Friday night’s ACC showdown between unbeaten Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech isn’t just another game. Get this: it’s the first time since 1985 that two unranked FBS teams, both 4-0 or better, are facing off nationally. Yeah, you read that right, we gotta go all the way back to 1985 for something like this! This isn’t some throwaway early season matchup, this is a prove-it game that could completely shake up the ACC.
Unranked, Unbeaten, and Undeniably Huge Stakes
This whole “unranked but unbeaten” thing is wild, right? Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi totally gets it, and he didn’t hold back this week. He flat-out said, “I think there’s biases out there. I think it’s a joke, quite honestly, the preseason rankings.” And honestly, who can blame him? We’ve got 22 unbeaten FBS teams still standing, and only two games this week feature two of them. The other one’s No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 17 Mississippi State, so you know this Pitt-VT game is in some elite company, even if the polls haven’t caught up yet. The winner of this Friday night battle is absolutely snagging a huge early tiebreaker for that second spot in the ACC title game. Everyone’s pretty much already penciled in Miami as the top dog, with the Hurricanes getting a 69% shot by the SportsLine Projection Model to win the league title, and they’re rocking as -350 favorites at DraftKings. So yeah, for Pitt or VT, this is their shot to stamp themselves as a serious contender.
Blacksburg Blues? What to Expect on Game Day
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, and it’s all going down at Lane Stadium. If you’re heading to Blacksburg, you might wanna pack some rain gear. Weather.com is calling for mostly cloudy skies early, then periods of showers late. We’re talking a low of 62F, light and variable winds, and a 70% chance of rain. So, get ready for some classic, gritty football, maybe a little sloppy, but definitely high-stakes. The betting world is definitely leaning towards the home team, with 85% of the handle and 59% of the bets on Virginia Tech -2.5 at DraftKings. The total’s split right down the middle at 54.5, which tells you folks are expecting a pretty competitive game. If you’re into parlays, SportsLine’s got a strong play on Hokies alt +3.5 and Alt Under 57.5, coming in at +117 on DraftKings. No matter what, you know this game’s winner could seriously impact if the ACC even gets a second team into the College Football Playoff picture. It’s all on the line tonight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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