by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Sep 30, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Where to watch: ACC Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Pittsburgh -21.5
FanDuel: Pittsburgh -21.5
BetMGM: Pittsburgh -22
Caesars: Pittsburgh -22
Season record
Georgia Tech: 1-3 (0-1 ACC)
No. 24 Pittsburgh: 3-1
What a big week and some fun shake up in the top 25, as we enter Week 5 of the college football campaign. And what a week it was for our own Wayne Root with a 7-1-0 stint to continue what has been a strong start for our champion handicappers through the early stages of this college football season. But now things are going to get interesting with conference play underway and some big-time matchups in the coming weeks. You're going to want to follow our top-notch handicappers if you want to get on this action. Make sure you visit our Best Bets page to find out more.
Georgia Tech - Pittsburgh preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Georgia Tech: lost 27-10 at Central Florida
Pittsburgh: won 45-24 vs. Rhode Island
It’s a new era with the Pittsburgh Panthers but as far as the world is concerned, this group is very much capable of winning the ACC yet again. The Panthers, fresh off winning the 2021 title, will have to try and repeat without Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison. So far, the Kedon Slovis era is working off to a great start with a 3-1 record and a home date with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday.
It’s a new era with the Pittsburgh Panthers but as far as the world is concerned, this group is very much capable of winning the ACC yet again. The Panthers, fresh off winning the 2021 title, will have to try and repeat without Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison. So far, the Kedon Slovis era is working off to a great start with a 3-1 record and a home date with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday.
Pittsburgh is off to a strong start with the lone loss coming to Tennessee at home (which told me a lot more about Tennessee than Pittsburgh because the Vols needed that game more than the Panthers) but since then, the Panthers have gotten three-score wins over Western Michigan and Rhode Island to enter ACC play. The Panthers won 45-24 last week at home, marking the third time in four weeks they’ve eclipsed 34 points in a game. Slovis was a tad pedestrian throwing for 189 yards on 20 of 27. The day belonged, however, to the running game with Israel Abanikanda running for 177 yards and four touchdowns on just 19 carries. Pittsburgh had 271 rushing yards all together and five touchdowns on the ground; the other came on an 82-yard punt return from M.J. Devonshire.
''I'm not surprised because I know what I'm capable of,'' Abanikanda said. ''I'm going to keep working to try and do even better.''
''(Abanikanda) is a great player and a great back,'' Slovis said. ''You saw it today. He had four touchdowns. That's a testament to him and the offensive line.''
Slovis didn’t play last week against Western Michigan, but clearly that group didn’t need him. Pittsburgh is a well-balanced group with a solid defense and, as clearly stated, a running game that could help carry this team deep into conference season and potentially another championship. Watch for that to be the case once again against a Georgia Tech team that is in deep trouble.
It’s been a rough go for Georgia Tech to start the year, with the lone win coming against some school called Western Carolina. In the three losses, GT has scored a combined 20 points while giving up 110. That’s cause for cellardwellar status in the ACC. Georgia Tech is coming off a 27-10 loss at Central Florida in its first road game of the season, which is also maddening to think about. Here’s the crazy thing: It’s not often you see a Georgia Tech quarterback throw for over 300 yards. Jeff Sims did just that with 314 and a score. The problem is GT scored just 10 points and was held to just three in the second half. Malachi Carter caught that lone touchdown pass and also hauled in 89 yards, with Georgia Tech outgaining UCF 452-333.
None of that makes sense, but it’s about as consistent as the Yellow Jackets’ start to the season. May we all pray to the football gods they figure it out.
Prediction
Pittsburgh is 19-4 straight up as a favorite in its last 23 and are 10-3 as a home favorite in that stretch. They haven’t covered well, but Pittsburgh is likely a lock to win this one outright. Pittsburgh by 24
Betting trends
Georgia Tech is 9-17 ATS in its last 26 games overall.
Georgia Tech is 4-4 ATS in its last eight as a road underdog.
Pittsburgh is 14-8 ATS as a favorite in its last 22 instances.
Pittsburgh is 6-9 ATS in its last 15 at home.
Statistical leaders
Georgia Tech:
Passing: Jeff Sims -- 739 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Dontae Smith -- 191 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Nate McCollum -- 158 yards
Pittsburgh:
Passing: Kedon Slovis -- 692 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Israel Abanikanda -- 479 yards, 6 TD
Receiving: Jared Wayne -- 265 yards, 1 TD
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
