Syracuse vs Pittsburgh Prediction, Odds & Picks (Thursday, Oct. 24)

• #19 Pittsburgh is a 6-point favorite over Syracuse in Week 9 College Football action on Thursday, October 24
• This will mark undefeated Pitt’s first game versus a top-40 opponent
• Don’t miss the latest Syracuse vs Pittsburgh prediction, odds and picks below

Surprise ACC contenders clash on Thursday evening as #19 Pittsburgh (6-0, 2-0 ACC) hosts Syracuse (5-1, 2-1 ACC). This will mark the 80th meeting between these rivals, but few have had stakes this high.

The Panthers are off to their best start in 42 years, and online sportsbooks expect their undefeated season to continue in the latest College Football odds.

Syracuse vs Pittsburgh Odds

Pittsburgh is currently a 6-point favorite, in a contest with a total of 62.5. Per the College Football public betting trends, the Panthers opened at -4, but early Pitt money drove the lineup. The Pitt love appears to be short lived, because the Orange are drawing 63% of the spread bets and 77% of the money as 6-point ‘dogs.

Total-wise, the over/under is up 2 points since it’s opener, and there’s still room to climb. 76% of the total money is backing over 62.5, prompting some shops to move the line as high as 63.5.

Kickoff for this rivalry game is set for 7:30 pm ET at Acrisure Stadium, in Pittsburgh, PA, with ESPN providing the coverage.

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Odds as of October 23 at 12:30 pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any Week 9 College Football matchup.

Pittsburgh Exceeding Expecations

It’s fair to say few people saw this scorching hot Pittsburgh start coming. The market certainly didn’t. Pitt’s projection in the College Football Win Total odds was just 5.5, and they exceeded that last time out.

They’ve beaten all four Power 4 opponents they’ve faced, in large part thanks to a dynamic offense. The Panthers average 481 yards per game, and 7.2 yards per play. Both those marks rank inside the top-15 in the nation, and they can beat you through the air and on the ground.

QB Eli Holstein is top-15 in the country in passing yards and touchdowns, while running back Desmond Reid has three 120+ rushing yard performances in five starts.

The offense is set-up for success on Thursday, as Syracuse ranks outside the top-75 in scoring defense, as well as passing and rushing yards per game.

Syracuse Has Flipped the Script Offensively

While Pittsburgh should be able to move the ball efficiently, it’s easy to be just as bullish on the Orange’s offense. Last season Syracuse was one of the most run heavy teams in the nation, but that’s all changed in 2024 since the arrival of Kyle McCord.

Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi on SU's Kyle McCord:

"If you're not a Pitt fan, if you're not a Syracuse fan, you should get your tickets now because that guy's going to play in the NFL…he will be the best quarterback that's walked in to face us in this stadium in a while." pic.twitter.com/xtxKYdU8Kl

— Ashley Wenskoski (@AshleyWenskTV) October 21, 2024

The Ohio State transfer has lived up to the hype, helping the Orange average 32 points per contest. He’s second nationwide in passing, averaging 360 yards per game, and has already thrown 19 touchdown passes.

McCord has a terrific pass-catching group at his disposal as all three of Jackson Meeks, Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden average 70+ yards per game. They’re set up to smash on Thursday, as Pitt bleeds production to enemy quarterbacks.

The Panthers are allowing 246 passing yards per contest and 36 pass attempts per game. They do have a solid pass rush, but Syracuse should have no problem negating that with a heavy dose of quick hitters, screens and RPO’s.

Syracuse vs Pittsburgh Prediction

Pittsburgh is getting all the love heading into this matchup, but that feels unwarranted. For starters, the Orange have the better resume despite an outlier loss to Stanford. Syracuse has already beaten two ranked teams, while the Panthers have yet to face a top-40 opponent.

Yes, they’re 4-0 versus Power 4 competition, but they’ve won all four games by a total of 17 points. Cincinnati is the only one of those four teams with a winning record, and the result couldn’t have been closer. Pittsburgh beat the Bearcats by a single point, erasing a 13-point 4th quarter deficit to do so.

Pittsburgh vs Power 4 Opponents This Season

Another reason to fade the Panthers here is their upcoming schedule. Pitt could easily be looking past Syracuse in this spot, as games against the top-two ACC contenders, #22 SMU and #9 Clemson, are looming in the next three weeks.

At the opening line, you could make a case for the Panthers against the spread, but as it stands, there’s at least two free points of value on the Orange. Grab Syracuse now before the market adjusts.

• Syracuse +6 (-112)