East Carolina vs UAB Prediction 3/8/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The East Carolina Pirates and the UAB Blazers will meet on Sunday afternoon in an American Athletic Conference matchup at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

East Carolina Pirates Betting Preview

The East Carolina Pirates enter Sunday’s matchup with a 11-19 record, including a 6–11 mark in conference play and a 4-7 record on the road. The Pirates have compiled wins over Buffalo and Georgia Southern, while dropping games to UAB, Temple, Tulane and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

In the East Carolina Pirates 73–70 win over the Buffalo Bulls earlier this month, East Carolina guard Jordan Riley amassed 31 points (10 of 22 shooting from the field), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block illustrating his ability to play both ends of the floor.

The East Carolina Pirates are averaging 71.1 points on 41.9 percent shooting from the field and 29.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Pirates are allowing opponents 77.3 points per contest.

Senior guard Jordan Riley leads the East Carolina Pirates with 22 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Sophomore guard Tybo Bailey is averaging 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal per contest. Senior center Giovanni Emejuru provides the Pirtates with a strong interior presence averaging 14.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.6 blocks per game.

UAB Blazers Betting Preview

The UAB Blazers enter Sunday afternoon’s matchup with a 19–11 overall record, including an 10–7 mark in conference play and a 7-9 record at home. The Blazers have amassed recent wins over East Carolina, Tulane, UNC Asheville and Cleveland State, while losing games to Tulsa, Florida Atlantic and the Wichita State Shockers.

Earlier this season, in the UAB Blazers 109-106 double overtime victory over the South Florida Bulls, UAB guard Chance Westry tallied 24 points (8 of 12 shooting from the field), 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal showcasing his ability to lead the Blazers backcourt.  

The UAB Blazers are averaging 77.8 points on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 27.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Shifting our focus to the defensive side of the basketball, the Blazers are allowing opponents 73.8 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Chance Westry leads the UAB Blazers averaging 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Junior guard Jacob Meyer is averaging 13.6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist per contest. Senior forward Daniel Rivera provides the Blazers with a strong presence in the paint averaging 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game.  

Why the East Carolina Pirates Will Win

 • Guard play. Senior guard Jordan Riley averages 22 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

•  Frontcourt production. Senior center Giovanni Emejuru is averaging 14.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.6 blocks per game.

Why the UAB Blazers Will Win

• Guard play. Sophomore guard Chance Westry leads the UAB Blazers averaging 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

• Momentum. The UAB Blazers have won three of the team’s last four games played this season, including an 80-74 win over the Charlotte 49ers.

• Home court advantage. The UAB Blazers have compiled a 7-9 record at home.

• Offensive edge. The UAB Blazers average 77.8 points per game. Conversely, the Pirates average just 71.1 points per contest.

East Carolina vs. UAB Blazers Prediction

UAB’s scoring balance and home court edge give the Blazers the more reliable path in this matchup. East Carolina’s defensive issues and recent form make it difficult to back the Pirates in this contest, especially against a UAB team that has been far more consistent in conference play. Having stated that, I am backing the UAB Blazers to cover the 10.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: UAB -10.5