Pittsburgh Looks To Snap Losing Streak Against Hokies

It is going to be a pretty even playing field with the exception of home field advantage when the Pittsburgh Panthers take on the Virginia Tech Hokies on ESPN at 7: 30 p.m. ET.

Both teams are 1-1 in the ACC Coastal Division. Both have been on a break since Oct. 4. The Panthers will be on their home turf, though, and this slight advantage could not have come at a better time as they look to avoid losing three in a row.

The line for this one has been all over the place. The line opened with the Hokies as -2.5 favorites and moved to -3. The line has since flipped and now the Panthers are the -1.5 favorites. The line flipping exhibits that this game has an element of unpredictability, and with the line set at -1.5, bettors are essentially betting on who is going to flat out win.

Virginia Tech is playing against the spread, which isn’t a bad thing for this team who are 2-0 against the spread when they are playing away from home. Pittsburgh is 1-2 against the spread this year when playing at home.

The total is set at 45 points. Pittsburgh as finished under in its last three games.

It is clear that the key to beating the Panthers is stopping running back Jame Conner. Conner is ranked fifth in the nation in rushing but has been held to an average of 87.5 yards per game on 3.8 yards per carry in the team’s last two losses.

Virginia Tech’s run defense is ranked 16th in the nation. Sophomore quarterback Chad Voytik will need to successfully go to the air if the Hokies manage to shut Conner.

Also in the Hokies’ favor is their road game, which has been solid this season. They defeated North Carolina as 2.5 favorites and Ohio State as -10-point underdogs on the road this season.

The key to stopping the Hokies for the Panthers will be putting pressure on Junior quarterback Michael Brewer who has thrown an interception in every game this season, 11 altogether. The more pressure he faces the more mistakes he will make.