[7:30 PM] Marshall @ Pittsburgh

Who will WIN this matchup?

Marshall Thundering Herd (1-2)

@ Pittsburgh Panthers (2-2)

 

Current odds:

Marshall Thundering Herd: (+613)

Pittsburgh Panthers: (-800)

 

• ESPN simulations have Pittsburgh as 90.3% favorites to win the game.

• 69% of sports bets are currently on Pittsburgh to win as (-800) favorites.

• Pittsburgh led all the way last week at North Carolina until Mitch Trubisky converted three fourth downs on the final drive before throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left to send the Panthers to a 37-36 defeat. Over the past three weeks, Pittsburgh has surrendered 121 points and 1,325 yards passing (eight TDs versus one interception) over the last three weeks, previously losing 45-38 at Oklahoma State after posting a 42-39 home victory over Penn State.

• The Pitt secondary will have to contain 6-6 sophomore Chase Litton, who threw for 722 yards and 10 TDs in the Thundering Herd’s first two games before sitting out last week with a concussion.

• With a secondary whose most experienced player had five starts, the Thundering Herd stayed with No. 3 Louisville for a quarter last week before surrendering 45 points in the middle two periods in a 59-28 home loss. Marshall was limited to 207 yards and freshman quarterback Grant Morrell was just 9-of-21 for 59 yards with two TDs and one interception.

• he Panthers’ defensive ills certainly don’t stem from their run defense, which yields 61.3 yards per game – third in FBS. One defensive standout has been end Ejuan Price, who ranks tied for second in the nation in sacks (1.38 per game), tackles for loss (2.4) and forced fumbles (0.75). Led by James Conner (347 yards) and slotback Quadree Henderson (260 yards on 13 carries), Pitt’s running game (249.5 yards per game – 14th in FBS) averages roughly 90 yards per game more than the passing attack, and quarterback Nathan Peterman (58-of-94, 643 yards, six TDs) has thrown just eight balls more than 20 yards down the field, giving Pitt the second-fewest in FBS.

• The Panthers are 7-3 against current members of Conference USA. Pitt last played a C-USA member in 2014, defeating Florida International on the road 42-25.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Pittsburgh Panthers

Confidence: 6/10

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