Pittsburgh vs Duke preview, predictions and trends
The Duke Blue Devils take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in an ACC matchup today in Durham, North Carolina. For Pittsburgh it is their first ever road game as a member of the ACC. Even though it is the first ACC head-to-head matchup, the Panthers lead the series between the schools 9-8.
Pittsburgh was the Blue Devils opponents in Duke’s first game at Wallace Wade Stadium back in October of 1929 and defeated the Blue Devils 52-7.
Entering this matchup Duke is 2-1 SU and ATS, while they are 1-1 SU at home. The UNDER has paid out in all three of Duke’s games this season.
Pittsburgh is 1-1 SU and ATS this season and this will be their first road game overall. The OVER has paid out in both of Pittsburgh’s game this season.
Duke lost last weekend at home 38-14 to ACC rivals Georgia Tech. However, the Blue Devils are 6-3 over their past nine games at home.
Pitt, which lost at home in it conference opener to Florida State 41-13, returned to form last week with a 49-27 rout of New Mexico. Pitt was ahead at halftime by the score of 35-6 and by intermission had accumulated 388 yards on offense.
In all, the Panthers had 527 yards on offense, including 283 on the ground. Both Isaac Bennett and James Conner rushed for over 100 yards in game.
Defensively, Pitt held Kasey Carrier the talented running back for the Lobos to 22 yards. Entering the game Carrier was the leading rusher in the nation averaging 172 yards per game.
Duke will be pleased to face Pittsburgh since they do not run the triple option. Georgia Tech last week had 344 yards on the ground and held the ball for more than 38 minutes.
Brandon Connette will keep the starting job at quarterback despite hitting only 15 of his 28 passes last week for 112 yards. Connette came on in relief of Anthony Boone the Duke starting quarterback in game one of the season after Boone broke a collarbone.
Tyler Boyd the freshman wide receiver for Pitt was name Receiver of the Week in the ACC this week after catching 6 passes, including one touchdown for a total of 134 yards versus New Mexico.
Duke has a 19-2 record when ahead at the end of three quarters under new coach David Cutcliffe.
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald for Pitt is tied for the lead in sacks in the nation. Donald is averaging 1.5 sacks a game.
The latest line has Pittsburgh as the favorite by 4 points on the road, with the point total on 51. Smart money takes Pittsburgh in a rout with the total paying out on the OVER.
