Pittsburgh Panthers vs Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Pick & Prediction 9/7/24
ESPN2 will be covering the week two non-conference matchup between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Cincinnati Bearcats, as the game is set to kick off at 12:00 ET from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Both teams are 1-0 on the season coming into this one. The Bearcats are the slight -2.5-point favorites at home, with the over/under line currently sitting at 59.5 points.
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS VS CINCINNATI BEARCATS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Pittsburgh Panthers +2.5
This game will be played at Nippert Stadium at 12:00 ET on Saturday, September 7th.
WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PANTHERS:
- We have the Cincinnati Bearcats winning this one by a score of 28 to 26
- Even though we like the Cincinnati Bearcats to win, our ATS pick is to take the Pittsburgh Panthers at +2.5
- We see this game finishing below the line of 59.5 points
Will The Pittsburgh Panthers Pick Up A Win On The Road?
Pittsburgh’s season began with a resounding 55-24 win over Kent State, putting them at 1-0 for the season. The Panthers, who were -24 point favorites, not only won but also covered the spread. The game’s over/under was 55.5 points, but the teams combined for 79 points, hitting the over.
The Panthers took an early 14-7 lead in the first quarter, and after matching Kent State’s 7 points in the second quarter, they led 28-14 at halftime. Pittsburgh outscored Kent State 14-10 in the third quarter and then shut them out in the fourth to pull away for the 31-point win.
In their 55-24 win over Kent State, Pittsburgh’s offense put up 570 yards, with 369 coming through the air. Eli Holstein completed 75% of his passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns, ending the game with a passer rating of 114.17. Kenny Johnson was his top target, hauling in seven catches for 105 yards.
The Panthers’ ground game was effective, gaining 201 yards on 32 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Desmond Reid led the way with 145 yards on 14 attempts, averaging 10.4 yards per carry, and finding the end zone once.
Pittsburgh’s defense was dominant in their last game, holding Kent State to just 33 rushing yards on 37 attempts. The Panthers allowed 214 total yards and 15 first downs, with most of Kent State’s offense coming through the air. Kent State completed 14 of 28 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, but Pittsburgh’s defense also picked off one pass.
Will The Cincinnati Bearcats Win At Home Over The Pittsburgh Panthers?
Cincinnati is off to a strong start, moving to 1-0 after a 38-20 win over Towson. No betting lines were available for this game.
The Bearcats dominated early, taking a 21-3 lead in the first quarter. Towson closed the gap in the second quarter, but Cincinnati still led 28-17 at halftime. In the second half, the Bearcats outscored Towson 10-3, securing the win with a final score of 38-20.
Cincinnati’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their 38-20 win, racking up 665 total yards. The ground game was particularly effective, with 282 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Evan Pryor led the way with 105 yards on just four carries, averaging 26.2 yards per attempt, and finding the end zone once.
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby completed 71% of his passes for 383 yards, throwing two touchdowns and finishing with a passer rating of 134.21. Xzavier Henderson was his top target, hauling in seven receptions for 101 yards and a score.
Cincinnati’s defense is looking to tighten up after allowing 438 total yards to Towson in their last game. Towson’s offense was able to move the ball effectively, with 194 rushing yards on 37 attempts. The Bearcats’ secondary also had some trouble, giving up 244 yards through the air on 21 completions. Overall, Cincinnati allowed 20 points and 22 first downs.