Pitt is entering the Backyard Brawl as the lone unbeaten squad, but when the Brawl takes place, you can throw just about everything out the window.
Pitt and West Virginia odds have been set as a pick ’em by Circa Sports; that’s when the line is too close to be called by a sportsbook. The points total has been set at 57.5 points, which feels low. But the major betting services favor WVU entering the season.
DraftKings has set Pitt as a 2.5-point home underdog, with a bet for Pitt to cover holding -108 odds. The total point spread has been set at 60 points, with a bet for the over and under holding -110 odds, and the Pitt moneyline has been set at +110.
FanDuel has also set Pitt as a 2.5-point underdog, with a bet for Pitt to cover holding -108 odds. The total point spread has been set at 59.5 points, with the over at -115 odds and the under at +106 odds, and the Pitt moneyline has been set at +106.
The Brawl, when it’s on the schedule, is one of the most eagerly anticipated games on the Pitt schedule — especially when it’s in Pittsburgh. And with the Panthers coming off a historic comeback victory, Panther Nation will be out in full force this weekend.
Pitt is 2-0, coming off a come-from-behind win against Cincinnati this weekend, and is looking to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2020.
West Virginia is 1-1, rebounding from a season-opening loss against Penn State with a 49-14 beatdown against Albany. WVU quarterback Garrett Greene and the Mountaineers’ offense are looking to continue their ascent.
Pitt leads the all-time series with West Virginia 62-41-3. It’s a series that initially kicked off in the 1800s, an 8-0 WVU in 1895, but the two sides played every season from 1943-2011 — and just about every season since 1900 before that. It’s grown into perhaps the greatest rivalry in college football in the years since.
The series stopped for 10 seasons due to both teams leaving the Big East, with Pitt going to the ACC and West Virginia to the Big 12, following the 2011 season.
But it resumed in the 2022 season. Pitt knocked off WVU, 38-31, to open the season at Acrisure Stadium, and WVU returned the favor with a 17-6 win at Milan Puskar Stadium last season. After last season’s embarrassing showing, with three interceptions from then-quarterback Phil Jurkovec, the Panthers have a lot to prove this time around.
The current series will expire in 2025, but another four-game series is set for 2029-32. So, the Backyard Brawl will be played a handful of times in the coming seasons.
Pitt and WVU are scheduled to kick off at Acrisure Stadium Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with the game being broadcast on ESPN2.
not sure what to call on this one. both teams probably are a little better than last season. i’ve got to go with Pitt given the home field. maybe 24-21. H2P !