East Carolina (2-3, 0-2 American Athletic Conference) hosts Houston (4-1, 1-0) in the Pirates' first home night game of the season on Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT. Houston comes in as a double-digit point favorite on the heels of a sold start to their season. The Cougars' red-hot offense has scored in the 40s every game, along with a 70-point performance against Texas Southern. Houston is averaging an even 50 points per game, which is much more than the Pirates' pedestrian 24 points per game average. The Cougars' defense has been susceptible to the pass this season, allowing more than 356 yards through the air per game. Texas Tech, which handed Houston its only loss, scored 63 points and threw for more than 600 yards. ECU is looking to bounce back from its worst loss of the season, a disappointing 49-6 drubbing at Temple last week. The Pirates have been very up and down this year, losing to North Carolina A&T in the opener before bouncing back to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels soundly in Week 2. ECU lost a close game to South Florida on the road and defeated Old Dominion on a last-second field goal at home before getting trounced in Philadelphia. Tonight's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Hoist The Colours is live on hand at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium to provide live updates below, and in our connecting message board thread. LIVE UPDATES Pre-Game Notes - Reid Herring gets the start at quarterback for East Carolina. First Quarter HOUSTON 7, ECU 0 (12:10) - The Cougars strike quickly, as D'Eriq King hits Courtney Lark on the slant, makes ECU cornerback Colby Gore miss and goes the distance for the 38-yard touchdown. The seven-play, 67-yard drive took less than two minutes. HOUSTON 14, ECU 0 (8:06) - Two drives for Houston, two touchdowns. The Cougars converted a pair of third-downs, including a crucial third-and-12, to move the chains into ECU territory. From there, King hit Lark for a 32-yard pass and then kept it himself eight yards into the end zone for the touchdown. Second Quarter HOUSTON 14, ECU 3 (8:06) - Herring's 33-yard completion to Trevon Brown sets up Jake Verity's 32-yard field goal, getting ECU on the board. The kick capped a 14-play, 71-yard drive. HOUSTON 21, ECU 3 (1:08) - Another backbreaking turnover for ECU, as Herring's pass is tipped and intercepted near midfield. Five plays later, King hits Romello Brooker for the 6-yard touchdown on third-and-goal. Just a killer sequence of events right before halftime. - Jake Verity can't connect on the 49-yard field goal to end the first half. That's his first miss of the season. Houston leads 21-3 at halftime. The Pirates haven't scored a touchdown their last six quarters. Third Quarter HOUSTON 21, ECU 6 (10:13) - ECU opens the second half with a strong defensive stand. And the offense puts together a scoring drive, but has to settle for another a field goal. Verity converts the 33-yarder after a key 33-yard completion from Herring to Leroy Henley. HOUSTON 28, ECU 6 (5:00) - Ed Oliver busts through with his first sack of the season, and strips Herring. It's picked up and return seven yards for a touchdown. That looks like your ball game with the way this offense is playing. Fourth Quarter HOUSTON 35, ECU 6 (14:03) - Houston continues to pour things on. After a Kingsley Ifedi interception, Mulbah Car capped a six-play, 51-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. HOUSTON 42, ECU 6 (11:24) - Houston runs a halfback pass to Bryson Smith, who throws a touchdown to a wide open Keith Corbin. HOUSTON 42, ECU 13 (5:18) - Ladies and gentlemen, we have a touchdown. Ahlers leads a 10-play, 96-yard touchdown drive, capped by his 8-yard touchdown to Trevon Brown. That's ECU first score in seven quarters. HOUSTON, ECU 20 (1:27) - Ahlers scores on a 1-yard touchdown run to cap another successful drive.<doc-sep>Hoist The Colours writers Stephen Igoe and Sam Anderson weigh in with their predictions on Saturday night's game between ECU and Houston. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EDT and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Stephen Igoe's Prediction College football is weird sometimes. Just when you think a team is down and out, that collection of players and coaches will sometimes rise up and surprise everyone. We saw it earlier this year. After the Pirates inexplicably lost to North Carolina A&T, everyone wrote them off. Only for ECU to come back the following week and pummel rival North Carolina to get the season back on track. But given the performance of ECU in last week's 49-6 loss to Temple, many Pirate fans see their hope fading once again, and it's tough to blame them. ECU was uncompetitive in every phase of the game against a team that's probably not as good as the next three on the Pirates' schedule. The good news is ECU once again gets to return home, a place the Pirates have played well at this season. And they're welcoming in a Houston team that sometimes stumbles to opponents it should beat when going on the road. In 2017, the Coogs lost