Kent St. Golden Flashes vs
Pittsburgh PanthersPredictions & Preview

Kent State Golden Flashes Expected to Cover Spread Against Pittsburgh Panthers in Week 1 Matchup

The Week 1 matchup between the Kent State Golden Flashes and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium promises to be an intriguing game. The Golden Flashes, coming off a challenging season with a nine-game losing streak, will face off against the Panthers who ended their season with a 3-9 record. Pittsburgh opens as the favorite with a -24 point spread that has remained steady. Betting on this game could prove to be an interesting opportunity for football fans.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Golden Flashes +1150 | Panthers -2500
• Spread: Golden Flashes +24 (-110) | Panthers -24 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 55.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 96%.

Kent St. vs Pittsburgh Stats

Kent St. Golden Flashes

The Kent State Golden Flashes are looking to improve upon their performance from the 2023 season in order to achieve more wins. Offensively, the team struggled with an average of 270.4 total yards per game, with their passing game being a significant factor. Running back Ky Thomas showed promise with 162 rushing yards. Quarterback Devin Kargman led the passing offense with 305 yards, but overall lacked efficiency and potency, ranking third to last in the conference. Defensively, the Golden Flashes allowed an average of 390.6 total yards per game, ranking them 10th in the conference. Their pass defense in particular has been consistently exploited. With a power ranking of 131 and struggling to perform both offensively and defensively, it will be a challenging task for Kent State to see better results in their upcoming games in the 2024 season.

Pittsburgh Panthers Analysis

The Pittsburgh Panthers are aiming to see improvement in the upcoming season after a challenging 2023 campaign. Despite a balanced yet unpredictable profile, they struggled with their total offense, ranking last in the ACC with an average of 317.9 yards per game. Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. has been a key player for their rushing offense, while quarterback Nate Yarnell has shown effectiveness in the passing game. Their defense, while not as weak as some teams, still has areas of vulnerability, particularly in pass defense and rush defense. Coach Pat Narduzzi will need to see significant improvement to avoid missing bowl games for the first time since 06-07. With a power ranking of 99, Pittsburgh ranks #115 for offense and #74 for defense, with an average of 20.17 points scored and 27.33 points given up per game. In their last three matchups against Kent St., Pittsburgh has struggled, going 0-3 (1-2 ATS).

Kent State Golden Flashes Expected to Cover Spread Against Panthers Despite Skill Level Disparity

While I do not expect Kent State to emerge victorious in the upcoming game due to their inferior skill level, a point spread of 24.5 seems excessive for a Panthers team that only averaged 317.9 total yards per game. It is imperative for Nate Yarnell to exhibit his leadership capabilities with a resounding victory before I can fully trust in the team's ability to succeed, especially against weaker opponents. Thus, I lean towards Kent State Golden Flashes covering the spread, as the current spread appears to be unnecessarily high.

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