The Pittsburgh Panthers are set to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Pittsburgh-Wake Forest prediction, odds, and pick.
No one saw this game coming at the start of the season. Of course the Clemson Tigers were going to return to the ACC Championship Game and defend their conference title. That is what had happened each of the past several years. Clemson had won six straight ACC titles from 2015 through 2020, successfully defending its league title five straight seasons from 2016 through last year. Dabo Swinney's juggernaut was supposed to coast to the ACC Atlantic Division title once again. Quarterback prospect D.J. Uiagalelei was supposed to be the new elite quarterback who helped the Clemson machine chug along. This is what college football odds analysts were expecting. They were not expecting to have to think about a Pittsburgh Wake Forest pick.
Yet, here we are. Clemson was the biggest disappointment in college football this season, more so than Texas because the Longhorns haven't really been that good in a long time. Wake Forest climbed past Clemson for the Atlantic Division crown, even though the Demon Deacons did not beat the Tigers head to head. Wake took advantage of Clemson's losses to North Carolina State and to the team it is facing for the ACC title, the Pittsburgh Panthers. Wake lost only one conference game and made its way to the ACC Championship Game for the first time since 2006. It's a special year for coach Dave Clawson, who has long been considered a coach who does more with less in Winston-Salem, N.C.
On the other side of this matchup is Pittsburgh, which returns to the ACC title game for the first time since 2018, when it got hammered by Clemson. Coach Pat Narduzzi was blessed this year with quarterback Kenny Pickett, who has put on his cape and carried this Pitt team on his back with brilliant passing and crunch-time production. Anyone thinking about a Pittsburgh Wake Forest prediction has to love the quarterback matchup in this game between Pickett and Wake's Sam Hartman.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:
College Football odds: Pittsburgh-Wake Forest Odds
Pittsburgh: -3.5 (-105)
Wake Forest: +3.5 (-115)
Over: 71.5 (-106)
Under: 71.5 (-114)
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Why Pittsburgh Could Cover the Spread
The argument for Pitt begins and ends with Kenny Pickett. If you think he is ready for this game and is about to torch Wake Forest for seven touchdowns, you will take Pittsburgh. It's certainly possible. Wake Forest has not had an especially robust defense this season. Consider the point that both Pitt and Wake Forest have played Clemson in 2021. Pitt held Clemson in check, while the Tigers exploded on offense for a big number against Wake Forest. If you want to measure two teams by how they played against Clemson — which seems reasonable enough — you have to trust Pitt in this game. That's what the Pittsburgh Wake Forest odds also indicate, given that the Panthers are a field-goal favorite.
Why Wake Forest Could Cover the Spread
The Wake Forest argument is based on Sam Hartman outplaying Kenny Pickett, but it also involves the fact that the flu bug has gone through a few members of the Pittsburgh team this week. Maybe the affected players are better by kickoff time, but do you really want to take that chance? It's a good reason to go with Wake in this game. The Demon Deacons should be able to do what they want on offense.
Final Pittsburgh-Wake Forest Prediction & Pick
A final ACC shootout seems like a great way to close down this season. The Pitt flu bug might mean something here, but what also means something is that Wake Forest overachieves. That's what the Deacs have been doing for a long time under Dave Clawson, the better coach in this matchup with Pat Narduzzi. Wake will win outright.
Final Pittsburgh-Wake Forest Pick: Wake Forest +3.5, over 71.5
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