The Pitt Panthers and the Miami Hurricanes meet in ACC college football action from Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.
The Pitt Panthers will try to build on their three-game win streak after a 28-26 win over Duke last time out. Kedon Slovis has thrown for 2,135 yards, 7 touchdowns and 8 interceptions on 57.8% passing while Israel Abanikanda has a team-high 1,320 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns and Rodney Hammond Jr. has 310 rushing yards this season. Jared Wayne leads Pitt’s receiving group with 807 receiving yards while Konata Mumpfield has 444 receiving yards and Bub Means and Gavin Bartholomew each have 250+ receiving yards this season. On defense, SirVocea Dennis has a team-high 85 total tackles with 6 sacks while Calijah Kancey has a team-high 7 sacks. Erick Hallett II has 3 interceptions as well on the year.
The Miami Hurricanes will try to get a win to get bowl eligibility here after alternating wins and losses in each of their last 7 games after a 40-10 loss to Clemson last time out. Henry Parrish Jr. has a team-high 581 rushing yards and 4 TDs, Jaylan Knighton has 351 rushing yards and Thaddius Franklin Jr. has 5 rushing scores this season. Will Mallory leads Miami’s receiving group with 33 grabs for 435 yards while Colbie Young has 378 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Brashard Smith, Xavier Restrepo and Frank Ladson Jr. each have 200+ receiving yards this season while Four more Hurricanes have at least 100 receiving yards this season. On defense, Corey Flagg Jr. has a team-high 56 total tackles with 2.5 sacks Akheem Mesidor has a team-high 7 sacks as part of Miami’s 37 sacks as a team this year.
Pitt is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a win and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 games against a team with a losing record. Miami is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games and 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games overall while the over is 5-2 in their last 7 games against a team with a winning record.
I get the case to be made for a home underdog in spots, but it’s really hard to get behind Miami in their current form as there’s just not a whole lot to like about this version of the Miami Hurricanes, especially offensively. Pitt’s had their issues as well, but they’ve been clearly saving their best for last and I think this is a spot where we get the best of the Pitt Panthers to close out the season. The points with Miami fighting for bowl eligibility are tempting, but I have to take Pitt by a touchdown here.