Pittsburgh Panthers vs Syracuse Orange

Syracuse comes off a 24-17 victory over NC State, and are on a 4-1 run UNDER the total. This is their highest total over the last two seasons, and the Orange is on a 12-6 run UNDER. Pittsburgh is unbeaten, off a 17-15 victory over Cal as the defense allowed just 63 rushing yards (1.6 yards per rush). Syracuse won last year's meeting, 28-13, controlling the ball and the clock for 37:26 minutes. Look for more defense than the public and the oddsmakers expect with so much at stake in the ACC standings. Take Syracuse/Pittsburgh UNDER the total. 

Pittsburgh and Syracuse hook up at Yankee Stadium this week with a low posted total even though the Panthers allow 28.2 points per game and the Orange score 24.6. Pittsburgh has gone OVER five straight versus teams with losing records and it is 6-3 OVER this season, including a 58-7 walloping by Notre Dame that soared OVER by 18.5 points. Syracuse allows 23.3 points per game and the Orange are on a five-game losing streak. including four losses against Clemson, North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia Tech when they gave up 37.5 points per game. Pitt QB Christian Veilleux has thrown for 1,018 yards, but he has more interceptions (7) than TD passes (6) giving Syracuse some hope for pick sixes or good field positions. Veilleux had 244 passing yards against Florida State with a TD and a pick. Take the OVER - Max Play.

Syracuse's 6-0 start is long gone. They gave it all they had to try and remain unbeaten but fell short in a 27-21 loss at Clemson, blowing a 14-point lead, then last week got blown out at home by Notre Dame, 41-21. The defense got shredded by the Irish allowing 246 rushing yards and the offense lost senior QB Garrett Shrader to an injury. Shrader's health is in doubt so redshirt freshman Carlos Del Rio-Wilson may be asked to make his first career start. Shrader is a team captain and the other captain, star CB Garrett Williams, was badly injured (knee) against Notre Dame and will miss the rest of the season. Pittsburgh has a shot at a bowl at 4-4 with a strong finish. They're delighted to be home after losing two straight at Louisville and North Carolina. Remember, this team opened the season against current No. 2 Tennessee and lost just 34-27. The offense is averaging 30.9 points with one of the best rushing attacks in the ACC (182.1 yards per game) anchored by junior RB Israel Abanikanda (1,086 rushing yards, 5.9 ypc). Pitt is 15-6 ATS after allowing 37 points or more in the last game, so back home field. Play Pittsburgh. 

Pittsburgh destroyed Austin Peay, an FCS school, 55-0, while racking up 456 yards of total offense last week while Syracuse got trounced, 31-6, by North Carolina. The Panthers won and covered the last two meetings, including 27-20 as a 3.5-point favorite last season. Pitt scored on each of its first six possessions, and quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a touchdown pass and ran for another, finishing 14 of 20 for 277 yards while Jordan Addison had seven receptions for 135 yards. Pickett had 3,098 passing yards in 2019, which was the most at Pittsburgh since 2012. The Orange QB, Tommy DeVito, completed only 13 of 31 for 112 yards and was sacked seven times against the Tarheels, who finished with 463 total yards compared to 202 for Syracuse. Coach Dino Babers is on the hot seat after only one winning season in four years, and the Orange returns only 11 starters, including just four on defense. Syracuse is 2-7 ATS its last nine games and 1-4 ATS its last five September games. Also, the Orange is 4-9 ATS following a loss, and it has covered just one of its last six road contests. Pittsburgh is 2-7-2 ATS the last 11 meetings and 9-4 ATS after an ATS win. Lay the points with Pittsburgh.