A couple of schools that prefer running the football, No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers (-8) are set to welcome the Pittsburgh Panthers to Virginia. This key ACC game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and ESPN2 is in line to televise the action. When the two teams faced each other last year, Pittsburgh got the victory 31-14.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Preview
In this Friday Atlantic Coast game, Virginia has been tabbed as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 8 points. The Panthers are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Cavaliers are -330. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 52 points. If Virginia falls behind early, it would likely result in a nice in-game betting opportunity.
The opening line was -7. The game’s over/under hasn’t changed since it opened at 52.
The Panthers are 4-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.6 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-3. The surprising Cavaliers are up 6.3 units this season. The team is 7-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-4.
The Panthers have gone 4-4 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against conference opponents. The Cavaliers are 6-2 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.
The Panthers just pulled off a 54-45 win over Duke last week. Kenny Pickett completed only eight passes on 18 attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Qadree Ollison (149 yards on 18 rushes, one TD) and Darrin Hall (53 yards on 13 carries) provided the ground attack while Maurice Ffrench (two receptions, 75 yards, two TDs) and Ollison (two catches, 22 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Virginia enters this one having just earned a 31-21 win over North Carolina. The Wahoos defensive secondary allowed the Tar Heels to air it out for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Antonio Williams was a bright spot in the defeat for North Carolina, recording 51 yards on two catches. For Virginia, Bryce Perkins completed 18-of-27 passes for 217 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Perkins (112 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) and Jordan Ellis (64 yards on 16 carries) mounted the running game as Olamide Zaccheaus (10 receptions, 108 yards) and Tavares Kelly (three catches, 21 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Pittsburgh’s run the ball on 62.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Virginia has an overall rush percentage of 58.4 percent. The Panthers have run for 228 yards/game (including 279 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 17 scores on the ground this year. The Wahoos are putting up 186 rush yards per game (165 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Panthers ought to have the more disruptive lines up front, since their offensive line has yielded just 31 sacks while the D-line registered 23 sacks. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have allowed 31 sacks and their defense has recorded only 28 sacks.
The Panthers offense has averaged 146 yards in the air overall (165 per game against conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Wahoos have recorded 205 pass yards per outing (192.4 in the ACC) and have 15 total pass scores.
Defensively, Pittsburgh has let opponents run for an average of 186 yards and throw for 251 yards per game. The Virginia D has allowed 214.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 113.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Wahoos are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.16 to opposing QBs, while the Panthers have allowed a 7.11 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Pickett is up to 1,030 yards this season, and has connected on 95-of-160 attempts with eight passing scores and five interceptions. He’s got a 4.93 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.27 over the last two games.
In the home locker room, Bryce Perkins has connected on 117-of-185 passes for 1,434 yards, 14 TDs and eight INTs. Perkins’ ANY/A sits at 6.04 for the year and 6.45 across his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Virginia Cavaliers
SU Winner – Virginia, ATS Winner – Virginia, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
Each team defense has produced 16 sacks this season.
The Virginia offense has lost four fumbles in 2018 while Pittsburgh has lost six.
The Panthers offense has produced six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cavaliers have accounted for three such plays.
The Pittsburgh defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Virginia has given up three such plays.
The Pittsburgh offense has created 17 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Virginia has created 13 such runs.
The Panthers defense has allowed 20 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cavaliers have given up six such runs.
The O/U for Virginia’s previous game was set at 51. The over cashed in that 31-21 win over North Carolina.
Over its last three games, Virginia is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three contests, Pittsburgh is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Virginia has won six of its last seven games SU, with a -14-point loss to North Carolina State on September 29th representing its one defeat over that span.
The O/U for Pittsburgh’s last game was set at 46. The over cashed in the team’s 54-45 victory over Duke.
Pittsburgh has averaged 6.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 7.3 over its last two.
Virginia has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.4 over its last two.
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