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West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

Backyard Brawl

One drawback of conference realignment is the toll it takes on former conference rivals. West Virginia and Pittsburgh had some classic annual matchups but they haven’t played since 2011.

Both teams will have new faces at quarterback with former USC passer Kedon Slovis recently being named the starter at Pittsburgh after Kenny Pickett headed off to the NFL. The well-traveled J.T. Daniels moved from Georgia to West Virginia after he also started his collegiate career at Southern California.

Mountaineers vs Panthers Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Mountaineers vs Panthers Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

West Virginia has split its last four season openers against teams from Power-5 conferences. Just two of Pittsburgh’s last eight season openers have come against Football Bowl Subdivision competition.

According to the college football lines, West Virginia (+20000) is tied for 33rd and Pittsburgh (+35000) is tied for the 55th-best odds to win the national title.

Despite plenty of outgoing transfers, defending ACC champion Pittsburgh still has the third-best odds to win the conference title for the second year in a row. West Virginia (+2200) is eighth in the Big 12 championship odds.

Pittsburgh (+275) trails only Miami in the odds to win the ACC Coastal Division title.

Let’s check the latest, stats, injury reports, and NCAA football odds for Mountaineers vs Panthers.

West Virginia brought in Daniels at quarterback and hired Graham Harrell as the offensive coordinator to bolster an offense that finished eighth in the Big 12 in total offense and ninth with an average of 5.4 yards per play.

Leading receiver Winston Wright has moved on. Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Sam James were both very involved in the passing game in 2021 and this season it should be more of the same.

Dante Stills is back to lead the defense. However, he figures to be surrounded by a host of transfers as seven of the 10 incoming transfers came on the defensive side of the ball. It remains to be seen what impact Miami linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave, Colorado State cornerback Rashad Ajayi, North Dakota State linebacker Jasir Cox, Georgia Tech defensive lineman Michael Lockhart, James Madison cornerback Wesley McCormick, Murray State cornerback Marcis Floyd and Cincinnati defensive end Zeiqui Lawson will make for the Mountaineers.

Pittsburgh Panthers

The offense will look much different with quarterback Pickett now in the NFL and All-American receiver Jordan Addison set to suit up at USC.

Slovis, a former USC quarterback, is hoping to return to the form he displayed as a freshman when he completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,509 yards to go along with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Pittsburgh returns all of its starters on the offensive line with Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis and Rodney Hammond giving Pittsburgh three players who had more than 100 carries a season ago.

With the departure of Addison, Jared Wayne is the top returning receiver with 47 catches, 658 yards, and six touchdowns.

Leading tackler Sirvocea Dennis leads the returnees on defense as 13 of the 20 players with at least 20 tackles a season ago are back.

The defensive line could be a strength of the defense led by Habakkuk Baldonado (a team-high nine sacks) and Calijah Kancey (13 tackles for loss, seven sacks). Add in Deslin Alexandre, who was just named a team captain for the second season in a row.

Kancey earned second-team preseason All-American honors from the Associated Press.

Brandon Hill (79 tackles), Erick Hallett (72 tackles), Marquis Williams, A.J. Woods, and Judson Tallander return in the secondary.

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Injury Report

For West Virginia, tight end Mike O’Laughlin is questionable with a knee injury.

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Head-to-Head

The former conference rivals haven’t played since 2011. West Virginia has won the last three meetings and that includes a 35-10 victory on the road in 2010. Four of the last five games between the teams have been decided by four points or less.

Four of the last five matchups between the Mountaineers and Panthers have finished under the total.

Pittsburgh has lost its last four games against Big 12 competition, although only two of those contests have been in the last six seasons. West Virginia has won two games in a row against ACC teams, beating Virginia Tech 27-21 as a two-point favorite in 2021 and topping North Carolina State 44-27 as a seven-point underdog in 2019.

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Game Information

  • Game: West Virginia (6-7, 4-5 in the Big 12 in 2021) vs Pittsburgh (11-3, 7-1 in the ACC)
  • Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
  • Day/Time: Thursday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m. ET
  • Mountaineers vs Panthers Live Stream: ESPN

Take a Look at These Special Articles For The Upcoming NCAAF Season

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Betting Lines

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Prediction

Both of these teams will look much different in 2022 than they did in 2021. That could be good news for West Virginia, but Pittsburgh wants things to go like they did a season ago.

Something to consider for those who bet online: West Virginia has covered against college football odds in just two of its last seven games against ACC teams. Pittsburgh has covered in 11 of its last 15 games.

The total has gone under in five of West Virginia’s last six season openers while eight of Pittsburgh’s last 10 home games have finished under the total. Even with the loss of so many key players, it is hard to pick against the defending ACC champions as Pittsburgh opens the 2022 season at home.

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Edge

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Results

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Game Injuries

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Game Summary

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