PREMIUM
Rogers' ESPN Thursday SHOWCASE (Part 1) - Va Tech @ Pitt!
(NCAAF) Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh,
10/27/2016 3:00 PM, Score: 39 - 36
Point Spread: -3.50 | -106.00 Virginia Tech (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -3.50 | -106.00 Virginia Tech (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Both Va. Tech and Pitt are 5-2, with the Hokies 3-1 in ACC play and the Panthers 2-1. Va. Tech's shocking 31-17 loss at Syracuse on October 15 caused the Hokies to fall from the AP top-25 rankings but the school's decisive 37-16 victory over Miami (Fla.) on Oct. 20 returned them to the national rankings at No. 25. The unranked Panthers need a win to keep the pressure on the Coastal Division-leading Tar Heels (4-1), who hold the tiebreaker over Pitt because of a 37-36 win.
Va. Tech: The Hokies are 1-2 away from Blacksburg and the trip to Pittsburgh represents their biggest road test of the season. Virginia Tech's last road win over the Panthers was in 1999 in the old Pitt Stadium, when both teams played in the Big East. The Panthers have won all four meetings played at Heinz Field and have won six of the past seven meetings overall. QB Jerod Evans is a JC transfer and he comes off throwing for 259 yards and two TDs against Miami and added another 98 yards and a score on the ground. He has completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,611 yards with 19 TDs against just INTs. The Hokies typically have a strong defense and this year is no different, as Va. Tech allows 17.9 PPG (16th) on 302.0 YPG (11th).
Pittsburgh: The Panthers also own a good QB in Nathan Peterman, who ranks fourth in the ACC in passer efficiency (150.3) with 11 TDs and two INTs plus he's been sacked a conference-low five times. Pittsburgh owns a deep stable of RBs, the best of whom is James Connor (531 yards and 7 TDs). The unit ranks 20th in the nation with 239.1 YPG on 5.1 YPC. Pittsburgh's rush D is in the class of Va. Tech's (Pitt allows 96.6 YPG and Va. Tech allows 103.6) but overall, Pitt is allowing 31.4 PPG (90th) on 395.4 YPG (60th).
The pick: Va. Tech's road woes at Pitt is a concern but It's hard to envision Pitt's D handling dual-threat QB Evans (also owns 417 yards rushing on 4.9 YPC with 3 TDs), as Arizona State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are the only Power 5 teams that have allowed more pass yards per game than Pitt (298.9). The Panthers are second in the ACC in scoring (38.4 PPG which ranks 23rd nationally) and have scored at least 36 points in six consecutive games, the longest active streak in FBS and a school record. The Hokies control their own destiny in the ACC's Coastal Division by virtue of their 34-3 win over the Tar Heels and a win at Pitt will also give them a tie-breaker edge over the Panthers, as well. A victory would keep the 25th-ranked Hokies on track for an appearance in the conference title game Dec. 3 in Orlando. Make Va. Tech an 8* play.
Va. Tech: The Hokies are 1-2 away from Blacksburg and the trip to Pittsburgh represents their biggest road test of the season. Virginia Tech's last road win over the Panthers was in 1999 in the old Pitt Stadium, when both teams played in the Big East. The Panthers have won all four meetings played at Heinz Field and have won six of the past seven meetings overall. QB Jerod Evans is a JC transfer and he comes off throwing for 259 yards and two TDs against Miami and added another 98 yards and a score on the ground. He has completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,611 yards with 19 TDs against just INTs. The Hokies typically have a strong defense and this year is no different, as Va. Tech allows 17.9 PPG (16th) on 302.0 YPG (11th).
Pittsburgh: The Panthers also own a good QB in Nathan Peterman, who ranks fourth in the ACC in passer efficiency (150.3) with 11 TDs and two INTs plus he's been sacked a conference-low five times. Pittsburgh owns a deep stable of RBs, the best of whom is James Connor (531 yards and 7 TDs). The unit ranks 20th in the nation with 239.1 YPG on 5.1 YPC. Pittsburgh's rush D is in the class of Va. Tech's (Pitt allows 96.6 YPG and Va. Tech allows 103.6) but overall, Pitt is allowing 31.4 PPG (90th) on 395.4 YPG (60th).
The pick: Va. Tech's road woes at Pitt is a concern but It's hard to envision Pitt's D handling dual-threat QB Evans (also owns 417 yards rushing on 4.9 YPC with 3 TDs), as Arizona State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are the only Power 5 teams that have allowed more pass yards per game than Pitt (298.9). The Panthers are second in the ACC in scoring (38.4 PPG which ranks 23rd nationally) and have scored at least 36 points in six consecutive games, the longest active streak in FBS and a school record. The Hokies control their own destiny in the ACC's Coastal Division by virtue of their 34-3 win over the Tar Heels and a win at Pitt will also give them a tie-breaker edge over the Panthers, as well. A victory would keep the 25th-ranked Hokies on track for an appearance in the conference title game Dec. 3 in Orlando. Make Va. Tech an 8* play.
