The East Carolina Pirates were coming off of a debacle of a season in 2004-05 as they finished just 9-19 straight up while covering just 10 out of 24 games against the spread. It is interesting to note, however, that they lost just four of their final ten games against the sportsbooks, despite all of their problems, as they were a value added team by the end of the season as the college basketball gambling masses rejected them, as well as outright opposed them.
Stumbled out of the gate
East Carolina began the 2005-06 season with a pair of unlined games starting with an 86-75 home win over North Carolina A&T. That was followed by a 72-77 home loss to Gardner-Webb.
The Pirates were finally on the board for their third game, which was a 70-68 overtime home win over Wofford as 3-point chalks. In an unusual bit of scheduling, East Carolina met Wofford again in their very next game and this time won 66-62 while getting the cash as a 6-point road dog. But from there, problems followed.
East Carolina next lost at Old Dominion 53-79 as 15.5-point dogs and then followed that up with a 70-78 loss to North Carolina Greensboro as a 7.5-point chalk. The East Carolina Pirates dropped their third straight game against the spread with a 48-56 loss to Western Carolina as 9-point chalks as they stumbled out of the gate with a 1-4 record against the sportsbooks.
Brief bargains
After a horrific 48-70 unlined loss at Winthrop, East Carolina was back on the board and responded with a 62-73 loss at Toledo as 14-point dogs for a cover. Then after an unlined home win over Limestone they hosted NC Wilmington and scored an 82-69 upset win and cover as 7-point dogs.
On the road at Wake Forest for their next game, the East Carolina Pirates were defeated 54-58 as 18-point dogs for a third straight payoff. They then hosted St. Paul’s College in an unlined win before getting back on the board as Conference USA play kicked into high gear with a 67-77 loss at Memphis that they covered as 16-point dogs to end a run as brief bargains with four straight covers.
East Carolina Pirates Back in the tank
East Carolina’s brief prosperity against the sportsbooks was not to last, however, as they entered the meat of CUSA play. Their problems began with a 45-58 loss at Texas El Paso as 12-point dogs. That was followed by a tough 70-74 home loss to Southern Methodist as a 2.5-point chalk as the Pirates were easing back in the tank.
East Carolina next hit the road to meet Tulane and lost 52-60 as a 2-point dog. That was followed by a 59-64 loss to Central Florida as a 4-point chalk for a fourth consecutive loss against the spread. The Pirates were able to stop the bleeding with a 59-45 win over Tulsa as 4.5-point home chalks but it would prove to be, unfortunately, a band aid treatment on a terminally ill cancer patient.
Operating in the red East Carolina Pirates
Back on the road at Marshall, East Carolina would suffer a 66-72 loss at 4.5-point dogs and followed that up with a 60-64 overtime home loss to Houston as 3.5-point dogs as they resumed operating in the red.
After a cover at UAB in a 64-72 loss as 16-point bargain dogs, the Pirates resumed losing with a 54-62 loss at Rice as 5-point dogs. This was followed by their final straight up win of the season, a 63-59 triumph over Marshall as 4-point chalks for a push.
East Carolina limped home starting with a 49-69 loss at Central Florida as 3.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 53-66 loss at home against Tulane as 4.5-point chalks followed by a 56-74 loss at Southern Miss as 1.5-point dogs.
In the CUSA tourney the East Carolina Pirates made a quick exit with a 52-65 loss to Central Florida as 3.5-point dogs to finish with just two payoffs against the spread in their final fourteen games of the season for a season that was “business as usual.”