[12:30 PM] Pittsburgh @ Miami (FL)

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Panthers (5-3)

@ Miami (FL) Hurricanes (4-4)

Current odds:

Pittsburgh Panthers: (+165)

Miami (FL) Hurricanes: (-185)

• ESPN simulations have Miami (FL) as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Miami (FL) to win as (TBD) favorites.

• The line for this game is Miami by four points.

• Miami (Fla.) hopes that Homecoming will help provide the spark it needs to end a four-game losing streak when it hosts high-scoring Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Hurricanes overcame a 20-0 first-quarter deficit to take a brief lead last week before falling to Notre Dame and now faces a Pitt team coming off a frustrating loss of its own, a 39-36 setback against Virginia Tech.

• The Panthers’ offense is powered by the nation’s 23rd-ranked rushing attack (231.8 yards per game), which is led by 2014 First-Team All-American James Conner (622 yards, 4.7 per carry, 10 touchdowns) and sophomore speedster Quadree Henderson (345, 9.4, three). Senior Nathan Peterman (1,519 yards, 12 TDs, one interception) has been solid with Jester Weah (23 receptions, 19.3 yards per catch, five TDs). Henderson (20 catches) and tight end Scott Orndoff (19) his top targets. Led by end Ejuan Price (nation-best 16 tackles for losses, nine sacks), Pitt’s defense is No. 5 in sacks (28) and sixth in rushing defense (103.3 yards per game), but the pass defense has been a problem as it ranks 125th (312.3 yards).

• In addition to the protection woes, the offensive line hasn’t done much better in providing running room for Mark Walton (649 yards, five yards per carry, nine TDs) and Joe Yearby (494, 6.3, six) lately, with the pair combining for only 49 yards on 24 carries against Notre Dame. After a slow start against the Irish, Kaaya (1,984 yards, 13 TDs, six interceptions) zeroed in on his top three targets – Stacy Coley (36 receptions, 12 yards per catch), Ahmmon Richards (23, 21.2) and tight end David Njoku (21, 16.5) – only to see the comeback end on yet another sack. The defense, led by freshman linebackers Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney, proved resilient after a poor start against the Irish but lost defensive back Adrian Colbert for the rest of the season.

• Pittsburgh has scored 36 or more points in seven straight games, the longest current streak in FBS.

• Miami has won nine of its last 10 meetings with the Panthers, including a 29-24 triumph in Pittsburgh last season.

• The Hurricanes’ special teams lead the nation in both blocked punts (three) and blocked field goals (five).

StreakSmarts Pick: Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Confidence: 5/10