1. Pitt at Miami
LINE: Miami -13.5
ATS PICK: Pitt
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line
Just how much do you care about Kenny Pickett’s ankle?
The Pitt quarterback has been terrific so far, throwing for almost 1,400 yards in five games with eight touchdown passes and three picks, but it’s not like he’s Dan Marino.
He’s not a lock to not play, but he’s definitely not 100%, at least that’s what head coach Pat Narduzzi says. That’s obviously a big problem for Pitt to win the game, but you’re looking to keep this within two touchdowns
Pitt is a whole lot more than Pickett.
It has lost two straight games by one point each, it struggled against a mediocre Louisville team, and it only beat Syracuse 21-10. However, the pass rush is the best in the ACC, the run defense is second in the nation allowing just 52 yards per game, and the offensive line is just strong enough to start doing a bit more with the ground game depending on Pickett’s status.
Miami? It’s a whole lot better than it was last year, and QB D’Eriq King has been fantastic, but there’s little downfield passing game, there hasn’t been a penalty the team hasn’t liked to commit, and the biggest key this week, there’s no control of the clock.
Miami holds the ball for just over 26 minutes per game. Pitt keeps it for around 33 minutes an outing. The Panthers can slow this thing down better than the Canes can.
And then there’s the Prove It factor.
Miami beat UAB, Louisville and Florida State. All were big national games that everyone saw, and there might have been a bit of a pumped up factor here because the Canes didn’t sputter like they did last year.
Clemson exposed all of that.
Again, it’s not about Miami losing – although, the money line on Pitt is a sweet value – but it’s about the 13.5.
[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]