Published October 16, 2026 · By the Goalorithm model desk
Preview
The East Carolina Pirates visit the Memphis Tigers in college football on Thursday, October 22, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. The matchup brings together teams with different season records and contrasting recent results.
What the model expects
Goalorithm’s model gives the Memphis Tigers 88% to win and the East Carolina Pirates 12%. These are estimates, not certainties; the model’s likelier result is a Memphis Tigers win.
The projected score is 34.3 for the Memphis Tigers and 19.1 for the East Carolina Pirates, with 53.4 points in all. The model projects a margin of the Memphis Tigers by 15.2 points.
Records and recent results
The Memphis Tigers are 5-1 overall this season, with 231 points scored and 125 allowed in 6 games. The East Carolina Pirates are 3-3, with 141 points scored and 143 allowed in 6 games; the Memphis Tigers have the better record.
The Memphis Tigers beat the UAB Blazers 38-13 at home on October 10, and before that beat the Charlotte 49ers 59-8 on the road on October 3 and beat the UT Martin Skyhawks 45-21 at home on September 19. The East Carolina Pirates lost 30-17 on the road to the UAB Blazers on October 15, and before that beat the Rice Owls 28-12 at home on October 10 and beat the North Carolina Central Eagles 42-9 at home on September 26.