3. Pitt
Win Total 8.5
ATS PICK Under
I’m a firm believer in Kedon Slovis.
The USC transfer was fantastic get for the Pitt offense, and talent-wise, the potential is there to make a big jump up in production. Remember, Kenny Pickett was just a guy – he didn’t throw more than 13 touchdown passes in any of his first four seasons – and then it all kicked in last year.
Do I think Slovis can throw 42 touchdown passes like Pickett did in 2021? Nope.
Do I think Pitt can easily replace Jordan Addison – the Biletnikoff winner as the nation’s best receiver who’s now at USC? Nope.
Will the Pitt pass rush be among the best in the country? Yes. Will this team be a factor in the ACC race? Yes. Could this team beat anyone and everyone on a schedule without Clemson or NC State in ACC play? Yes.
Did Pitt win more than eight games in any regular season from 2010 to 2020? No.
The team will be strong again, but the opener against West Virginia is dangerous, the date with Tennessee is a big problem – even though both are at home – and none of the four ACC road games against Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia, and Miami are givens.
The Panthers will likely lose two of those four conference road games, it could drop the date to Tennessee, and then all it would take is one other outlier defeat – remember, they lost to Western Michigan last year – to a Virginia Tech or a Syracuse, or a Georgia Tech to get to four losses.
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