at Tulsa and at Tulane. In 2016, they were upset at SMU, and in 2015, somehow lost at UConn. So don't say it can't happen. But regardless of UH's potential struggles, ECU has to play a remarkably better game than last week just to have a chance. Execution in all three phases has to be at a top level. The Pirates are at a crossroads. With games against UCF, Memphis and at Tulane ahead, this is a pivotal moment for their season. I think they'll play motivated football today from start to finish. Unfortunately, Houston just seems a little too explosive, and I don't see an ECU offense that's still unsettled at the quarterback position being able to keep up with them for an entire game. Houston 42, ECU 24 Sam Anderson's Prediction This is probably been said a lot this season but this game for Scottie Montgomery is a must win. A win over one of the top teams in the conference would be huge for both the program and the fans. Looking at the remaining games on the schedule, four wins is hard to find if ECU can’t pull the upset over Houston on Saturday. If ECU can find a way to win, three more wins looks a lot more doable. The first half of the game will be telling for ECU. If the Pirates can get a couple of quick scores to get out to a quick lead I think it would put them in a good spot to pullout the win. With Houston's offense so dynamic, ECU just can't keep up scoring. Houston will have a 28-21 lead at halftime. ECU does take a 35-31 lead in the 3rd thanks to a Cougar interception, but Houston's talent overtakes the Pirate in the fourth and shuts the offense out. Houston 52, ECU 35<doc-sep>Houston at East Carolina When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday; Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, N.C. TV/radio: CBS Sports Network, KPRC 950 AM Records: Houston (4-1 overall, 1-0 AAC), East Carolina (2-3, 0-2 AAC) Houston update: UH is coming off a 41-26 win over Tulsa in AAC opener. ... DE Isaiah Chambers, the team sack leader with 4 1/2, is out for the season. LB Darrion Owens (knee) and RB Terence Williams (ankle) are not expected to play. ... This is the first of three trips outside the state for the Cougars, who also travel to Navy (Oct. 20) and Memphis (Nov. 23). ... ECU is the only opponent on this year’s UH schedule that has a winning record in the all-time series (7-6). The Cougars have lost last two games at ECU. ON TEXAS SPORTS NATION: Cougars Mailbag - Return of The Blaze could be near East Carolina update: Coach Scottie Montgomery does not plan to reveal his quarterback plans- Reid Herring, Holton Ahlers and Kingsley are the candidates - until game time. ... The Pirates are coming off a 49-6 loss at Temple. ... DE Nate Harvey leads the AAC in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (14). .. WR Trevon Brown, a 1,000-yard receiver in 2017, has 23 catches for 347 and two TDs. ... K Jake Verity is 10-for-10 on field goals. ... Starting nose tackle Alex Turner (3 sacks) is from Jersey Village.<doc-sep>East Carolina has released its football uniform combination for Saturday night's game against the Houston Cougars. For the second time this season, the Pirates will be wearing their all purple combination, rocking purple helmets with purple jerseys and purple pants. There will be a slight twist, however, as the Pirates are slated to break out their chrome helmets for the first time in 2018. Kickoff against the Houston Cougars is set for 7 p.m. from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. This week's @Suddenlink Uniform Reveal is in, and @ECUPiratesFB will be breaking out the chrome lids for the first time this year. @adidas pic.twitter.com/Aoca1XT86t — ECU Athletics (@ECUAthletics) October 12, 2018 The all purple combination has been worn by ECU before this season. In case you forgot, here's a recap of the uniforms we've seen from the Pirates thus far in 2018. vs. North Carolina A&T: Purple Helmets, Purple Jerseys, White Pants vs. North Carolina: Purple Helmets, Purple Jerseys, Purple Pants at USF: Purple Helmets, White Jerseys, White Pants vs. Old Dominion: Purple Helmets, Purple Jerseys, Gold Pants at Temple: Purple Helmets, White Jerseys, Purple Pants Houston comes into Saturday's contest 4-1 overall and 1-0 in American Athletic Conference action. The Cougars only loss of the season came at Texas Tech. East Carolina is 2-3 and 0-2 in AAC action. The Pirates are coming off a disappointing showing at Temple last weekend where they lost 49-6. Houston beat ECU last season 52-27. Here are a few further notes from ECU Media Relations about Saturday's game against the Houston Cougars. THE SERIES ECU leads 7-6 ... Oddly, the Pirates have captured four of seven meetings in Houston, but have split six matchups played at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium ... Saturday's battle marks only the second American Athletic Conference clash between the two programs (and first AAC contest between ECU and UH in Greenville). HOUSTON (AREA) COACHING "CONNECTIONS" While no members of ECU's current full-time coaching staff spent time working directly with the UH program, there are two