Panthers Face Tar Heels in ACC Showdown: Expert Betting Picks

Pittsburgh Panthers (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS) at North Carolina Tar Heels (3-2, 0-4-1), 10/5/24

When: Noon ET Saturday, Oct. 5

Where: Kenan Stadium

TV: ESPN 2

CFB betting odds: Pitt -3 / NC +3

Money line: Pitt -140 / NC +120

Over/Under: 64.5

Stop wasting your hard earned money by betting on games at -110 odds! You’re overpaying! Did you know that you only have to lay -105 at Betanysports? Start saving money today!

The Pittsburgh Panthers, one of college football’s biggest surprises this season, look to maintain their perfect record when they visit Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina this Saturday afternoon in an intriguing ACC matchup.

Pittsburgh, who finished with just three wins last season, has had an impressive 4-0 start, highlighted by dramatic comebacks and offensive outbursts. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels have been unpredictable, surrendering 70 points two weeks ago and blowing a 20-point lead last week. They’ll hope to bounce back and make a statement against the Panthers.

The Line

The CFB Week 6 betting market opened with Pitt as a -2.5 favorite, and the over/under set at around 64. Early betting has pushed the Panthers to -3.

Pitt-North Carolina Betting Preview

The Panthers head into this matchup with a 4-0 record after thrashing Youngstown State 73-17 two weeks ago, easily covering the -27 spread. After an early 21-0 lead, Pittsburgh cruised, amassing 644 yards of offense in the process.

In their other games, Pittsburgh opened the season with a 55-24 win over Kent State, overcame a 21-point third-quarter deficit to beat Cincinnati 28-27, and rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat West Virginia 38-34. This resilience has certainly been a defining trait for the Panthers.

North Carolina, on the other hand, comes in with a 3-2 record. The Tar Heels are coming off a disappointing 21-20 loss to Duke, where they squandered a 20-0 lead. Despite that collapse, they managed to cover the +2.5 spread. Their defense, however, remains a concern, as they allowed 611 yards in a 70-50 loss to James Madison two weeks ago.

The Tar Heels started the season with victories over Minnesota, Charlotte, and North Carolina Central (FCS), but they now need to find consistency, especially on the defensive end, to navigate a potentially favorable ACC schedule.

Pittsburgh-North Carolina Recent History

The Tar Heels have dominated this series recently, going 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS over the last 10 meetings. Last season, North Carolina secured a 41-24 victory in Pittsburgh, covering the -7 spread.

College Football Betting Trends

• North Carolina is 5-7 SU, 1-10-1 ATS over its last 12 games stretching back into last season.
• Pittsburgh is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games as a road favorite dating back to 2020.

Totals Report

• Overs are 3-1 in Pittsburgh games this season, with an average of 74 total points.
• Unders are 3-2 in North Carolina games, averaging 62 points per game.
• The over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.

Free College Football Pick

Both teams have been receiving strong performances from their quarterbacks, but we give Pittsburgh a slight edge in that department. Despite the Tar Heels’ inconsistencies, they remain a talented squad that can be dangerous when focused. While Pitt has shown a tendency to live on the edge, with come-from-behind victories over Cincinnati and West Virginia, it’s not a sustainable strategy against tougher opponents.

North Carolina demonstrated some resilience in last week’s close loss to Duke, and we expect them to bounce back here. We believe North Carolina will take advantage of their home-field edge and pull off the win. Our pick is North Carolina on the money line.