The West Virginia Mountaineers and Pittsburgh Panthers open the 2022 season at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the West Virginia at Pittsburgh odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The “Backyard Brawl” is back, as these 2 schools meet on the gridiron for the 105th time, but the 1st meeting since Nov. 25, 2011, a 21-20 West Virginia win in Morgantown. The last time these schools met in Pittsburgh, the Mountaineers routed the Panthers 35-10 in November 2010.
The Panthers won the ACC Championship Game last season, but lost QB Kenny Pickett, who was a 1st-round draft of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pitt hopes incoming transfer QB Kedon Slovis from Southern California will keep the Panthers on the championship path without skipping a beat.
Pittsburgh is ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
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West Virginia at Pittsburgh odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:22 a.m. ET.
Money line (ML): West Virginia +250 (bet $100 to win $250) | Pittsburgh -320 (bet $320 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): West Virginia +7.5 (-112) | Pittsburgh -7.5 (-108)
Over/Under (O/U): 51.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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West Virginia at Pittsburgh picks and predictions
Prediction
Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 20
Money line
Pittsburgh (-320) is a rather high number, costing you 3 times your potential return. That’s a lot, especially in a much-anticipated return of a rivalry game.
West Virginia (+250) is breaking in a new signal caller, as former USC and Georgia QB JT Daniels takes over. He has the potential to help this offense be much, much better, and the Mountaineers D could give Slovis fits. There is a lot of risk just playing the favorite straight up.
AVOID.
Against the spread
WEST VIRGINIA +7.5 (-112) is the play here, and the 7 with a hook is key. I think Pitt -7.5 (-108) gets it done, but it could be a sloppy game with both teams breaking in a transfer quarterback. Continuity in the 1st game will just not be there, and that’s life in the era of the transfer portal.
Over/Under
UNDER 51.5 (-107) is the play here.
These teams haven’t played in a while, so you can avoid the trend of Under going 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. However, pay attention to the fact West Virginia is 5-1-1 in the last 7 tries against ACC foes.
In addition, Pittsburgh cashed the Under in 4 of its final 5 games last season, and lost its dynamic QB to the NFL’s Steelers. Slovis and the offense could take some time to jell, especially early in this game.
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