been steady, but the big runs have yet to break through. He’s logged 112 carries for 538 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt on the year. Game script has often forced Tulsa to abandon the run, limiting his volume in recent weeks. That could shift against an East Carolina defense allowing 3.9 yards per carry (47th nationally).
If Tulsa stays competitive into the second half, Richardson has the burst and physicality to make some noise in the ground game.
Make Thursday College Football Picks on PrizePicks
Whether you think ECU rolls behind Houser and Richardson or Tulsa hangs tough, PrizePicks lets you cash in on your predictions. Just pick More or Less on player stat lines and win real money when your picks are right.
Get in the game tonight — Play $5 and get $50 instantly in Lineups with promo code PLAYBOOK to start making your CFB picks.
