It’s late October, and the Syracuse Orange (5-1, 2-1 ACC) and Pitt Panthers (6-0, 2-0) are meeting with potential ACC Championship ramifications on the line.
Few would have foreseen such a storyline a couple of months ago, but nonetheless, the teams arrive at this Thursday night matchup with just one total loss between the two programs.
Visiting Syracuse has had an offensive renaissance with transfer quarterback Kyle McCord and new head coach Fran Brown. The Orange have already knocked off a pair of then-top 25 teams this season in UNLV and Georgia Tech.
Pitt is one of only 10 undefeated teams remaining in the FBS. The Panthers have done so with an atypical Pat Narduzzi approach, leaning on their offense to carry them to victory.
Last time out, Pitt fell victim to a backdoor cover by Cal in a 17-15 win. Can the Panthers cover the spread this week? Pitt enters as a -6 favorite with the over/under set at 62.5.
Let's dive into my Syracuse vs. Pitt predictions and college football picks for Thursday, Oct. 24.
Syracuse Orange vs. Pitt Panthers Prediction, Pick
- Syracuse vs Pitt Pick: Over 62.5
My Pitt vs. Syracuse best bet is for both teams to go over the total, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Syracuse vs. Pitt Odds, Spread, Line
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -105 | 62.5 -110o / -110u | +175 |
| Pitt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -115 | 62.5 -110o / -110u | -210 |
- Syracuse vs. Pitt Point Spread: Syracuse +6.5 · Pitt -5.5
- Syracuse vs. Pitt Over/Under: 62.5
- Syracuse vs. Pitt Moneyline: Syracuse ML +175 · Pitt ML -210
Syracuse Football vs. Pitt Panthers Preview
Syracuse Orange Betting Preview
It may be Year 1 of a new coaching regime in Syracuse, but don’t tell Brown that means this is supposed to be a rebuilding year.
McCord wasn’t “good” enough to retain his starting job at Ohio State, but all the transfer quarterback has done at Syracuse is rank second in the nation with 360 passing yards per game and 19 total touchdowns.
No team likes to pass the ball more frequently than the Orange, who rank 133rd in Rush Rate. McCord has thrown 32 more passes than any other quarterback who has played only six games this season.
That’s good news for the Syracuse offense, which has been otherwise inconsistent when it comes to running the ball. The Orange average just 3.4 yards per carry, only better than Florida State in the ACC.
While the Syracuse pass offense has been lighting up the scoreboards, its pass defense has been its biggest flaw despite not having played any exceptional quarterbacks.
Syracuse ranks 114th in Pass Success allowed and will be tested by Pitt’s talented freshman quarterback.
Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Preview
In one of the most shocking developments of the year, Pitt is undefeated and has one of the most prolific offenses in the country — all with Narduzzi still at the helm.
The Panthers rank 10th nationally in scoring with 40.8 points per game, up over 20 full points from 2023 when they finished the season ranked 116th in scoring.
The biggest reason for that offensive transformation has been the play of Eli Holstein, arguably the freshman quarterback of the year so far.
The Alabama transfer ranks 13th in the country with 283.3 passing yards per game and had thrown three touchdown passes in every game this season until he was shut out against Cal the last time Pitt played two weeks ago.
Holstein hasn’t been the only transfer contributing to the offense’s success.
Western Carolina transfer running back Desmond Reid has 835 yards from scrimmage with eight touchdowns and is just as dangerous a receiving weapon as he is rushing the ball.
Normally known for fielding tough defenses, that hasn’t been the case for Narduzzi in 2024. The Panthers are strong against the run but struggle to stop the pass. Pitt ranks 14th in the ACC, allowing 244.7 yards passing per game.
Generating a consistent rush will be key for the Panthers in throwing McCord off his game. The Panthers have excelled in this area, ranking 19th in Havoc and second in the ACC with eight tackles for loss per game.
Syracuse vs. Pitt Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Syracuse and Pitt match up statistically:
Syracuse Offense vs. Pitt Defense
 | Offense |  Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 99 | 18 | |
| Line Yards | 94 | 12 | |
| Pass Success | 8 | 103 | |
| Havoc | 31 | 19 | |
| Finishing Drives | 60 | 61 |  |
| Quality Drives | 5 | 59 | |
Pitt Offense vs. Syracuse Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 24 | 45 | |
| Line Yards | 22 | 65 | |
| Pass Success | 31 | 114 | |
| Havoc | 67 | 46 | |
| Finishing Drives | 15 | 77 | |
| Quality Drives | 28 | 94 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 120 | 37 |
| PFF Coverage | 86 | 73 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 116 | 6 |
| Middle 8 | 31 | 97 |
| Seconds per Play | 25.9 (40) | 22.1 (3) |
| Rush Rate | 39% (132) | 46% (119) |
Syracuse vs. Pitt Pick
I could really see this game going either way and ultimately coming down to whichever quarterback has the ball last. One thing for certain, however, is that both passers are likely in for successful days.
The biggest weakness for both Pitt and Syracuse is their pass defenses. These teams average a combined 74.6 points per game, with the total for this game hovering around 63.
I see Pitt looking to collect style points on the Thursday national stage, and Syracuse doing everything in its power to trade offensive blows. Nine touchdowns between these teams isn’t a stretch.
Pick: Over 62.5
How to Watch Syracuse vs. Pitt Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Date: | Thursday, Oct. 24 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN |
The Syracuse Orange take on the Pitt Panthers on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Syracuse vs. Pitt Betting Trends
- 56% of bets and 79% of the money are on Syracuse to cover the spread
- 92% of bets and 91% of the money on the moneyline are on Pittsburgh to win outright
- 36% of bets and 70% of the money are on the over
Betting trends via our live, updating NCAAF public betting & money percentages page.
Syracuse vs. Pitt Weather
