Prediction, Preview, and Betting Lines for Virginia vs. Pitt

Before the big loss at SMU, Pitt was still in the running for the ACC Championship and maybe even the College Football Playoff. Now, there is no room for error.

This is where it starts. Do this against Virginia, and then you will have tests against Clemson, Louisville, and Boston College. Without a doubt, the CFP would show up at 11-1.

Virginia is just trying to get into a bowl game. It has lost three games in a row, and this is the first of four games on the road. The next two are at Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, with a big game against SMU in the middle.

Virginia vs Pitt: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
How to Watch: ACC Network
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Teams: Pitt (7-1), Virginia (4-4)

Why Virginia Will Win

Right away, the Cavaliers need to find their offensive spark. It has not been hard to keep the ball, and the passing game has been solid.

The yards need to come now. They need to make plays on third down and keep the ball against Pitt, which has the second-worst time of possession record in the country.

Also, SMU scored 467 yards against the Panthers, which was the most any team had been able to score all year against this group. Virginia has the guns, but…

Why Pitt Will Win

What did the Cavaliers do wrong in their last three games? The fact that they played North Carolina, Clemson, and Louisville made it worse, but the offensive line was the real issue.

It was hard for the running game to get going. It was hard to stop the Tar Heels or the Tigers from running, and each carry averaged less than 2.5 yards.

The Pitt run defense had its worst game of the season against SMU. Other than that, no one else has been able to run for more than 4.2 yards per carry.

The defense is giving up less than three yards per pop this year. They will not get moving with their ground game, then.

Virginia vs Pitt: Who Will Win?

Pitt will get over its bad game against SMU in a hurry.

Virginia will get its yards, but the defense won’t have any answers to the Pitt balance that will kick in after halftime. The passing game will be solid enough to crank up a quick flash of points to put this away.