Week 1: Pittsburgh vs West Virginia 9/1/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Pittsburgh Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers do battle Thursday night in week 1 college football action from Acrisure Stadium. West Virginia is coming off a 6-7 record overall last season. The Mountaineers ultimately fell to Minnesota in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. As for Pittsburgh, they went 11-3 overall in 2021. After taking the championship in the division and the conference, the Panthers lost the Peach Bowl versus Michigan. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

The Mountaineers had a lot of talent to contend with in the Big 12 last year, and the team ultimately finished a so-so 6-7 overall and 4-5 in conference play. That record left West Virginia in sixth place among the standings, ahead of Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and Kansas. 

West Virginia started out at 2-1 and had a great win over Virginia Tech early (and Iowa State later), but the team couldn’t string together more than two consecutive wins all year. After an invite to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, the Mountaineers fell to Minnesota 18-6 to end the year. 

Over on the Pittsburgh side, they had an excellent campaign last season that ultimately ended on a sour note. The Panthers went 11-3 overall, cruising to a 7-1 record in the ACC. Pittsburgh won the Coastal Division with that mark and took out Wake Forest 45-21 in the ACC Championship Game. 

The Panthers’ two losses during the 2021 regular season were both close—44-41 versus Western Michigan and 38-34 against Miami-FL. After the win over Wake in the conference championship, Pittsburgh fell to Michigan State in the Peach Bowl 31-21 to end the year. 

West Virginia is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 in September and 2-5 ATS in their last seven in the ACC. The Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS in their last five overall. 

Meanwhile, the Panthers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five in September and 11-4 ATS in their last 15 overall. Pitt is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games. 

PICK: I’m probably staying Pittsburgh here, but I’m going to stay away for a few games until I see the on-field product from the Panthers. Granted, things are still looking pretty positive for Pitt: they’ve been in two of the last four ACC Championship Games and have a solid new OC in Frank Cignetti. Sure, Kenny Pickett is gone, as is Jordan Addison. That said, USC transfer Kedon Slovis will have an excellent offensive line to work behind and the team boasts a nice stable of running backs. Pittsburgh will still likely give up a ton of passing yards, but their talent in all the other facets should more than make up for it.