One of college football’s oldest rivalries continues this Saturday, Sept. 14 when West Virginia (1-1) takes on Pittsburgh (2-0) in the next chapter of the Backyard Brawl.
The Mountaineers earned their first win of the year in Week 2, defeating FCS Albany 49-14. WVU lost its home opener to No. 8 Penn State, 34-12, struggling to overcome three costly turnovers.
Pitt fought for a come-from-behind victory this past weekend, defeating Cincinnati 28-27 despite trailing 27-6 late in the third quarter. The Panthers also put up 55 points on Kent State in Week 1, showcasing an improved offense.
How will things shake out in this year’s contest? Check out the latest odds as well as my prediction and best bets for the WVU vs Pitt.
West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Odds
College football odds are current as of Monday, Sept. 9, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: West Virginia (-142) vs Pittsburgh (+120)
- Spread: West Virgina -2.5 (-115) vs Pittsburgh +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: Over 60.5 (-110) / Under 60.5 (-110)
West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Prediction
Pittsburgh 30, West Virginia 28
West Virginia has won four of the last five meetings between these teams, and they’ve split two games since the rivalry was renewed in 2022. This time, the Mountaineers come in as 2.5-point favorites despite playing on the road.
That’s warranted, to an extent. WVU is supposed to be the better team, but so far, it’s Pitt that’s gotten the results it’s after this season. The Panthers haven’t faced the same level of competition, but Alabama transfer QB Eli Holstein has impressed, as has RB Desmond Reid, who previously played at FCS Western Carolina.
The same can’t be said of the Pittsburgh defense, which is surrendering 25.5 points per game. The Panthers didn’t have an answer for Cincinnati on the ground or through the air in Week 2, giving up nearly 450 yards of offense. That could be a problem against senior QB Garrett Greene.
By the numbers, this is shaping up to be a high-scoring contest. I lean toward Pitt coming out on top based on the bulk of their work so far, but this will be a close one.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Best Bets
Pittsburgh +2.5 (-105) vs West Virginia
Pittsburgh may not win outright, but I have a hard time backing West Virginia as a 2.5-point favorite on the road. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a close game, and with the Panthers having home-field advantage — in such a bitter rivalry, at that — they should be able to keep this within a few points.
I’m also optimistic about the Pitt offense. I don’t believe we’ve seen the best of Holstein and the Panthers receiving corps just yet, which is another reason why I’m taking the home team to cover with my college football bet of the day.
Under 60.5 Points (-110)
I don’t doubt that this will be a high-scoring game, but this 60.5-point line seems like a stretch. Pittsburgh’s defense leaves quite a bit to be desired, but West Virginia’s blowout loss to Penn State is looking worse by the week, and the Mountaineers offense is far from perfect.
I’m banking on this one finishing just short of 60.
