Hokies visit Pittsburgh
October 25, 2016
College Football Week 9 Thursday Night Preview
Virginia Tech (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) vs. Pittsburgh (5-2 SU, 2-5 ATS)
We've got a huge game in the ACC Coastal division on Thursday as two programs are looking to catch North Carolina in the wide open division.
Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh enter this Thursday game with identical 5-2 SU records, but both only have one loss in conference play and a second this week would be devastating to their division championship hopes. It's the second straight week we get Virginia Tech in primetime on a Thursday night, but after they looked so good at home in dismantling Miami last week, this week they are out on the road in hostile territory.
The last time Virginia Tech were the visitors it was an ugly 31-17 loss at Syracuse as 23-point favorites and Hokies fans are hoping that the good version of this Tech team shows up in a much more critical game this week.
Pitt enters this contest having won three in a row (1-2 ATS) thanks to a dramatic shift in culture for the school. The Panthers were always thought of as a defensive-first, pound the ball type of program, but they've recruited plenty of offensive playmakers the past few years and it's paying off now. Pitt has scored at least 36 points in every game since their opener and are beating opponents with this offensive attack. Predictably, their defense has taken a hit and has allowed 31+ in five of their last six, but with the way the offense can put up points, Pitt never feels like they are out of a game anymore.
Yet, it's that Pitt defense that has to be concerning to backers, especially after a national audience saw Virginia Tech look so good against Miami last week. Giving up 30+ a week is great when you are expected to win as a favorite, but that methodology doesn't have the same results when that team is an underdog. Pittsburgh's defense is going to have to step up their play this week if they are going to cover the number or win outright and that's a troubling prospect to some.
Sportsbook.ag Odds: Virginia Tech (-4.5)
I am not in that group though as head coach Pat Narduzzi comes from a strong defensive background from his time as Michigan State's defensive coordinator and he'll have his guys ready for the bright lights. Pittsburgh's defense isn't going to come close to becoming one of the country's best defenses overnight, but if they can limit long drives to field goal attempts and perhaps even take one score off the board it will be a big improvement.
Narduzzi knows he's got the offense to give him a chance each week, and it's likely he's spent a lot of his prep time this week in the defensive meeting rooms getting his guys prepared to slow down Virginia Tech's offense. Given Narduzzi's pedigree, and the fact that Virginia Tech had tremendous struggles on the road last time, Pittsburgh is a very live dog in this spot this week.
While some may argue that Tech's struggles on the road vs. Syracuse were in part because they were looking ahead to their big home game vs. Miami – a rival they hadn't beaten for awhile – this is not a good spot for them to bounce back much. They are just 4-10 ATS after winning by 20+ points in their last 14 opportunities, and 2-8 ATS after allowing 280+ yards through the air. Virginia Tech is also entering a house of horrors for the school as they are 0-6 ATS in their last six trips to Pittsburgh, and 1-8 ATS in the last nine meetings with the Panthers overall.
Pittsburgh is used to being the underdog in this rivalry and has won three of the four games outright as dogs since these two schools became conference rivals again in 2012. This week's game could very well end up with an identical result for the Panthers as they'll have a chance to win this game late.
Best Bet: Take Pittsburgh +4.5
October 25, 2016
College Football Week 9 Thursday Night Preview
Virginia Tech (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) vs. Pittsburgh (5-2 SU, 2-5 ATS)
We've got a huge game in the ACC Coastal division on Thursday as two programs are looking to catch North Carolina in the wide open division.
Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh enter this Thursday game with identical 5-2 SU records, but both only have one loss in conference play and a second this week would be devastating to their division championship hopes. It's the second straight week we get Virginia Tech in primetime on a Thursday night, but after they looked so good at home in dismantling Miami last week, this week they are out on the road in hostile territory.
The last time Virginia Tech were the visitors it was an ugly 31-17 loss at Syracuse as 23-point favorites and Hokies fans are hoping that the good version of this Tech team shows up in a much more critical game this week.
Pitt enters this contest having won three in a row (1-2 ATS) thanks to a dramatic shift in culture for the school. The Panthers were always thought of as a defensive-first, pound the ball type of program, but they've recruited plenty of offensive playmakers the past few years and it's paying off now. Pitt has scored at least 36 points in every game since their opener and are beating opponents with this offensive attack. Predictably, their defense has taken a hit and has allowed 31+ in five of their last six, but with the way the offense can put up points, Pitt never feels like they are out of a game anymore.
Yet, it's that Pitt defense that has to be concerning to backers, especially after a national audience saw Virginia Tech look so good against Miami last week. Giving up 30+ a week is great when you are expected to win as a favorite, but that methodology doesn't have the same results when that team is an underdog. Pittsburgh's defense is going to have to step up their play this week if they are going to cover the number or win outright and that's a troubling prospect to some.
Sportsbook.ag Odds: Virginia Tech (-4.5)
I am not in that group though as head coach Pat Narduzzi comes from a strong defensive background from his time as Michigan State's defensive coordinator and he'll have his guys ready for the bright lights. Pittsburgh's defense isn't going to come close to becoming one of the country's best defenses overnight, but if they can limit long drives to field goal attempts and perhaps even take one score off the board it will be a big improvement.
Narduzzi knows he's got the offense to give him a chance each week, and it's likely he's spent a lot of his prep time this week in the defensive meeting rooms getting his guys prepared to slow down Virginia Tech's offense. Given Narduzzi's pedigree, and the fact that Virginia Tech had tremendous struggles on the road last time, Pittsburgh is a very live dog in this spot this week.
While some may argue that Tech's struggles on the road vs. Syracuse were in part because they were looking ahead to their big home game vs. Miami – a rival they hadn't beaten for awhile – this is not a good spot for them to bounce back much. They are just 4-10 ATS after winning by 20+ points in their last 14 opportunities, and 2-8 ATS after allowing 280+ yards through the air. Virginia Tech is also entering a house of horrors for the school as they are 0-6 ATS in their last six trips to Pittsburgh, and 1-8 ATS in the last nine meetings with the Panthers overall.
Pittsburgh is used to being the underdog in this rivalry and has won three of the four games outright as dogs since these two schools became conference rivals again in 2012. This week's game could very well end up with an identical result for the Panthers as they'll have a chance to win this game late.
Best Bet: Take Pittsburgh +4.5
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