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Free Pick: Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh Betting Spread & ATS Preview

Week 8: Panthers vs Hokies Prediction

College Football Week 8 betting action sees the Pittsburgh Panthers taking on the Virginia Tech Hokies on Thursday, Oct. 16 at Heinz Field in Pennsylvania. Stay tuned to Cappers Picks as we provide free NCAAF handicapping tips all season long.

College Football Odds

Who: Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (3-3)
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Heinz Field
City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NCAA O/U Betting Lines: 45
NCAA Point Spread: Pittsburgh -2
***2014 CFB BONUSES***
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Click here to view… ATS CFB Stats & Expert NCAAF Betting Insight!

It’s been a tale of two seasons for Pittsburgh. The team opened its schedule at 3-0 before dropping each of their last three. Virginia Tech has to be feeling some of that as well. They climbed into the No. 17 spot in the AP poll after a 2-0 start before dropping back-to-back games and getting ousted altogether.

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Now the teams will square off in a big game that could go a long way in deciding the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division. But teams sit at 1-1 in conference play, along with a number of other squads. Both also have conference-heavy schedules remaining, which means Thursday night’s showdown will go a long way in deciding things.

For Virginia Tech, they’ve had an extra week to enjoy a good 34-17 victory over North Carolina, their second in a row. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has gone a month without a victory. They’ve remained competitive, though, dropping two of those games by four, and five points respectively.

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Hokies quarterback Michael Brewer could use every moment of the team’s recent layoff as he gets set to go up against a Pittsburgh defense that ranks fourth in the FBS in total defense. Brewer is currently tied for the ACC lead in interceptions thrown with 11, tossing at least one in all six games thus far.

Over his last three games, he’s thrown three touchdowns and six interceptions.

In their win over the Tar Heels, the Hokies leaned heavily on the run, keeping the ball on the ground on 57 plays, compared with 27 pass attempts for Brewer. That’s oddly uncharacteristic for Virginia Tech, as the team leads the ACC in pass attempts.

As for Pittsburgh, they like to lean heavily on running back James Conner, but opposing defenses have zeroed in on him. He averaged 181.3 yards per game during Pittsburgh’s 3-0 start, and has been limited to 110.0 yards per game over their 0-3 skid.

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His yards per carry average has dropped from 6.7 to 4.4 in that span.

FREE 4* NCAAF Play Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Pick:

The Hokies haven’t handled the trip out to Pittsburgh very well, going 0-5 ATS in their last five trips there, but they have the more talented squad in this matchup, and Frank Beamer knows how important this matchup is, so he’ll have his boys ready to go once the lights turn on.

Week 8 NCAAF Trends

The Hokies are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games played on a Thursday, while the Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games.

The play: Virginia Tech +2

Check out our Updated CFB Week 8 Odds.

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By Gino Bottero

Gino is new to CappersPicks.com but NOT new to the online gambling industry.He's got an AMAZING knack for discovering hidden gems when it comes to betting on sports. Stick with him as he predicts when a team will have a letdown! Check Gino out for NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB betting articles all season long!