The Backyard Brawl is always one of the most anticipated rivalries in college football, and the 2024 matchup is no different. This year, however, it has the potential to be a chaotic showdown. The West Virginia Mountaineers and Pittsburgh Panthers have had unpredictable seasons, showing flashes of toughness at times and inconsistency at others.
With both teams gearing up for their biggest rival, West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh Prediction stands out on an otherwise quieter Week 3 slate, promising to be one of the weekend’s most exciting games.
West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh Betting Preview
All West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 14.
- Spread
West Virginia -1.5 - Moneyline
West Virginia -122, Pittsburgh +102 - Over/Under
62 points - Game Time
3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 14 - Location
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh - Predicted Weather at Kick
82 degrees, 7 mph winds, mostly sunny - How To Watch
FuboTV, ESPN2
This line got bet down from its starting number of West Virginia -5.5, which is odd to me because neither team has looked particularly strong in the opening two weeks of the season. Typically when the majority of bettors don’t know how to feel about teams, the line doesn’t move drastically, but that’s what’s happened here.
Originally, in our early-week prediction, we found value in the game’s total. Though not quite picked up upon, this total moved around to 60.5 before landing back at 62 ahead of the game.
Prediction for West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh
I initially thought the implied score for the West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh matchup seemed too high, but after a closer look, there are several players poised to make a significant impact in this game.
Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein has thrown for over 300 yards in back-to-back games, with 35+ attempts in each outing. Although he hasn’t faced the toughest defenses, West Virginia’s defense hasn’t shown much to fear either, allowing Drew Allar to look like a Heisman contender for a brief moment.
Pittsburgh’s run game will likely be a focal point, especially with Desmond Reid taking over as the starting running back. He exploded for 254 yards from scrimmage last week against a strong Cincinnati front, averaging over 7.5 yards per carry and contributing more than 100 receiving yards. While a repeat of that performance is unlikely, Reid is a player to watch.
For West Virginia, expect a heavy reliance on their ground game with Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson Jr. Donaldson, in particular, thrives in these matchups and could play a crucial role. With both teams showcasing their rushing abilities, the game could be decided by which backfield can dominate the trenches.
Either Vegas has an insight I don’t, or I’m interpreting this game differently. Historically, this matchup has been a defensive battle, with six of the last seven meetings finishing with under 45.5 total points.
With the current total and spread suggesting a final score around 31-28, I find it hard to envision these teams reaching that mark. While Pittsburgh has shown some offensive promise this season, their recent game script isn’t ideal for head coach Pat Narduzzi.
Falling behind early against Cincinnati forced Pittsburgh to rely heavily on the passing game, which isn’t their preferred approach.
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In this matchup, both teams will likely aim to control the clock and establish their ground game to wear down the opposition, which doesn’t point to a high-scoring affair.
I’m hesitant to trust Pittsburgh in this spot, but I have even less faith in West Virginia, despite their strong start against an outmatched Albany team. They struggled to gain traction against Penn State’s front seven, which was exposed by Bowling Green the following week.
In the end, if Narduzzi allows Eli Holstein to take charge through the air, I trust him more than West Virginia’s Garrett Greene.
Expect both teams to limit big plays and slow the pace of the game. In a low-scoring upset, I’m giving the edge to Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24, West Virginia 21
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