It looks to be a three-team race in the ACC Coastal, and two of those contenders will face off in Week 9. The Pittsburgh Panthers will host the Virginia Tech Hokies in a game that could go a long way in clearing up the standings.
Both teams are 5-2 on the season, but Virginia Tech has a half-game lead in conference play. While the Hokies are currently higher on the totem pole, the Panthers should keep this one competitive because of the home field advantage. The Hokies and Panthers are both trying to keep pace with North Carolina in the ACC Coastal race, and the winner will remain close to the Tar Heels.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 9 game is set for Thursday, October 27, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Virginia Tech -3.5
Pitt +3.5
Odds Analysis
The Hokies are road favorites and the spread is a tough one, since even a win by a field goal wouldn’t be enough to cover. However, the betting public believes in Virginia Tech, as it is getting about 57 percent of the action early on in the week.
Check back later for a scoring total to decide whether going with the over or under makes the most sense for this matchup.
Matchup to Watch
VIrginia Tech rush defense against Pittsburgh ground game -- Both sides excel at this particular facet of the game, and the side that comes out on top is likely to be in good position by the end of the contest.
The Hokies are allowing only 103.6 yards per game on the ground, and forcing teams to become one-dimensional allows the secondary to make plays.
Pittsburgh will still certainly attempt to impose its will on the ground. The Panthers are averaging an impressive 239.1 yards per game rushing, which has helped lead them to a successful season.
James Conner leads the way for Pittsburgh, rushing the ball 124 times for 531 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Conner had 20 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 45-31 win over Virginia.
Key Stat
2. The number of interceptions thrown by each starting quarterback this season, which is an extremely low number for this late in the season.
Virginia Tech’s Jerod Evans has thrown for 1,611 yards with 19 touchdowns with only the two picks. He is also a threat on the ground, as Evans has piled up 46 rushing yards or more in six of the seven games this season.
Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman has thrown for 1,252 yards with 11 touchdown to go along with the two picks. He hasn’t thrown an interception over his past four starts, although the Panthers are more ground-oriented and take fewer risks in the passing game.
Evans is the more talented signal-caller and will likely have a bigger impact on the outcome, but continuing to take care of the ball is paramount for the quarterbacks on both teams.
Free ATS Pick
These teams have identical overall records and only one conference loss apiece. They are both right in the mix in the ACC Coastal race and this looks like a matchup which could go either way.
The Hokies have the better quarterback and defense, and are coming off an impressive win over Miami. Pittsburgh has won three straight and has the home field advantage.
Even though Virginia Tech must play this one on the road, there is enough of a talent advantage to pull off the win. Choose the Hokies to both cover and win on the moneyline in this contest.
The Hokies have a win over North Carolina already, so dispatching the other main foe in their conference race would be a big help when it comes to tiebreakers down the road.
College Football Odds: Virginia Tech 31, Pittsburgh 24
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