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NCAA Football

Pittsburgh vs. Navy Preview/Pick

The Pitt Panthers go at it against the Navy Midshipmen this week in a Saturday Football matchup. We preview and pick this week 8 clash.

NCAAF Week 8 Betting – Pittsburgh Panthers at Navy Midshipmen

The Pittsburgh Panthers (4-1 SU, 1-4 ATS), who are now back in the national rankings, will take their show on the road this Saturday when they take on the Midshipmen of Navy (4-2 SU, 3-2 ATS) in NCAA football action that is slated for a 3:30 PM ET kickoff at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (artificial turf) in Annapolis, MD.

Saturday, October 18
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: PITTSBURGH -3

Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* PITT has covered one of its last five games
* PITT has won five of its last six games SU
* PITT has played five of its last six games UNDER the table.
* PITT has covered four of its last five road games
* PITT has lost six of its last nine road games SU
* NAVY has won eight of its last 11 games SU
* NAVY has won four of its last five road games SU

After losing to nationally-ranked Ball State and resurgent Duke, Navy has reeled off three straight wins, over Rutgers, Wake Forest and Air Force. Quarterback Jarod Bryant threw only two passes last week against the Falcons (and he’s thrown just 25 all year), but Shun White hasn’t been productive lately. White, who gained 348 yards against Towson in the opener, has seen his numbers steadily decrease since, from 128 to 112 to 85 to 20 to just five yards two Saturdays ago. Picking up the slack, however, has been Eric Kettani, who’s had 383 yards the last three games. On top of that, there is some hope that original starting QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada can play for the Middies,

Pittsburgh isn’t doing a bad job defending the run (3.7 ypc), though one would concede this game will be the biggest test of its defensive front. However, the big story with the Panthers these days is that LeSean McCoy appears to have gotten a wake-up call. The sophomore running back, who rushed for 1328 yards last season, got off to a slower start than almost everyone expected, but lately he has been finding himself, rambling for 291 yards the last two weeks. These kinds of performances can make Bill Stull (no INT’s the last two games) more effective.

In last year’s meeting, Navy had 331 yards on the ground, and, interestingly enough, 166 yards through the air in a thrilling 48-45 overtime victory. The Midshipmen are ranked second in the nation in rushing, but those figures have been distorted by the 558 yards against Towson in the season opener. Those rushing numbers have come much farther back to earth as the schedule has progressed, whoever. And the passing threat is, shall we say, undeveloped. Pitt has disappointed us as an underachiever, something that was illustrated in their opener against Bowling Green. But maybe the Panthers have gotten their sea legs. The win two weeks ago against South Florida was an important step in that direction. And now they have an extra week to prepare for the Navy option.

We’ll go ahead and lay the points with Pitt, the three-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA football betting odds.

Our PLAY: PITTSBURGH -3 ***

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"