The Pittsburgh Panthers could easily be the only 5-0 team in all of Division I football – but back-to-back crushing defeats have the Panthers reeling as they tangle with the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday. The Panthers (3-2 SU, 1-3-1 ATS) are coming off a 31-30 overtime loss to Boston College, while Miami (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) looks to rebound from a one-sided defeat to Clemson.
- Date/Time: October 17, 12 noon ET
- Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
- TV Coverage: ACC Network
- Sportsbook Odds: Miami -9.5 | O/U 51.5 (Line History)
- Pittsburgh vs Miami Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Miami kicked off the betting action as a 9.5-point favorite over Pittsburgh, though you can now find a -10.5 at select sportsbooks. The total has opened at 51.5.
Pittsburgh News & Notes
The Pirates came within 23 seconds of improving to 4-0 SU back on October 3, but a late NC State touchdown gave the Wolfpack a stunning 30-29 victory. Pittsburgh did one better this past weekend, falling to the rival Eagles when kicker Alex Kessman missed an extra point that would have extended overtime after both teams traded touchdowns in the extra period.
On the positive side, a Pittsburgh offense that averaged a dismal 21.2 points per game last season has ratcheted that rate all the way up to 31.6 ppg through the first five games. Quarterback Kenny Pickett leads the nation in passing yards (1,389) while throwing for eight TDs against just three INTs; he has also benefited from great O-line play, having been sacked just eight times.
Miami News & Notes
The Hurricanes felt good entering last week’s encounter with top-ranked Clemson after rolling to three straight wins by an average of 24 points. But the Tigers put Miami back in its place with a dominant showing on both sides of the football; the Hurricanes didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter while allowing the Tigers to rack up 550 total yards.
The focus this week will be on quarterback D’Eriq King, who was miserable in the passing game against Clemson (12-for-28, 121 yards, two INTs) but finished with 84 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Pittsburgh’s defense has limited foes to just 174.8 passing yards per game (T-13th in the nation) and a scant 53.8 yards per game on the ground (second-fewest in Division I).
Betting Pick: Pittsburgh +9.5 (-110)
The Panthers deserved a better fate the past two weeks and should be able to take advantage of a Miami team that looked ordinary in defeat last week. The Hurricanes are still the superior SU play, but we like Pitt to keep things close.
- Pittsburgh is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games.
- Miami is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 games in October.
- The UNDER is 9-3 in Miami’s last 12 October games.
