California Golden Bears vs Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/12/24
ESPN is covering this week seven California Golden Bears vs. Pittsburgh Panthers matchup, set to kick off at 3:30 ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Panthers are the -3 point favorites at home, with the over/under line sitting at 59.5 points. The Panthers enter the game with a perfect 5-0 record, while the Golden Bears are 3-2 on the season.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS VS PITTSBURGH PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: California Golden Bears +3
This game will be played at Acrisure Stadium at 3:30 ET on Saturday, October 12th.
WHY BET THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS:
- We have the California Golden Bears winning this one by a score of 27 to 25
- Not only do we have the California Golden Bears winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +3
- We see this game finishing below the line of 59.5 points
Will The California Golden Bears Pick Up A Win On The Road?
California enters Week 7 against Pittsburgh with a 3-2 record, ranked 45th in our power rankings. They have a 91.3% chance of being bowl-eligible but only a 0.1% chance of winning the Atlantic Coast. The Golden Bears are 1-1 at home and 1-1 on the road this season.
Cal has gone 3-1 against the spread, with an average scoring margin of +8 points per game. They are 2-0 ATS at home and have been favored in just one game this season.
This week’s over/under line is 59.5 points, higher than any of Cal’s previous games. Their over/under record is 1-3, with an average line of 49.9 points and an average total of 44 points per game.
California’s offense has been centered around their passing game, ranking 46th in passing attempts per game. They are 63rd in points per game, averaging 26, and we have them 74th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 7. Their third-down conversion rate is just 36.1%, which ranks 85th nationally. They are also averaging 132.2 rushing yards per game.
Fernando Mendoza leads the Golden Bears with 1,177 passing yards and a passer rating of 97. He has completed 64.8% of his passes, throwing seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Nyziah Hunter has 185 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Jaivian Thomas leads the rushing attack with 287 yards and is averaging 6 yards per carry.
California’s defense, ranked 20th nationally, has allowed an average of 18 points per game this season. In their recent 39-38 loss to Miami, they gave up 39 points and 576 total yards, including 437 passing yards.
Opponents have averaged 233.2 passing yards per game against California, completing 54.8% of their throws. On the ground, the Golden Bears have allowed 117.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 43rd nationally.
Will The Pittsburgh Panthers Win At Home Over The California Golden Bears?
At 5-0, Pittsburgh is set to host California in Week 7. They are ranked 32nd in our power rankings and have a 99.3% chance of being bowl-eligible. However, their odds of winning the Atlantic Coast stand at 2.8%, while they have a 17.0% chance of making the playoff.
Pittsburgh has a +20.4 average scoring margin this season and is 4-0 against the spread. They’ve been favored in two games and have gone 2-0 as the favorite, covering the spread in both matchups.
Their over/under record is 2-2, with an average line of 60.6 points. This week’s line is set at 59.5 points, and their games have averaged 70.8 points per contest.
Pittsburgh’s offense is averaging 45.6 points per game, ranking 5th in the nation heading into week 7. They are also 24th in our offensive power rankings. Quarterback Eli Holstein has thrown for 1,567 yards with a passer rating of 116, leading the team to the 11th spot in passing yards per game nationally. Holstein has 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions this season.
On average, Pittsburgh attempts 38 passes per game, ranking 20th, and completes 24.8 passes, ranking 17th. Their third-down conversion rate is 47.5%. Leading receiver Konata Mumpfield has 426 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh is 54th in rushing, averaging 182.8 yards per game.
Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed an average of 25.2 points per game this season, ranking 46th nationally. In their recent game against North Carolina, they gave up 24 points but still secured a 34-24 win. The defense allowed 416 total yards, including 269 passing yards and 147 rushing yards.
Opponents have averaged 239.2 passing yards per game against Pittsburgh, completing 55.8% of their throws. On the ground, the Panthers have allowed 121.6 rushing yards per game, ranking 49th in the country.