Conference rivals Pitt and Syracuse meet for last time as members of the Big East before they both bolt for the ACC next year when they play at the Carrier Dome Friday night (7 pm ET, ESPN).
Pittsburgh (2-2), which has won the last seven games in this series, was an early three-point favorite over the 1-3 'Cuse. The Panthers have also rewarded bettors in this series, going 7-3 ATS in those 10 meetings.
Syracuse had lost five straight at home before beating FCS Stony Brook a few weeks back.
View Pittsburgh vs Syracuse Odds and Stats.
Betting Line: The Orange were listed as 2.5-point underdogs at sportsbooks such as Sportsbook on the college football lines.
Power Rankings / Prediction: It's a betting matchup between the No. 65-rated Orange and the No. 4-ranked Panthers, according to the NCAAF Power Rankings here at Odds Shark. Predictive-scoring models run on this game indicate a potential 33-25 result in favor of the Panthers.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Syracuse's No. 68-ranked offense (27 PPG) against a Panthers defense that ranks No. 54 at 23 PPG. The Orange passing attack has averaged 341.8 yards per game, more than the Panthers give up through the air (185.5 YPG on average).
Defensively, the Panthers feature the league's No. 108-rated road run defense, allowing 259 yards per game. Syracuse, meanwhile, ranks No. 84 in rushing offense at home.
Pittsburgh was a 55-10 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Gardner-Webb. There was no line on the game due to the fact a non-board team was involved. In their last game, Pittsburgh's aerial attack generated 344 yards and the Panthers came away with a 55-10 victory over Gardner-Webb at Heinz Field.
Last time out for Syracuse, they were a 17-10 loser as they battled Minnesota on the road. Syracuse failed to cover in the match as a 2.5-point favorite, while 27 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. In their last gridiron battle, Alec Lemon did much of the damage, producing 106 receiving yards but Syracuse managed to defeat the Orange 17-10 at TCF Bank Stadium.
Pittsburgh Panthers Trends:
When playing in October are 7-3
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 5-5
When playing within the conference are 5-5
Syracuse Orange Trends:
When playing in October are 6-4
When playing on turf are 3-7
After outgaining opponent are 2-8
When playing within the conference are 2-8
A few Panthers at Orange trends to consider:
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Syracuse
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Syracuse
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against Syracuse
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Syracuse's last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Syracuse is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
Syracuse is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Syracuse is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Pittsburgh home to Louisville, Saturday, October 13
Syracuse at Rutgers, Saturday, October 13
