South Florida brings the better record into Greenville, but East Carolina is favored at home Friday night.
The South Florida Bulls sit at 6-2 and have won two straight, while the East Carolina Pirates are 4-4 and have won one straight. Kickoff is set for Friday, November 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, airing on ESPN2.
Game details
| When | Friday, November 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium |
| TV | ESPN2 |
| Line | East Carolina Pirates -2.5 | O/U 39.5 (market view) |
| South Florida Bulls record | 6-2 |
| East Carolina Pirates record | 4-4 |
The matchup
South Florida has outscored opponents 216-116 on the season. The Bulls' last five results show a 30-10 win over the UAB Blazers, a 29-2 win over the Kent State Golden Flashes, a 24-31 loss to the UTSA Roadrunners, a 13-17 loss to the Temple Owls, and a 14-6 win over the Bowling Green Falcons.
East Carolina has been outscored 193-192 on the year. The Pirates' last five games read a 17-9 win over the Temple Owls, a 34-41 loss to the Memphis Tigers, a 17-30 loss to the UAB Blazers, a 28-12 win over the Rice Owls, and a 42-9 win over the NC Central Eagles. Both teams have recently played Temple and UAB, though not against each other.
Key matchups
South Florida's defense has allowed just 116 points through eight games, the clear strength on that side of the ball. How that unit handles an East Carolina offense that has managed 192 points this season will go a long way toward deciding this one.
On the other side, East Carolina's defense has given up 193 points this season, more than it has scored. South Florida's offense, which has put up 216 points, will look to test that unit early and often.
The pick
The betting line has East Carolina favored by 2.5 with a total of 39.5, and the market score sits at East Carolina 21, South Florida 19. That number suggests oddsmakers see the Pirates' home game and one-game win streak as enough to offset South Florida's better record and two-game streak.
South Florida's defense has been the more reliable unit by the numbers, which makes this one worth watching into the fourth quarter even with the Pirates as home favorites.
Recent results
| Team | Last games |
|---|---|
| South Florida Bulls | Wk9 W 30-10 vs UAB Blazers, Wk7 W 29-2 vs Kent State Golden Flashes, Wk6 L 24-31 vs UTSA Roadrunners |
| East Carolina Pirates | Wk9 W 17-9 vs Temple Owls, Wk8 L 34-41 vs Memphis Tigers, Wk7 L 17-30 vs UAB Blazers |
Written by Cole Saturday, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores and box scores), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.