Pittsburgh Panthers (3-8) vs Duke Blue Devils (6-5)
Pittsburgh Panthers vs Duke Blue Devils 11/25/23 – The Pittsburgh Panthers (3-8) take on the Duke Blue Devils (6-5) in an ACC matchup in Week 13 of the NCAAF season. With exclusive selections, we break down the odds and betting trends and provide our free prediction on this intriguing contest. Both teams come into this game needing a win – Pitt to avoid a dreadful season and Duke to become bowl eligible. The Panthers have lost four straight while the Blue Devils have dropped three of their last four. This rivalry has been extremely one-sided in recent years, with Pitt winning the last seven meetings.
Pittsburgh relies heavily on the ground game, led by running back Rodney Hammond Jr. Hammond has rushed for 526 yards and 4 touchdowns while averaging 5 yards per carry. Wide receiver Bub Means is a top receiving threat, hauling in 636 yards and 5 touchdowns. Quarterback Christian Veilleux has struggled in his first year as a starter, throwing for just 1179 yards, 7 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Duke features a more balanced offensive attack. Quarterback Riley Leonard has passed for 1102 yards while completing 57.6% of his throws. Running back Jordan Waters leads the ACC in rushing touchdowns with 12 scores while racking up 722 yards on 5.4 yards per carry. Wideout Jordan Moore is the team’s best receiver, notching 688 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs Duke Blue Devils 11/25/23 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium |
| TV: | ACCN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Christian Veilleux QB vs. Riley Leonard QB
Veilleux has not excelled in his first year running the Pittsburgh offense. His 51.1% completion rate is troublesome and he has struggled with turnovers. However, Veilleux has shown some ability to push the ball downfield, averaging 6.4 yards per pass attempt. He will need to avoid mistakes against a Duke defense prone to giving up big plays.
Leonard has been efficient leading the Duke attack, completing passes at a 57.6% clip with 6.7 yards per attempt. He protects the football well, with just 3 interceptions on the year. Leonard is also a threat to run, with 289 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. He will look to exploit a Panthers defense that has been gashed all season long.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Duke Blue Devils 228, Total Odds: 42
Pittsburgh comes into the contest as 6-point road underdogs. The total is set at 42 points. With the Panthers’ offense scuffling and the Duke defense susceptible, expect a close game that stays under the projected point total.
Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends
Pittsburgh has gone 3-7 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games. The total has gone OVER 11 times in the Panthers’ previous 15 contests. They have also lost 8 of their last 10 straight up. In this rivalry though, Pitt has had the upper hand – they are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings with Duke and 7-0 straight up. However, the Panthers have struggled on the road, going 2-6 ATS in their last 8 away matchups.
Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends
Duke has gone 1-4 ATS over their last 5 games. The total has gone OVER in 4 of the Blue Devils’ previous 5. They are also 1-4 straight up across that span. In their last 6 games against Pitt, the total has gone OVER 5 times. At home, Duke has excelled with a 7-1 straight up record. However, the Blue Devils are 0-5 straight up in their last 5 home games against the Panthers.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Duke Blue Devils 11/25/23 Betting Picks
When weighing all the trends and analysis, Pittsburgh getting 6 points is the better play. The Panthers have had Duke’s number in recent years both head-to-head and at Wallace Wade Stadium. Some strong prop bets to consider are Hammond scoring a touchdown, Leonard under 230.5 passing yards, and the first half staying under 20 points. With our NCAAF expert picks, look for Pitt to keep it close and have a chance to pull off the upset victory. We’ll take the Panthers with the points as our top selection.
Free Pick and Prediction: Pittsburgh Panthers 24, Duke Blue Devils 20