2010 Pirate predictions

This, is a great article written by fellow Pirate Booty blogger Ron Cherubini.

He's dead-on about our Pirates, the media and the collective lack of respect our team has received going into this season. Granted, we lost a great coach and a butt-load of great players. But I'm optimistic about our chances and I think our schedule should support rebuilding throughout the season. I love that we're opening with a meaningful conference game at home. That's what we need this year to get the juices flowing....not a trip to WVU or William & Mary.

Predictions (Matt....calling you to join in):

Week 1 - Tulsa @ home: We get to open with a home day game against a western rival who we've owned of late. Our boys will come out of the purple haze in front of a sold out, 50k+ crowd on ESPN2. Tell me that won't provide some kind of boost for a newbie team trying to establish its identity. Pirate Nation will be in full force to remind them that they are the champions.
(W) ECU 51- Tulsa 49

ROBB PREDICTS: We win on a hail Mary in a shootout
Ron Predicts: Pirates win on called play named "Big Ben" and win 51-49.

Week 2 -Memphis @ home: The opening win boosts the collective confidence level of our team and they lay a beat down on the Tigers......the way God intended it.
(W) ECU 35 -Memphis 10

ROBB PREDICTS: We win by a brazillion points, setting an NCAA record for longest snake made of cups.
Ron Predicts: Pirates Defense shows up for the first 15 minutes and we win going away.

Week 3 - @ VaTech: We get one of the next two games. Not this one....not yet. Btw, this rivalry will be so much better when we're in a BCS conference.
(L) ECU 13 - VaTech 28

ROBB PREDICTS: We get destroyed by at least 40.
Ron Predicts: Pirates offense against Hokies offense...we outscore them 38-32.

Week 4 - @UNC: After a bye week to lick our wounds and reflect on a 2-0 C-USA start, we come out and win one against the arrogant, looking past us Tarheels. Half way to to claiming football supremacy in the state of North Carolina. In a couple weeks we'll earn the trophy.
(W) ECU 26 - UNC 15 (yeah, I know...weird score.... might be a safety or two in this one)

ROBB PREDICTS: Despite being investigated for cheating, UNC is still cheating and whips us good.
Ron Predicts: Road weary Pirates fall short against the cheaters, lose 41-35.

Week 5 - @Southern Miss: This one worries me. Night game, Brett Farvvvraa on the sidelines, rivalry week, they're just a bit better than us this year.
(L) ECU 17 - SoMiss 24

ROBB PREDICTS: We never beat them.
Ron Predicts: Pirates offense too much to keep up with for USM, end road trip with a 44-28 win.

Week 6 - NC State @ home: I don't care how new the players are to Ruff's system or what the match-ups are on the field. We're at home and everyone in Purple 'n Gold gets up for this one. The two time defending C-USA Champions beat this perennially mediocre ACC team like a red headed step child.
(W) ECU 35 - NC State 9

ROBB PREDICTS: We should always and forever beat them and we do.
Ron Predicts: State has owned our ass three-straight games. It ends with a much needed home game where Pirates plus the fans send State home lozers, 41-31.

Week 7 - Marshall @ home: Marshall is a tough team. They want to beat us at home and control their own destiny in the east. Alas, they don't.
(W) ECU 27 - Marshall 21

ROBB PREDICTS: We get blown out.
Ron Predicts: Pirates' home field advantage sways this one. Pirates win battle over control of pace on offense to win going away, 49-28.

Week 8 - @Central Florida: Because of the stumble against the Eagles, we need this game to control our destiny. We've been building confidence and acumen all season long. The boys bring their jocks down to Orlando and pull out a victory. This team begins to truly believe they've got the right stuff ....another block in the foundation is cemented. (Oh...and the Knights start shopping for a new coach. O'leary puts "Coached two teams to the National Championship" on his resume)
(W) ECU 30 - UCF 13

ROBB PREDICTS: We take a huge lead early but the defense sucks and we lose on a hail Mary.
Ron Predicts: Not convinced George O'Leary can beat us...even at home. Pirates too much for Knights, 44-21.

Week 9 - Navy @ home: The wishbone comes to town. And we let the foot off the accelerator. Disappointing loss, but SoMiss looses to Tulane....and we own the tie breaker with Marshall in the east.
(L) ECU 13 - Navy 20

ROBB PREDICTS: Another team we should beat and we don't.
Ron Predicts: Upset special. Navy offense keeps pace with Pirates and ends home win-streak with a 49-48 upset.

Week 10 - @ UAB: They used to be the team that would consistently throw a monkey wrench on our season. Not this year, just some more road kill in the East Division.
(W) ECU 31 - UAB 3

ROBB PREDICTS: We kill them.
Ron Predicts: Big bounce back game, Pirates crush UAB, 63-17.

Week 11 - @ Rice: They out gun us on the road. We were starting to think about post conference play. Classic trap game.
(L) ECU 35 - Rice 38

ROBB PREDICTS: We should always kill nerds and we almost blow it but pull it out in the fourth quarter not on a hail Mary.
Ron Predicts: Rice not good, but at home better than bad. Pirates win in a struggle, 38-35.

Week 12 - SMU @ home: Day after thanksgiving, Greg Jones makes the trip home to see the new stadium (and show Natalie and Andrew why East Carolina is so special). His beloved Pirates reward him with a win that vaults them into the championship game.
(W) ECU 38 - SMU 28

ROBB PREDICTS: We win.
Ron Predicts: Pirates payback Mustangs for Bullshit loss last season, win 42-32.

C-USA Championship Game - ECU v. Houston: Both teams having been eyeing each other all season long from afar. We get the inevitable re-match that both teams wanted in their heart of hearts. The clueless sports "reporters" and prognosticators Ron referenced so eloquently in this article eat crow by the shovelful as we three-peat in front of their naked steaming eyes.
(W) ECU 35 - Houston 34

ROBB PREDICTS: We won't be in the championship game.
Ron Predicts: Pirates get rematch with Tulsa and this time, win without Big Ben, Pirates defense rises and the Pirates finish them off, 48-35 to Threepeat!

Then we'll loose to some mid-grade SEC team in the Liberty bowl......some things never change.

Go Pirates!!!!!!!

ROBB PREDICTS: I don't know what record my predictions put the Pirates at but I'm sure I will be off and we will get some bowl game that I will begrudgingly watch and enjoy because we will win.