West Virginia Mountaineers vs
Pittsburgh PanthersPredictions & Preview

Pitt poised to dominate in Backyard Brawl against struggling West Virginia

This weekend, West Virginia and Pittsburgh will face off in the highly anticipated Backyard Brawl. The Mountaineers come into the game with a 1-1 record, while the Panthers boast a 2-0 start to the season. West Virginia has won the majority of recent match-ups between the two teams, with kick-off scheduled for 3:30 P.M. EST on Saturday, Sept. 14. Currently, West Virginia is favored to win with a -2 point spread.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Mountaineers -125 | Panthers +105
• Spread: Mountaineers -2 (-110) | Panthers +2 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 64.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that West Virginia will win straight-up is 56%.

West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Stats

West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia's football team has started the season with a 1-1 record, coming off a big win against Albany after a disappointing loss to Penn State. Quarterback Garrett Greene led the team to victory with three touchdown passes, while the rush game dominated Albany. However, the team struggled with red zone offense against Penn State and the secondary defense remains a concern. West Virginia ranks 82nd in passing offense and 40th in rushing offense, but is allowing 270 passing yards per game and ranks 78th in rush defense. The team is 0-2 against the spread this season. With a power ranking of 64, West Virginia is ranked 118 in offense, 114 in defense, and holds a 1-1 record (0-2 ATS).

Pittsburgh Panthers Analysis

The Pittsburgh Panthers have had a successful start to their season, currently boasting a 2-0 record. They secured a victory over Kent State in their season opener and followed it up with a notable win on the road against Cincinnati, overcoming a 21-point deficit in the second half. Quarterback Eli Holstein played a key role in the comeback, throwing for 302 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers' offense has been strong, averaging 335.5 passing yards and 198.5 rushing yards per game. However, their defense has room for improvement, allowing 239.5 passing yards and 91 rushing yards per game. Head coach Pat Narduzzi praised West Virginia and their coach Neal Brown leading up to their upcoming matchup, known as the Backyard Brawl. Pittsburgh has performed well against the spread this season, going 2-0, and their power ranking currently sits at 79, with a ranking of 15th in offense and 87th in defense. In their last three matchups against West Virginia, Pittsburgh has come out on top, with West Virginia going 1-2 both overall and against the spread.

Pitt set to dominate in upcoming Backyard Brawl against struggling West Virginia

The upcoming Backyard Brawl game between Pitt and West Virginia is anticipated as an exciting rivalry in college football. Pitt enters Saturday's match with high morale, following an impressive comeback win against Cincinnati. Meanwhile, West Virginia secured its first victory last week against Albany, a non-FBS school. However, the Mountaineers struggled defensively in both their recent games, allowing numerous passing yards to their opponents. This weakness creates an opportunity for Pitt's quarterback Eli Holstein to exploit during the upcoming game. With a strong offensive performance last week and a solid defense that consistently shuts down opponents, Pitt appears to have the upper hand. A lack of consistency in West Virginia's performance further supports the prediction of Pitt covering the spread in this match.

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