Predictions for the last matchday: FAU vs. ECU

East Carolina returns to national prime time on Thursday night when it hosts the Florida Atlantic Owls at Dowdy Ficklen Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ESPN2 with Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) and Matt Stinchcomb (color analyst) in discussion. ECU enters 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the American Athletic Conference. FAU is 2-6 and 0-4 in the league.

The second game of Blake Harrell’s interim head coaching era will take place on Thursday. The Pirates parted ways with sixth-year head coach Mike Houston after the Army game. ECU defeated Temple 56-34 in Harrell’s first game on Oct. 26. The Pirates hope that things can continue on Thursday. They enter the game as touchdown favorites against the Owls, who lost 44-21 to USF last Friday in Boca Raton.

Since it’s game day, the Hoist The Colors team has given its final picks for the contest between the Pirates and the Owls. They can be read below as kickoff approaches.

STEPHEN IGOE

There is always some concern about a disappointing game in the second game of an interim coach’s tenure, and I know FAU has more talent than its 2-6 record suggests, especially offensively at the skill positions and with an experienced QB, who runs the show. That said, I still like how things look here for the ECU. The Pirates just had an open schedule to continue recuperating while FAU played a physical game against USF, and now they have a quick turnaround and go on the road. Given its ability to stop the run defensively, ECU also looks to be a pretty good opponent for FAU as a team. And it’s a nationally televised game for the “Night of the Boneyard” with a chance for another win that gets closer to bowl eligibility. I expect a motivated East Carolina team and ultimately another win.

ECU 34, FAU 24

BRADY THOMAS

The Pirates face the FAU Owls in this matchup on Thursday night. The Pirates had a bye week last week to get back on their feet for the crucial stretch of the season. ECU rolled over Temple in Blake Harrell’s debut as interim coach. I expect them to pick up right where they left off. Katin Houser hasn’t disappointed since the second half of the Army game at West Point. He appeared very calm, cool and collected behind the Pirates offensive line. The team will have a few winnable games in the next few weeks to get into bowl contention. This edition of Night of The Boneyard is almost a must-have if they want to keep the season alive well into December. I think the pirates will take off and never look back. Give me the Pirates to win big and cover.

ECU 48, FAU 24

JAMES GIGLIO

The first weekday game of the year for the Pirates against a struggling FAU team. I like the ECU to go out of style here. I think they will be rested and I expect Katin Houser to have another good game in the starting lineup as he continues to get better every week. I also expect the fans to show up here for this crucial game in reaching a bowl. I think with the bye week taking some of the pressure off Greenville, the Pirates will be calm and ready to play against a struggling FAU team that is in last place in the American Championship and is on a three-game losing streak.

ECU 34, FAU 14

CHANCE SCOTT

The Pirates are just two wins away from elimination. I expect Harrell and Co. to be ready and with things under control I expect a lot of energy from the guys. It’s a pretty close game until the fourth quarter where the defense hangs a 0.

51 ECU, FAU 35