East Carolina vs Tulsa Prediction Football Picks Today 10/16/25

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the East Carolina Pirates meet in week 8 college football action from Dowdy Ficklen Stadium on Thursday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. East Carolina Pirates prediction.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane Recap

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane come into this game looking to rebound from a 45-7 loss at the hands of Memphis last time out to fall to 2-4 this season. After this game, Tulsa will head home for a game against Temple.

Golden Hurricane Drop Back-To-Back Games

Baylor Hayes has thrown for 787 yards, 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions on 61.1% passing while Kirk Francis has thrown for 493 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions on 60.2% passing. Dominic Richardson leads the Golden Hurricane with 538 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns while Zion Booker has a team-high 35 catches for 294 yards and Brody Foley has 220 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Micah Tease also has 191 receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Ray Coney has a team-high 64 total tackles while Elijah Green leads Tulsa’s defense with 5 interceptions so far this season. J’Dan Burnett has a team-high 6 sacks and Byron Turner Jr. has 4.5 sacks as well this season. As a unit, Tulsa’s defense has combined for 15 sacks and 5 interceptions so far this season. 

Why the Tulsa Golden Hurricane will win

• East Carolina has lost six of its last seven games in October.
• Tulsa has won four of its last five games against East Carolina.
• Tulsa has covered the spread in each of its last four games as an underdog against East Carolina.
• East Carolina has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four October games as a favorite.

East Carolina Pirates Recap

The East Carolina Pirates come into this game looking to bounce back from a 26-19 loss at the hands of Tulane last time out to sit at 3-3 this season. After this game, East Carolina will head on the road for a game against Temple following a bye week.

Pirates Looking For Consistency

Katin Houser has thrown for 1,689 yards, 8 touchdowns and 4 interceptions on 67.6% passing while London Montgomery leads ECU with 240 rushing yards and 2 TDs and Parker Jenkins has 163 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Marlon Gunn Jr. also has 178 rushing yards and 2 TDs this season. Anthony Smith leads the Pirates with 30 grabs for 406 yards while Yannick Smith has 29 catches for 370 yards and 2 TDs. Brock Spalding has 25 grabs for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns while Jayvontay Conner has 204 receiving yards and 2 TDs. On defense, Ja’Marley Riddle has a team-high 36 total tackles along with an interception while Jasiyah Robinson has a team-high 2 sacks. East Carolina’s defense as a whole has combined for 12 sacks and 3 interceptions. 

Why the East Carolina Pirates will win

• Tulsa has lost each of its last seven games against conference opponents.
• The favorite has won each of East Carolina’s last six games.
• Tulsa has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven road games in October.
• The favorite has covered the spread in six of East Carolina’s last seven games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Total Points Facts

• Eight of East Carolina’s last nine games have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of Tulsa’s last five games against teams from North Carolina have gone OVER the total points line.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. East Carolina Pirates Prediction

I’m on the Pirates here. I just think that ECU’s profile right now is being able to beat up on bad teams soundly, and struggle when taking steps up in competition. I think Tulsa is more of the former, as I don’t see Tulsa being able to hang with competent offenses. Just look at what happened when they went toe-to-toe with Memphis. I think East Carolina has more than enough in the tank to win this one in a runaway. Give me ECU here.