Virginia Tech will host Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 EST with the Pitt Panthers favored on the road by 5. The current posted total is 58.
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Both teams come into this game at 1-0 in conference play and tied for 1st place in the ACC Coastal division, adding to the importance of the matchup.
Virginia Tech is 3-2 overall. Their two losses came by 6 at West Virginia and then last weeks heartbreaker by 3 at home to Notre Dame, a game in which they held an 8 point lead with 3:55 to go in the game.
Pitt comes into this game flying high with an offense that’s clicking on all cylinders. This Pitt team has scored at least 41 points in every game so far in 2021. The Panthers are 4-1 overall with their lone loss coming at the hands of Western Michigan.
Head to Head History
11/21/2020 Virginia Tech 14 - 3.5 at Pittsburgh 47
11/23/2019 Pittsburgh 0 + 3.5 at Virginia Tech 28
11/10/2018 Virginia Tech 22 + 3.0 at Pittsburgh 52
11/18/2017 Pittsburgh 14 +14.0 at Virginia Tech 20
10/27/2016 Virginia Tech 39 - 3.5 at Pittsburgh 36
10/ 3/2015 Pittsburgh 17 + 3.5 at Virginia Tech 13
10/16/2014 Virginia Tech 16 + 1.0 at Pittsburgh 21
10/12/2013 Pittsburgh 9 + 8.5 at Virginia Tech 19
9/15/2012 Virginia Tech 17 -10.5 at Pittsburgh 35
11/ 8/2003 Virginia Tech 28 - 3.5 at Pittsburgh 31
11/ 2/2002 Pittsburgh 28 +12.5 at Virginia Tech 21
11/ 3/2001 Virginia Tech 7 -17.5 at Pittsburgh 38
10/28/2000 Pittsburgh 34 +16.0 at Virginia Tech 37
10/30/1999 Virginia Tech 30 -22.0 at Pittsburgh 17
9/26/1998 Pittsburgh 7 +14.0 at Virginia Tech 27
11/22/1997 Virginia Tech 23 -10.5 at Pittsburgh 30
10/26/1996 Pittsburgh 17 +31.0 at Virginia Tech 34
9/30/1995 Virginia Tech 26 - 2.5 at Pittsburgh 16
10/22/1994 Pittsburgh 7 +18.5 at Virginia Tech 45
9/11/1993 Virginia Tech 63 + 0.0 at Pittsburgh 21
average outcome:
Pittsburgh 23.9 Virginia Tech 26.4
margin = 2.60
time-weighted average outcome:
Pittsburgh 27.3 Virginia Tech 21.9
margin = -5.46
average result when the home team is Virginia Tech
Pittsburgh 14.8 Virginia Tech 27.1
margin = 12.33
average result when the home team is Pittsburgh
Virginia Tech 25.9 Pittsburgh 31.3
margin = 5.36
53.85 % of games went Over
33.33 % went Over at Virginia Tech
(since 2000 )
average total points per game = 50.30
time-weighted average total = 49.19
the home team covered 65.00 % of the time
the road team covered 35.00 % of the time
Ave ATS differential = 5.90
the favorite covered 36.84 % of the time
the underdog covered 63.16 % of the time
Ave ATS differential = -8.47
the favorite won SU 63.16 % of the time
Pittsburgh covered 70.00 % of the time
Virginia Tech covered 30.00 % of the time
Virginia Tech covered 44.44 % of the time at home
Is the Virginia Tech offense up for the challenge this week facing this high powered Pitt offense? It’s notable that Pitt scored 47 in 2020 and 52 in 2018 with both of those games being at Pitt. Yet in 2019, the Panthers were shut out 28-0 in Blacksburg. So which Tech defense shows up?
Bettors Beware
Our number on this game is Pitt by 3. That would appear to give a slight lean towards the Hokies at home in this big spot. However, there are a few things bettors need to be aware of before pulling the trigger.
The Hokies will be without top linebacker Dax Hollifield for the 1st half Saturday. He was ejected for targeting last week against the Irish. Also, QB Braxton Burmeister left the game last week due to a right shoulder injury. He was forced back into the game when backup Connor Blumrick was also knocked out of the game with an injury.
Finally, Pitt was off last week. They come into this key game rested and having had two weeks to prepare for the Hokies who are coming of such a huge emotionally draining loss. The situation favors Pitt here.
Here’s a quote from a local Tech writer. “The Hokies under Fuente have struggled to bounce back after an emotionally-draining performance such as Saturday’s loss.”
There are so many opportunities on the betting board each week that sometimes you simply have to pass a game when things don’t line up. There’s enough uncertainty here, particularly from an emotional standpoint, for us to pass.