The No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers (+5) are traveling south to battle the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN and the opening kickoff for this vital ACC matchup is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Panthers at Miami (FL) Hurricanes Betting Preview
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast matchup, Miami (FL) has been tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 5 points. The Panthers are also receiving +180 moneyline odds while the Hurricanes are -220. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points, and if one side catches a lucky break early, it will likely generate a reasonable live betting opportunity.
Odds have shifted some from where they first opened. The opening line was -6 and the game’s total was originally placed at 51.
The profitable Panthers have recorded 4.8 units so far and are 7-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U mark of 5-5. The lackluster Hurricanes have lost 7.0 units this season. The team is 4-7 ATS and has an O/U record of 5-6.
The Panthers have gone 7-4 straight up (SU), including 6-1 SU against conference opponents. The Hurricanes are 6-5 SU overall and 3-4 SU in conference play.
These two programs faced off last year with the final result being a 24-14 win for Pittsburgh.
The Panthers are coming off a resounding 34-13 win over Wake Forest last week. Kenny Pickett completed 23 passes on 30 attempts for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Qadree Ollison (just 52 rushing yards on 18 attempts) and Darrin Hall (44 yards on 13 carries, one TD) led the ground attack while Rafael Araujo-Lopes (six receptions, 73 yards, one TD) and Maurice Ffrench (six catches, 76 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Miami (FL) take the field this week having just earned a 38-14 win over Virginia Tech. N’Kosi Perry completed 21-of-34 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Homer (69 yards on 12 rush attempts) led the running game as Jeff Thomas (four receptions, 32 yards) and Will Mallory (three catches, 28 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Pittsburgh’s run the ball on 64.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Miami (FL) has an overall rush percentage of 57.4 percent. The Panthers have run for 248 yards/game (including 288 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 28 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hurricanes are putting up 189 rush yards per game (177 in conference) and have 23 total rushing TDs.
The Panthers offensive scheme has averaged 155 yards in the air overall (171 per game versus conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Hurricanes have recorded 189 pass yards per game (159.4 against ACC competition) and have 19 total pass scores.
Defensively, Pittsburgh has allowed 164 rush yards and 241 pass yards per game. The Miami (FL) D has allowed 141.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 132.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Hurricanes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.86 to opponents, while the Panthers have given up a 6.72 ANY/A.
Offensively, Pickett has put up 1,533 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 144-of-232 attempts with 11 scores through the air and five interceptions. Pickett’s got a 5.44 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 12.23 over the past two outings.
We’re looking for Panthers to maintain tempo by feeding their running backs early and often. Taysir Mack (381 yards, one TD) has gotten looks recently, but backfield mates Qadree Ollison (871 rush yards, seven rush TDs) and Darrin Hall (702 rush yards, eight rush TDs) have been big focal points in the Pittsburgh offensive scheme.
In the home locker room, N’Kosi Perry has managed to complete 76-of-139 passes for 872 yards, 13 TDs and five INTs. Perry’s ANY/A sits at 5.36 for the season and 6.10 over his past two outings.
The Hurricanes also like to keep their RBs involved. Jeff Thomas (479 receiving yards, three TDs) has stepped up lately, but Travis Homer (771 rush yards, two rush TDs, 135 receiving yards) and Cam’ron Davis (104 rush yards, one rush TD, one receiving TD) have seen a lot of action lately.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Pittsburgh Panthers at Miami (FL) Hurricanes
SU Winner – Miami (FL), ATS Winner – Miami (FL), O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Miami (FL) defense has created 31 sacks on the year while Pittsburgh has 27.
Miami (FL) has lost nine fumbles this season while Pittsburgh has lost seven.
The Panthers offense has recorded nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Hurricanes have accounted for six such plays.
The Pittsburgh defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40+ yards, while Miami (FL) has given up three such plays.
The Pittsburgh offense has created 28 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Miami (FL) has created 18 such runs.
The Panthers defense has allowed 23 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Hurricanes have given up 17 such runs.
The Over/Under for Miami (FL)’s last outing was set at 52.5. The under cashed in the team’s 38-14 win over Virginia Tech.
Over its last three matches, Miami (FL) is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Over its last three contests, Pittsburgh is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Pittsburgh’s previous game was 62.5. The under cashed in the team’s 34-13 victory over Wake Forest.
As a team, Pittsburgh has rushed for 7.2 yards per attempt across its past three games and 7.8 over its last two.
Miami (FL) has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.9 over its last two.
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