Pittsburgh Panthers vs SMU Mustangs Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 11/02/2024

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Venue:  Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX

Where to Watch:  ACC Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Pitt +7, SMU -7; Over/Under:  57 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Pitt +7, SMU -7; Over/Under:  57.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Pitt +7.5, SMU -7.5; Over/Under:  57.5 points

Pittsburgh Panthers:  7-0 (3-0) (2nd place, ACC)

SMU Mustangs:  7-1 (4-0) (3rd place, ACC)

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Pittsburgh Panthers:  won their last game at home against the Syracuse Orange 41-13.

SMU Mustangs:  won their last game on the road against the Duke Blue Devils 28-27 in overtime. 

Pittsburgh is entering this game with a 7-0 record overall and they have a 3-0 record in their conference games too. They are 5-0 in their home games, 2-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Syracuse 41-13. Eli Holstein was the starting QB and he completed 11/15 passes for 108 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Desmond Reid led the team in rushing yards with 47. Raphael Poppi Williams Jr. led the receivers with 31 receiving yards on 2 receptions and 1 TD. Rasheem Biles led the defense in that game with 7 solo tackles and 5 assisted tackles while Rasheem Biles, Braylan Lovelace, and Sincere Edwards each led the defense in sacks with 1. Rasheem Biles, Kyle Louis, Brandon George, Braylan Lovelace, and Phillip O'Brien Jr. each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

SMU is entering this game with a 7-1 record overall and they have a 4-0 record in their conference games too. They are 3-1 in their home games, 4-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Duke 28-27 in OT. Kevin Jennings was the starting QB and he completed 13/24 passes for 258 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. Brashard Smith led the team in rushing yards with 117 and 2 TDs. Roderick Daniels Jr. led the receivers with 153 receiving yards on 2 receptions and 1 TD. Isaiah Nwokobia led the defense in that game with 8 solo tackles and 5 assisted tackles while Cameron Robertson led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Pittsburgh listed as a 7 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Pittsburgh has looked great in their games this season with their 7-0 record overall and their 3-0 conference record which has them right near the top of the ACC. Their defense has looked great all year as they haven't been giving up many points, but their offense has also been putting up a ton of points in their games too. They are one of the few undefeated teams left in the ACC so they do have a target on their back, but they are also in position to make the ACC Championship so they are going to be focused on staying undefeated. Meanwhile, SMU has also looked really good in their games this season with their 7-1 record overall and their 4-0 conference record which has them right near the top of the ACC. Their 1 loss this season was in a non-conference game, but it also came at home where they will be in this one. SMU has looked good this season with their offense, but their defense has been giving up a ton of points and that will be an issue here. Even if they find a way to pull away at home in this game, Pittsburgh has the offense to make a comeback and keep this one close. SMU is coming off a tight win in their last one too, beating Duke in OT by 1 point, so they aren't going to blow out a good defensive team like Pitt even being at home here. Pittsburgh is going to fight to stay undefeated and they will keep this game close, but they also have a really good chance to win it outright with the way they have played all season. The best way to place a bet here is on Pittsburgh to cover the spread in this game. 

Pittsburgh SMU Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, November 2, 2024 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Pittsburgh 24 SMU 20.

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Pittsburgh Panthers: 1-5 ATS as a road underdog. 2-5 ATS after a game with a turnover margin of +2 or better. 0-5 1H ATS off a home win by 17 points or more. 21-11 OVER in all lined games. 4-1 OVER as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points. 4-0 OVER after allowing 14 points or less last game.

SMU Mustangs: 11-6 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 4-1 ATS after a win by 6 or less points. 7-4 ATS off a road win. 6-3 OVER off a road win against a conference rival. 7-4 OVER off a road win. 

Pittsburgh Panthers:  E. Holstein (QB) Probable - Undisclosed. B. Taylor (OL) Out - Knee.

SMU Mustangs:  J. Bailey (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. J. Knighton (RB) Out - Knee. K. Jennings (QB) Questionable - Knee. R. Maryland (TE) Out - Knee. R. Brinson (WR) Questionable - Knee. Z. Minors (RB) Questionable - Lower Body. C. Wheaton (RB) Out - Knee.

“Our defense was our offense today.” - Pat Narduzzi after his team’s win against Syracuse in their last game. 

“We should’ve lost that game five different times late. We should have. And if we played it 100 times, we’re probably losing 99 of them the way the game unfolded. This just happened to be the one time. Our guys just kept playing, kept fighting.” - Rhett Lashlee after his team’s win against Duke in their last game. 

WR Johnson, Kenny 

WR Mumpfield, Konata 

WR Williams Jr., Raphael 

TE Bartholomew, Gavin 

QB Holstein, Eli

RB Reid, Desmond

WR Dixon, Moochie 

WR Hudson, Jordan 

WR Bailey, Jake

TE Maryland, RJ

QB Jennings, Kevin

RB Smith, Brashard

Passing: E. Holstein (1808)

Rushing: D. Reid (541)

Receiving: K. Mumpfield (473)

Touchdowns: D. Reid (7)

Passing: K. Jennings (1594)

Rushing: B. Smith (745)

Receiving: R. Maryland (359)

Touchdowns: B. Smith (10)

Coaches:

Pittsburgh Panthers: Pat Narduzzi (10th season)

SMU Mustangs: Rhett Lashlee (3rd season)