individuals who benefitted (professionally) from their playing or coaching experience in the Houston area ... Special teams coordinator Kirk Doll's first full-time coaching position was as a defensive ends and offensive line coach at Texas City High School in 1977 and 1978, while Pirates' defensive line coach Rod Wright was Parade All-America selection at Alief Hastings High School before starring at Texas and in the NFL. AGAINST THE LONE STAR STATE The Pirates have won 21 of 34 all-time matchups (21-13) against FBS programs from the state of Texas ... ECU is 7-6 against UH, 4-3 vs. SMU, 3-1 vs. UTEP, 2-2 vs. Rice, 2-1 vs. TCU, 1-0 vs. Texas Tech, 1-0 vs. North Texas and 1-0 against Texas State ... ECU has never faced Baylor, Texas or Texas A&M on the gridiron ... At Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the Pirates are 12-5 overall when playing Texas-based teams. THE AMERICAN - YEAR FIVE ECU has posted an 81-62 (.566) all-time mark against current members of the American Conference ... The Pirates currently sport series records against Memphis (15-7), Cincinnati (13-8), Tulane (11-4), UCF (10-6), Temple (8-8), Tulsa (8-6), Houston (7-6), SMU (4-3) Connecticut (3-1), Navy (1-5) and USF (1-8).<doc-sep>
East Carolina and Houston will do battle under the lights inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the first home night game of the year for the Pirates. The Cougars come in as 16-point favorites at 4-1 overall and 1-0 in American Athletic Conference action. Their only loss of the season came at Texas Tech. East Carolina is 2-3 and 0-2 in AAC action. The Pirates are coming off a disappointing showing at Temple last weekend where they lost 49-6. UH and the Pirates have been meeting regularly dating back to 1997 when ECU entered Conference USA. East Carolina leads the all-time series 7-6. The Pirates won four of the first five meetings, but Houston has rebounded to take five of the last eight. Last year’s early November meeting in Houston marked the first game between the two programs since 2012. Houston jumped out to a big lead early and cruised to a 52-27 triumph. The two teams have enjoyed some memorable games. The Pirates defeated the Case Keenum-led Cougars, 38-32, inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in the 2009 Conference USA Championship, sealing the game on a last-second interception in the end zone. Linebacker Pierre Bell’s late interception of Keenum in 2007 clinched a 37-35 road win. In 2002, the Pirates out-scored the Cougars 54-48 in a high-scoring affair. Here's everything you need to know about Saturday night's game, including how to watch, listen and more. WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. EDT LOCATION: Greenville, NC (Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium) TV: CBS Sports Network STREAM: FuboTV (Try for free) RADIO: 107.9 FM WNCT (local) OR TuneIn (Streaming) WEATHER AT KICKOFF: Clear, 62 degrees Here are a few further notes from ECU Media Relations about Saturday's game against the Houston Cougars. AT DOWDY-FICKLEN STADIUM - 2-1 IN 2018 ECU's all-time record at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is 187-99 (.654) ... The Pirates opened the facility on Sept. 21, 1963 with a 20-10 win over Brian Piccolo and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in front of 17,000 fans and celebrated the stadium's 50th anniversary in 2013 ... Before a 2-5 record last year and 3-3 marks in both 2015 and 2016, ECU was 5-1 in 2014, 2013 and 2012 (15-3) and won a combined 10 of 12 home matchups in 2009 (6-1) and 2008 (4-1) ... Overall, ECU is in search of its 40th winning campaign at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this fall. THE PIRATE NATION - OVER 8.5 MILLION STRONG ECU has always been able to claim plenty of hometown support, even more so when playing at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium during the fall - establishing itself as a conference attendance leader on a near annual basis ... In all, a total of 8,578,441 fans have seen the Pirates in action since 1963 ... Since the completion of a 7,000-seat expansion project in 2010 (to push capacity to 50,000), the Pirates have drawn 2,307,155 fans. ATTENDANCE LEADERS ECU topped all American Athletic Conference members in regular season attendance in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and currently stands second in 2018 ... Overall, ECU ranks 56th nationally in average attendance (37,662) and 72nd in capacity percentage (75.32) this season ... A closer look at Top 5 AAC leaders: 1. UCF (43,322), 2. ECU (37,662), 3. USF (33,320), 4. Cincinnati (32,085), 5. Navy (30,887) ... ECU has drawn at least 40,000 fans to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in 22 of its last 31 home games dating back to 2013 ... The Pirates missed hitting the 40K mark by less than 5,000 during their first three home dates of the 2018 season, drawing 38,640 vs. N.C. A&T (following a weather-related postponement) for the opener, 39,298 against North Carolina on Sept. 8 before attracting 35,047 fans to watch the ODU matchup to close out September.