Penn State vs. Pittsburgh Pick
Which team will emerge with a cover when physical football teams Penn State and Pittsburgh meet up today at Noon ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Pittsburgh is the slight favorite in this game, as the Panthers are getting odds of -5 points against Penn State. The over/under total for the contest is currently listed at 48 points. These two teams haven’t met since 2000, but Pittsburgh has covered in six of the last seven encounters.
Bet on Penn State vs. Pittsburgh
Penn State got things started with a 33-13 win over Kent State last week. The Nittany Lions were unable to cover a 24-point spread and they have failed to cover in five straight games. Penn State had just 354 yards of offense in the win, but the defense held Kent to 279 yards and forced three turnovers. The Nittany Lions rushed for 145 yards as a team, but averaged only 3.8 yards per carry, a number you would expect to be higher. Trace McSorley was 16 of 31 passing for 209 yards with two touchdowns.
Pitt began the season with a 28-7 win over Villanova. The Panthers were a 28-point favorite and they have failed to cover in three straight and six of their last eight. The game was a real struggle for offense, as Pitt had just 261 total yards while Villanova was held to 172 total yards. Pitt really struggled to run the ball despite the return of James Conner. As a team, Pitt had only 86 rushing yards on 34 carries. They did hold Nova to just 53 rushing yards on 33 carries.
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This game is likely to be ugly. Neither offense is coming in with a lot of momentum and both teams have very physical defenses. With the spread down to 5 points, I like Pitt at home. The Panthers should be able to improve their run game this week. Conner is a better back than he showed in his return. Look for him to lead the offense to better success while Pitt’s defense causes problems for McSorley and Penn State.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 PICK: PITTSBURGH -5