The Miami (FL) Hurricanes (+6) are flying north to visit their in-conference counterpart Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field. This daytime matchup is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPN has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast game, Pittsburgh is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 6 points. The Hurricanes are also receiving +190 moneyline odds while the Panthers are -240. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 48 points, and if one team catches a lucky break early, it’ll probably create a nice in-game betting opportunity.
Early action has leaned toward the Panthers. This opening line was initially placed at -5 and the over/under was originally 47.5.
The disappointing Hurricanes are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and are down 24.7 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 4-3.
The surprising Panthers have gained 4.5 units this season. They’re 5-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 2-4.
The Hurricanes have gone 3-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against ACC opponents. The Panthers are 5-2 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Hurricanes are reeling from a 28-21 loss to Georgia Tech last week. N’Kosi Perry completed 16 passes for only 188 yards and two touchdowns. Cam’Ron Harris (136 rushing yards on 18 attempts) led the running attack. K.J. Osborn (four receptions, 39 yards, one TD) and Michael Harley (four catches, 50 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Pittsburgh is coming off of a 27-20 win over Syracuse. Kenny Pickett completed 18-of-33 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Davis (103 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game while Maurice Ffrench (six receptions, 92 yards, one TD) and Taysir Mack (four catches, 34 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
Miami (FL) has run the ball on 48.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Pittsburgh has a rush percentage of 45.2 percent. The Hurricanes have produced 129.7 rush yards per game (including 128.3 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 11 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Panthers are averaging 120.6 rushing yards per game (97.3 in conference) and have five total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then it seems like the Panthers should hold an advantage along both the offensive and defensive fronts. Their offensive line has allowed only 15 sacks while their D-line has logged 36 sacks. The Hurricanes O-line has allowed 31 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss just 21 times.
The Hurricanes offensive scheme has tallied 279.6 yards/contest in the air overall (290 per game versus conference opposition) and has 15 passing TDs so far. The Panthers have put up 270.3 pass yards per game (228 in the ACC) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Miami (FL) has let opponents run for an average of 96.1 yards and pass for 200.7 yards per game. The Pittsburgh defense has given up 212.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 90.4 yards per game on the ground. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.17 to opposing QBs, while the Hurricanes have given up a 5.78 ANY/A.
Perry has been more efficient than Pickett of late, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 7.85for the year and 6.70 over the last two outings. Pickett’s ANY/A is 5.80 for the year and 5.41 over his last two outings.
When these two teams met last year, Miami (FL) won by three touchdowns 24-3.
Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Panthers NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Miami (FL), ATS Winner: Miami (FL), O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Miami (FL)’s last game going into it was 46.5. The over cashed in the team’s 28-21 loss to Georgia Tech.
- Miami (FL), as a team, has produced 4.2 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.2 over its last two.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and only 2.7 over its past two.
- Pittsburgh has lost five fumbles this season while Miami (FL) has lost four.
- In its last three contests, Miami (FL) is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Pittsburgh’s last match was set at 53. The under cashed in the team’s 27-20 victory over Syracuse.
- The Hurricanes offense has produced four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Panthers have accounted for six such plays.
- The Miami (FL) defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Pittsburgh has given up nine such plays.
- The Miami (FL) offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Pittsburgh has created four such runs.
- The Hurricanes defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Panthers have given up four such runs.
- The Pittsburgh defense has notched 36 sacks on the year while Miami (FL) has just 21.
