California Golden Bears vs Pittsburgh Panthers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 10/12/2024

Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, October 12, 2024

Venue:  Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Cal +3, Pitt -3; Over/Under:  59.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Cal +3.5, Pitt -3.5; Over/Under:  59 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Cal +3.5, Pitt -3.5; Over/Under:  59.5 points

California Golden Bears:  3-2 (0-2) (15th place, ACC)

Pittsburgh Panthers:  5-0 (1-0) (2nd place, ACC)

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California Golden Bears:  lost their last game at home against the Miami-Florida Hurricanes 39-38.

Pittsburgh Panthers:  won their last game on the road against the North Carolina Tar Heels 34-24.

California is entering this game with a 3-2 record overall and they have a 0-2 record in their conference games too. They are 2-1 in their home games, 1-1 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They lost their last game against Miami-FL 39-38. Fernando Mendoza was the starting QB and he completed 35/53 passes for 437 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Mark Fletcher Jr. led the team in rushing yards with 81 and 1 TD. Xavier Restrepo led the receivers with 163 receiving yards on 7 receptions. Wesley Bissainthe led the defense in that game with 4 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles while Simeon Barrow Jr. led the defense in sacks with 1. Francisco Mauigoa came away with the only interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Pittsburgh is entering this game with a 5-0 record overall and they have a 1-0 record in their conference games too. They are 3-0 in their home games, 2-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against North Carolina 34-24. Eli Holstein was the starting QB and he completed 25/42 passes for 381 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Eli Holstein led the team in rushing yards with 76 and 1 TD. Desmond Reid led the receivers with 155 receiving yards on 11 receptions and 1 TD. Donovan McMillon led the defense in that game with 7 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles while Kyle Louis led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have Pittsburgh listed as a 3 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Pittsburgh has looked really good in their games this season with their 5-0 record overall and their 1-0 conference record. They have been a big surprise this season as one of the few undefeated ACC teams left. They are 3-0 in their home games too and they are coming off their first real test of the season, winning a conference game on the road against UNC. Meanwhile, California has looked good in their games this season with their 3-2 record overall, but they have struggled a lot this year as a new team in the ACC. They are 0-2 in their conference games this season and coming off a really bad loss to Miami by 1 point in a game they were up by double digits in the 4th quarter. Their defense completely collapsed in that home game with a chance to knock off the undefeated Miami, and now they have to go on the road to the East for this one. This will be a tough game for California to play after having that win against Miami ripped away from them in the final minute. Pittsburgh has been rolling in their games this season and they will be looking to keep that up as they have become a threat in the conference now. The best way to place a bet here is on Pittsburgh to cover the spread in this game. 

California Pittsburgh Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, October 12, 2024 (3:30 pm ET start time) is Pittsburgh 38 California 20.

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California Golden Bears: 1-4 ATS off a home loss. 5-9 ATS after playing a game at home. 3-7 ATS versus good rushing defenses - allowing 120 rushing yards/game or less. 9-3 OVER off a loss against a conference rival. 9-2 OVER vs. good passing teams averaging 8 or more passing yards/att. 8-1 OVER when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 75%).

Pittsburgh Panthers: 4-0 ATS after 3 or more consecutive straight up wins. 5-2 1H ATS off a win against a conference rival. 21-9 OVER in all lined games. 14-4 OVER as a favorite. 9-2 OVER as a home favorite. 11-6 OVER against conference opponents. 10-5 OVER after 1 or more consecutive straight up wins.

California Golden Bears:  T. Merriweather (WR) Out - Undisclosed. J. Ott (RB) Questionable - Undisclosed. K. Grayes (WR) Out - Undisclosed. S. Vatikani (OL) Questionable - Undisclosed. W. McDonald (OL) Questionable - Undisclosed. J. Williams-Thomas (RB) Questionable - Knee.

Pittsburgh Panthers:  N. Maynard (DB) Out - Arm. J. Goff (RB) Questionable - Arm. R. Hammond (RB) Out - Eligibility.

“Football’s a humbling game. We had every opportunity to win that game, obviously. We didn’t get it done, so every individual has to own it.” - Justin Wilcox after his team’s loss against Miami-FL in their last game. 

“We've got a hell of a football team. You know, offensively, they got a good football team. They moved it, but our guys bowed up on fourth down. Just a heck of a team win, and great effort by our guys.” - Pat Narduzzi after his team’s win against UNC in their last game. 

WR Brady, Jonathan 

WR Anderson, Mavin 

WR Grizzell, Trond

TE Endries, Jack 

QB Mendoza, Fernando

RB Ott, Jaydn 

WR Johnson, Kenny 

WR Mumpfield, Konata 

WR Williams Jr., Raphael 

TE Bartholomew, Gavin 

QB Holstein, Eli

RB Reid, Desmond 

Passing: F. Mendoza (1177)

Rushing: J. Thomas (287)

Receiving: N. Hunter (185)

Touchdowns: N. Hunter (4)

Passing: E. Holstein (1567)

Rushing: D. Reid (387)

Receiving: K. Mumpfield (426)

Touchdowns: D. Reid (5)

Coaches:

California Golden Bears: Justin Wilcox (8th season)

Pittsburgh Panthers: Pat Narduzzi (10th season)