The Syracuse Orange (1-1, 0-1 ACC) and the Pitt Panthers (2-0, 0-0) meet Thursday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze college football odds around the Syracuse vs. Pitt odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Pitt leads the all-time series 45-32-3, with one vacated win for Syracuse. The Panthers have won the past 2 meetings, including a 30-13 win in Syracuse last season as a 9.5-point road favorite with the Under (54.5) cashed. Pitt is 7-1 straight up (SU) in the past 8 in the series, while going 6-2 against the spread (ATS) in the span. The Under is 6-1 in the past 7 in the series, too.
The Orange opened the season hammering the New
Hampshire Wildcats of the FCS 66-3, covering as a 35.5-point favorite as the Over (56.5) cashed. However, in the ACC opener against the Cal Golden Bears, it lost 21-18 as a 4.5-point home favorite as the Under (56.5) connected. QB Steve Angeli tossed 3 interceptions in that conference opening loss.
The Panthers opened with a 59-14 thumping of the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, cashing as a 16.5-point favorite, as QB Mason Heintschel tied a school record with 7 TD strikes. Last week, the offense struggled, edging the UCF Knight 12-7, but it failed to cover as 7.5-point favorites as the Under (55.5) easily cashed.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Syracuse at Pitt odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 4:56 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Syracuse +333 (bet $100 to win $333) | Pitt -425 (bet $425 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Syracuse +10 (-108) | Pitt -10 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 51.5 (O: -108 | U: -110)
Syracuse at Pitt picks and predictions
Prediction
Pitt 31, Syracuse 17
Moneyline
Backing Pitt (-425) makes very little sense, as it costs you more than 4 times your potential return. Even as part of a multi-leg parlay or 5 or fewer legs, it would suck the value out of your ticket including the Panthers.
AVOID.
Against the spread
Take PITT -10 (-110) laying the points, as the Panthers have dominated this series in recent years.
Pitt is 6-1 ATS in the past 7 in the series, but what makes it a strong play is defense. Yes, Heintschel had a record performance against the RedHawks, but he struggled against a power conference defense against UCF. We should see a performance somewhere in the middle on Thursday.
Syracuse has the offense to hang, but Angeli is also a mistake-prone quarterback. That is what will hold the Orange back.
Over/Under
UNDER 51.5 (-110) is worth a look. Both of these teams cashed low last week when facing a power conference team, as opposed to running amok offensively against lesser teams. We should see more defense, and less passing downfield on Thursday.
Best prop bet
CATAURUS HICKS 50+ RECEIVING YARDS (-190)
Hicks has registered 8 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown in his 2 games, including 64 receiving yards last week against UFC in that defensive slog. You have to eat a decent amount of chalk here, but it's a strong play.
Betting odds calculator
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on X at @danieledobish. Follow SportsbookWire on X at SportsBookWire and on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Syracuse Orange at Pitt Panthers odds, picks and predictions
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