Virginia vs Pittsburgh Odds: Panthers -7½ Pick to Cover Spread

According to the college football lines, this game between Virginia (4-4, 2-3 ACC) and No.18 Pittsburgh (7-1, 3-1) can be close. However, while the spread might be close, the play on the field may tell a different story.

In Virginia’s last game, it lost for the third straight week in maybe one of its final chances to pick up a win this season, falling at home against North Carolina 41-14.

The previously unbeaten Panthers went on the road to face another ACC team without a loss and suffered a 48-25 setback at SMU. Still, the Panthers are favored by 7½ points to avoid a second straight defeat..

Virginia vs Pittsburgh Game Information

• Game: Virginia (4-4, 2-3 ACC) vs Pittsburgh (7-1, 3-1)
• Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
• Day and Time: Saturday, Nov. 9, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Virginia vs Pittsburgh Live Stream: ACC Network

2 Keys for Betting Virginia vs Pittsburgh

1. Offense Returns to Form for Panthers

Last week, Pitt’s offensive performance could have been better. ThePanthers have been one of the best offensive teams in the ACC, but SMU shut them down. According to Virginia vs Pittsburgh stats, the Panthers average the fourth-most points per game (38.9) in the ACC at 38.9 and and sixth-most yards per game (444.4) in the conference.

However, against SMU, Pitt did not get into the end zone till the third quarter. There is still hope for the Panthers to bounce back as they had 453 yards. It was far from the best game for Eli Holstein, who was eventually benched after throwing for 248 yards and an interception.

Congrats to @eli_holstein10 for being named a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalist‼️

Back to work Saturday…

Read more: https://t.co/1hHKuOZhep pic.twitter.com/mVRDKSOyCh

— Pitt Panthers (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) November 6, 2024

There was also no running game for Pitt’s offense to fall back on. That has not been a strength of the Panthers, ranking 10th in the ACC at 153.6 rushing yards per game. It was even more of a struggle against SMU as the Pittsburgh Panthers only rushed for 103 yards, 3.2 per carry.

The good thing for Pitt is that Virginia does not have one of the top defenses in the ACC. The Cavaliers have allowed the third-most yards (408.8) and the fourth-most points (30.8) per game in the conference. That is bound to help Pitt cover the spread in NCAA football predictions.

NCAAF Best Bet: Pittsburgh (-7½)

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Can Virginia’s Offense Bounce Back?

The lopsided loss to North Carolina was shocking for Virginia. The NCAA football odds were set at 3½ in favor of Virginia, and North Carolina had lost four straight games against an ACC opponent. The Virginia Cavaliers were home and had covered five of seven spreads before the loss.

However, the game quickly got out of hand for Virginia, so it makes sense to bet on Pitt to cover the spread. Before being benched, Anthony Colandrea threw for 156 yards and had two interceptions. His replacement, Tony Muskett, did look good. Yes, it was garbage time, but Muskett completed 8 of 13 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.

While the passing game could get nothing going, the rushing attack was even worse. Virginia averaged 0.2 rushing yards on 29 carries. Pitt certainly does not have one of the best defenses in the ACC, but it is slightly better than North Carolina’s, allowing 364.1 yards and 25.3 points per game.

Pittsburgh is the better team, so it is a great option to cover the spread. But when it comes to the points total, there is a lot more to think about. The Panthers’ offense should look good, but it is hard to imagine the Cavaliers pulling their weight to hit the over, leading to the under being the best betting option in college football picks.

College Football Best Bet: Pittsburgh Under 57½

Questions of the Day

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.