UNC vs. Pittsburgh Prediction
Can Pittsburgh find a way to get to .500 and pick up a double-digit win at home when it plays host to North Carolina tonight at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Pittsburgh is the favorite at home tonight, as the Panthers are getting odds of -9 points against the Tar Heels. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 49 points. North Carolina has has won four straight meetings with Pitt and the Tar Heels are 3-1 against the spread in those four victories. The public is currently putting 63 percent of the wagers on Pittsburgh at home in this game. Tonight’s contest takes place from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and will air live on ESPN.
Pittsburgh has won back-to-back games for the first time this season, topping Duke and Virginia to get to 4-5 on the season and 2-3 in the ACC. The Panthers are 3-4-2 against the spread on the season. Pitt hasn’t had much to offer on offense this year, averaging 24.2 points and 363.8 yards per game. The team lost Max Browne for the season due to a shoulder injury about a month ago. Ben Dinucci has filled in at QB and thrown for 895 yards with four touchdowns. Darrin Hall is the leading rusher with 473 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Pitt is holding opponents to 27.9 points and 420.7 yards per contest.
North Carolina is coming off a 24-19 loss at home to Miami on Oct. 28 for its sixth straight loss. The Tar Feels are now 1-8 on the season and 0-6 in the ACC. The Heels are also 2-7 against the spread, covering in just one road game. UNC has taken a big dip on offense this season, averaging just 21.3 points and 344.2 yards per game. The Heels have injury issues at QB as Chazz Surratt and Brandon Harris are both questionable tonight due to undisclosed injuries. Surratt has thrown for 1,284 yards and seven touchdowns this year. Jordan Brown and Michael Carter have combined for 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Carter is also questionable tonight due to an undisclosed injury. When it comes to defense, UNC is allowing 33.4 points and 447.1 yards per game this season.
Bet on North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
UNC put up a nice fight against Miami a few weeks back, but the Tar Heels have had four double-digits losses during this current losing streak. Pittsburgh has played two of its best games over the last few weeks and now returns home looking to continue a push for a bowl game. UNC is just 1-7 in its last 8 ACC games and 1-8 ATS in their last 9 on grass. I think the Heels struggle against tonight.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH -9