ECU at Liberty: Predictions for the final matchday

East Carolina will look to respond to its first loss of the season when it faces the Liberty Flames on Saturday at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The Pirates lost 21-19 at home to App State last Saturday, dropping to 2-1 on the season. They have beaten Norfolk State and Old Dominion. Liberty, on the other hand, started 3-0, winning against Campbell, New Mexico State and UTEP. The Flames are 15-0 in the regular season since the start of the 2023 season, losing only to Oregon (45-6) in last year's Fiesta Bowl.

Since today is match day, it's time for our final tips from the team at Hoist The Colours.

STEPHEN IGOÉ

This game, like App State, was a loss for me in the preseason. The Pirates are a touchdown underdog for a reason. It's a road game against a team that has had a lot of success the last few years and has a lot of talent. I think the game is winnable, especially at the line of scrimmage where I feel like the Pirates can apply pressure on defense. But there are obviously some question marks on defense now, and with Liberty having such a dynamic quarterback in Kaidon Salter, that worries me. I think the Flames will score some points on Saturday, and I'm not sure the Pirates have enough power to hold on at the end.

Liberty 28, 20 ECU

BRADY THOMAS

The Pirates suffered their first loss of the season and it was a tough one to take. They had a chance late but couldn't pull through. ECU will have one of its toughest road games of the year at Liberty, who hasn't lost at home in the regular season for the last 2 years. Jake Garcia reduced the turnovers last Saturday but his lone interception proved to be the game-winner. I expect the offense to keep the tempo and score early to put some fire under the Flames. The Pirates defense looked a little shaky against Appalachian State and let

Quarterback Joey Aguilar throws 424 yards. The Pirates will have to limit that in the future. The Pirates have to prove themselves on the road on Saturday. I will give my

Trust in ECU until I see the offense consistently scoring and making points. I'm going to let the Flames win and cover them.

Liberty 31, 21 ECU

CHRIS GIBSON

After a heartbreaking loss to App State, a win this week at Liberty could give ECU some momentum heading into conference play. That's easier said than done, however, as the Pirates have a difficult task ahead of them: Liberty hasn't lost a home game since the 2022 season. Making matters worse, it was recently announced that star cornerback Shavon Revel will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

ECU's defense could take a hit in the passing game, as Revel provided excellent coverage on their side of the field. Offensively, the Pirates struggled to sustain offense against App State, scoring just 3 points in the final three quarters of play. Given these factors, the odds of ECU coming out of Lynchburg victorious are not good. Unless the offense can prove it can sustain offense and avoid turnovers, I don't see the Pirates winning this week. ECU falls to 2-2 in a tough road game.

Liberty 28, 20 ECU

JAVON COLE

This non-conference matchup between East Carolina and Liberty will likely be a close game, with Liberty having the edge based on recent performances. While East Carolina struggled against Appalachian State, the Pirates struggled to get the win at home. Liberty, on the other hand, showed some dominance in its win over UTEP. Liberty's strong performance at home and ability to control their previous game gives them a slight edge in this matchup. Prediction: Liberty wins by a narrow margin, with East Carolina putting up a solid fight but ultimately not being able to keep up.

Liberty 27, 20 ECU

JAMES GIGLIO

My record in picks this season is 1-2, so I guess I have to go with the favorite, which is Liberty, and I'm saying they win 24-13. Liberty hasn't looked like the team we saw just a season ago when they played in a NY6 bowl game, but I think this could be a game where they bounce back, and their play-action threat will be too much for a banged up ECU secondary. I just think the loss of Shavon Revel Jr. will be a key factor in this game, and that remains to be seen. As for ECU's offense, I imagine it will be another slugfest game where points will be at a premium. I see a close game with both teams hoping for a tie-breaking score, but I'm betting on the Flames pulling away late in the 4th inning.

Liberty 24, 13 ECU

CHANCE SCOTT

I have a hard time picking the Pirates when we haven't been in the big games. This is a game ECU can win, but all three phases have to work well together.

Liberty 27, 24 ECU