Old Dominion vs. Coastal Carolina Odds
| Old Dominion Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11.5 -110 | 57.5 -110o / -110u | +340 |
| Coastal Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11.5 -110 | 57.5 -110o / -110u | -450 |
Old Dominion will look to get back to .500 on the season after its loss to Liberty last week at home. But that may be easier said than done as the Monarchs make the trip to Conway, South Carolina, to square off against the Coastal Carolina.
The Chanticleers moved to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Sun Belt in their last game, holding off Louisiana Monroe to become bowl eligible for the third year in a row. The 28-21 conference win was out of character for the Chanticleers, who are typically known for their high-flying offense.
However, against the Warhawks, the Coastal defense showed up in a big way. JT Killen recorded two fumble recoveries in the win, and he and three other Chanticleers set career highs for tackles.
This week against the Monarchs, I expect defense to be much less prevalent. These teams met once back in 2012, with Old Dominion coming away with a 63-35 win.
Things couldn't be more different 10 years later. That first meeting came in the FCS playoffs. Now fighting for position in an FBS conference, do the Monarchs have a chance of handing Coastal its first loss of the season?
Old Dominion Monarchs
None of today's Monarchs were around for that meeting with Coastal Carolina back in 2012, but many of them are all too familiar with Brooks Stadium: home of the Chanticleers.
Last season, Old Dominion played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Monarchs were down, 23-10, early in the fourth quarter when Ali Jennings fumbled what would've been a touchdown pass to pull within six of Tulsa. They lost, 30-17.
Jennings now leads not only the Monarchs and the Sun Belt, but all of the FBS in yards per game, averaging 137.6 per contest through five games. He ranks second in Division I behind only Tulsa's Keylon Stokes in total yards on the season with 688.
Despite his nation-leading numbers, the Monarchs offense has been somewhat lackluster. They rank 55th nationally with 250.2 passing yards per game and are one of the worst when it comes to the rush, currently ranking 124th with just 74.2 on the ground per outing.
Old Dominion averages just 21.6 points and 324 yards per contest.
The defense isn't doing it any favors either. The Monarchs give up 452.6 yards and 27.2 points per game on average. They rank outside the top 100 in rush defense, allowing 191.8 yards per contest, and aren't much better in the secondary, giving up 260.8 passing yards per game.
While they do seem to be pushing it to the limits, the Monarchs defense has taken the bend-don't-break mentality to heart. Old Dominion ranks eighth among FBS teams in opponent red-zone scoring, giving up points on just 65% of opposing teams' trips inside the 20.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Following its 11-0 regular season in 2020, Coastal Carolina started off last season 6-0 before losing its first game to Appalachian State on the road. Now, it's looking to break that 6-0 mark from last season.
The Chanticleers are once again one of the most balanced offenses in the country. Coastal ranks 15th nationally, averaging 219 rush yards per contest. They're also 44th nationally in passing, putting up 261.2 yards per game.
Both marks were expected after Grayson McCall announced his decision to return for his senior season.
What was not expected was the Chanticleers' defensive struggles. They aren't bad enough to be costing Coastal wins yet, but they're something we definitely can't look past.
Last week against Louisiana Monroe — the third-worst offense in the Sun Belt — the Chants gave up 424 yards. That marked the second game in a row that the Chanticleers failed to cover as double-digit favorites.
Old Dominion vs. Coastal Carolina Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina match up statistically:
Old Dominion Offense vs. Coastal Carolina Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 130 | 47 | |
| Line Yards | 125 | 23 | |
| Pass Success | 84 | 111 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 1 | 9 | |
| Havoc | 107 | 15 | |
| Finishing Drives | 72 | 50 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Coastal Carolina Offense vs. Old Dominion Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 25 | 67 | |
| Line Yards | 28 | 100 | |
| Pass Success | 10 | 60 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 100 | 53 | |
| Havoc | 23 | 41 | |
| Finishing Drives | 60 | 26 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 56 | 66 |
| PFF Coverage | 72 | 89 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 87 | 98 |
| Seconds per Play | 23.5 (21) | 28.7 (110) |
| Rush Rate | 43.6% (117) | 58.3% (31) |
Data via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD), FootballOutsiders, SP+, Pro Football Focus and SportSource Analytics.
Old Dominion vs. Coastal Carolina Betting Pick
The Monarchs rank just eighth in passing yards per game among Sun Belt teams, but it relies almost entirely on the passing game. On the other side, Coastal finds itself dead last when it comes to passing yards allowed per game, giving up 277 yards per contest.
The Chants' one saving grace last week against ULM — and a significant reason their defensive struggles have mostly been overlooked — is their ability to force turnovers. Old Dominion ranks 15th in turnover margin and has thrown just two interceptions on the season.
However, I don't see the Monarchs being able to stop this Coastal offense on the ground or through the air. And whether the Monarchs can keep up with Coastal or the Chanticleers pull away, I think this number goes over the total regardless.
I locked in the over at 56.5 and would feel confident at any number 57.5 or better.
Pick: Over 56 (Play to 57.5)
