The Pittsburgh Panthers and No. 25 Virginia Tech Hokies are ready to face off on the grass at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. This critical daytime game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to ESPN2.
Betting Preview: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 4 points in this ACC game. The Panthers are also receiving +165 moneyline odds while the Hokies are -185. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 46.5 points. Multiple good live betting opportunities could exist during this showdown.
The early action has leaned toward both the Hokies and the under. The opening line was initially placed at -3 and the over/under was originally 49.5.
Each of these teams has been profitable this year as the Panthers have gained 4.5 units while the Hokies are up 4.6 units.
The Panthers have gone 7-3 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against conference opponents. The Hokies are 7-3 SU overall and 4-2 SU in conference play.
Each team enters the contest on a two-game undefeated streak. The Panthers are coming off a 34-27 win over North Carolina last week in which Kenny Pickett completed 25-of-41 passes for 359 yards and one touchdown. A.J. Davis (58 rushing yards on 19 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Pickett (53 yards on 12 carries, two TDs) mounted the ground attack in the win. Taysir Mack (six receptions, 83 yards) and Shocky Jacques-Louis (four catches, 104 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Virginia Tech is coming off of a 45-0 win over Georgia Tech. The defensive unit held its territory in the victory, holding the Yellow Jackets to only 81 passing yards and 53 rushing yards. Adonicas Sanders was a bright spot in the loss, posting 22 yards on two catches for Georgia Tech. For Virginia Tech, Hendon Hooker completed nine-of-13 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. Deshawn McClease (34 rushing yards on 11 attempts) mounted the ground game in the win as James Mitchell (four receptions, 90 yards, one TD) and Keshawn King (two catches, 82 yards) led the receiving corps.
Pittsburgh has run the ball on 47.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 49.3 percent across possessions in conference play. Virginia Tech has an overall run percentage of 63.5 percent, and has rushed the ball 65.7 percent of the time when playing ACC opponents. The Panthers have run for 131.7 yards per game (including 127.5 per game against Atlantic Coast opponents) and have nine touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Hokies are averaging 178.8 rushing yards per game (185 in conference) and have 18 total rush TDs.
The Panthers offense has logged 260.1 yards per contest in the air overall (232.3 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing scores so far. The Hokies have produced 214.4 pass yards per outing (225 against ACC competition) and have 19 total pass TDs.
Pittsburgh appears to hold an advantage in both areas of the defense. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 90.9 yards and pass for 207.1 yards per game. The Virginia Tech defense has allowed 241.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 123.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.32 to opposing QBs, while the Hokies have given up a 5.05 ANY/A.
Offensively, Pickett is up to 2,107 passing yards on the year, and has completed 60 percent of his 330 attempts with nine passing scores and six interceptions. He has a 5.43 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.52 over the last two outings.
A.J. Davis (390 rushing yards, four rush TDs, 242 receiving yards on the year), Shocky Jacques-Louis (154 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Taysir Mack (646 receiving yards, two TDs) have each played significant roles lately.
For the home team, Hendon Hooker has connected on 44-of-74 passes for 739 yards, eight TDs and zero INTs. Hooker’s ANY/A stands at 10.96 for the season and 10.28 over his past two games.
We also expect the Virginia Tech offense to spread its attack this Saturday. Tre Turner (102 rushing yards, one rush TD, 348 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns on the year), Keshawn King (269 rush yards, two rush TDs, 141 receiving yards) and James Mitchell (267 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) have combined for 491 total yards and three touchdowns the last two games.
When these two schools faced one another a year ago, Pittsburgh knocked off Virginia Tech easily 52-22.
Pittsburgh Panthers at Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Virginia Tech, ATS Winner: Virginia Tech, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The Panthers offense has registered eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Hokies have put up seven such plays.
- The Pittsburgh defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Virginia Tech has given up eight such plays.
- The Pittsburgh offense has created seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Virginia Tech has created 15 such runs.
- The Panthers defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Hokies have given up 14 such runs.
- The Pittsburgh defensive unit has 45 sacks on the year while Virginia Tech has just 33.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.1 over its last two.
- Virginia Tech has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.0 over its last two.
- In its last three contests, Virginia Tech is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Pittsburgh’s last game going into it was 49. The over cashed in the team’s 34-27 win over North Carolina.
- In its last three matchups, Pittsburgh is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Virginia Tech’s last match was 51.5. The under cashed in the team’s 45-0 victory over Georgia Tech.
- Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a four-point loss to Miami (FL) on October 26th accounting for the only defeat over that stretch.
- Virginia Tech has won six of its last seven games SU, with a -1-point defeat to Notre Dame on November 2nd accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
