The stakes for Pitt’s game against Virginia Saturday at Heinz Field are high, and betting lines favor an ACC Coastal-clinching performance against UVA.
According to Circa Sports, Pitt opens as an 11-point favorite against Virginia in what is expected to be a high-scoring offensive duel — the second in two weeks for the Panthers — between Pitt’s Kenny Pickett and UVA’s Brennan Armstrong. The over/under being set at 65.5 points reflects the offensive capabilities of both teams.
DraftKings Sportsbook favors Pitt by almost two touchdowns, being set as a 13.5-point favorite. A bet against the spread for either team holds -110 odds. The over/under, which is set at 66.5 points, holds -110 odds for either option. A money line bet for Pitt holds -525 odds while the same bet for UVA holds +385 odds.
FanDuel Sportsbook favors Pitt by 13.5 points, with an over/under set at 66.5 points. The betting odds on both bets are set at -110. A money line bet on Pitt holds -520 odds while the same on UVA holds +370 odds.
While UVA’s 28-3 loss against Notre Dame over the weekend looks bad on paper, the Cavs competed without Armstrong on the field due to a lingering injury. With a week off, he should be ready to play at or near full strength in a battle of the top passers in the ACC this season — both quarterbacks having thrown for 3,500 yards this season.
UVA is Pitt’s last obstacle in securing the division title this season and a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina for the ACC championship game against Wake Forest on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m., but it won’t come easy against the Cavaliers’ high-octane offense.
In a series dating back to the early 1950s, Pitt holds an all-time 8-4 record against UVA. Pitt has won five of seven meetings since 2013, but the Cavs won the last meeting — a 30-14 win at Heinz Field in 2019.
UVA is 6-4 against the spread, failing to cover in losses to BYU and ND over the past two weeks — and in losses to Wake Forest and North Carolina in September. Pitt is 8-2 against the spread this season, failing to cover in losses to Western Michigan and Miami.
Bet the underdog.
Pitt will win barely
That is why take the points.
Is it guaranteed that Armstrong plays? He was apparently throwing gingerly pregame this past Saturday.