Anchors Aweigh: The Pirates and Midshipmen will try to navigate through potentially treacherous waters as rain bands from Hurricane Sandy will affect Eastern North Carolina. The Pirates remember and want to prevent a repeat of the outcome of Navy's 2010 invasion of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium when the Midshipmen amassed 521 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns on a rainy Saturday. Both East Carolina and Navy can see the postseason on the horizon. The Pirates need one victory to become bowl eligible for the eighth time since 2000. The Middies need two wins to qualify for a bowl for the ninth time since 2003.

*2012 FBS National ranking

TOP PERFORMERS AT A GLANCE

PASSING  ATT. CMP. INT. YDS. TD

RUSHING ATT. YDS. AVG. TD

RECEIVING NO. YDS. AVG. TD

TACKLES UT AT TFL SACKS

Navy utilizes a triple-option offensive attack while employing a multiple defensive alignment. ECU will line up in a spread offense and use a 3-4 when defending.

WORTH NOTING

Read Greg Vacek's Complete Analysis of Today's Opponent on Boneyard Banter.

Key Links: Kevin's Keys to the Game | C-USA at a Glance | ECU Recruiting | ECU Schedule

View full-size animated radar loop and scientific forecast discussion.

GAME DAY WEATHER

This will truly be a matchup affected by conditions at sea, which may be appropriate as Navy and the Pirates meet at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Temperature for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff is projected to be in the mid-60s and won't vary significantly during the nonconference contest, according to the National Weather Service. The path of Hurricane Sandy along the Atlantic Coast is projected to create winds North-Northeast at 18 miles per hour during the game. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent during the game with 100 percent cloud cover. Conditions would appear to favor the Midshipmen, who have a ground-oriented offense, while East Carolina throws more. But, as former ECU coach Steve Logan once observed, "the receivers know where they're going, the defensive backs don't." (Filed by Al Myatt)