UTSA Roadrunners vs East Carolina Pirates Prediction – 3/13/2025

The UTSA Roadrunners and the East Carolina Pirates are set to face off on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. This American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament game promises to be an exciting contest between two teams looking to advance in postseason play.

UTSA Roadrunners vs East Carolina Pirates Game Preview

The UTSA Roadrunners enter the tournament with a 12-18 overall record and a 6-12 mark in AAC play. They are coming off a narrow 83-80 victory over Charlotte, where they showcased their offensive capabilities. In that game, UTSA shot 52.6% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Guard Marcus Millender led the team with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Primo Spears contributed 19 points and six assists. Spears has been a consistent performer throughout the season, averaging 19.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. The Roadrunners have been averaging 77.1 points per game but have also allowed the same number of points on defense, indicating a need for improved defensive performance.

On the other side, the East Carolina Pirates finished the regular season with an 18-13 record and a 10-8 conference record. They are looking to bounce back after a tough 81-53 loss to Florida Atlantic University. In that game, the Pirates struggled offensively, shooting just 29.3% from the field and 13.3% from three-point range. Despite the loss, guard Jordan Riley managed to score 18 points, and RJ Felton added 11 points and six rebounds. Felton has been a key player for East Carolina, averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Pirates have been averaging 76 points per game while allowing 73.4 points, suggesting a slightly better defensive performance compared to UTSA.

Betting Insights

As of the latest available information, East Carolina is favored by 2.5 points, with an over/under set at 150.5 points. The Pirates have won both regular-season meetings against the Roadrunners, with scores of 80-79 and 96-89, indicating closely contested games with high scoring. Notably, East Carolina has won six of its last eight games against AAC opponents, while UTSA has lost seven of its last nine games. Additionally, each of East Carolina's last 13 Thursday night games against AAC opponents has produced a total of 150 or fewer points, which is relevant given the current over/under line.

UTSA Roadrunners vs East Carolina Pirates Prediction

Considering the season performances and recent trends, this game is expected to be competitive. East Carolina's slight edge in both offensive and defensive statistics, along with their previous victories over UTSA, positions them as the favorites. However, UTSA's recent win over Charlotte and their ability to score at a high rate cannot be overlooked. Given the high-scoring nature of their previous encounters and both teams' tendencies to allow points, betting on the over 150.5 points appears to be a prudent choice. While East Carolina is favored to win, the margin is expected to be narrow, making the over a more attractive betting option.