Pitt Opens as Slim Favorite Against Syracuse

Oddsmakers don’t expect much in a clash between two of the ACC’s basement dwellers.

Pitt has opened as a slim favorite over Syracuse as the two sides prepare for Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium, a 3:30 p.m. kickoff set in the Big Apple — with a television designation set to be announced in the coming days.

DraftKings has set Pitt as a 1.5-point favorite, with odds for or against the spread holding -110 odds. The over/under has been set at a modest 38 points, still more than Rutgers-Iowa, and a bet for the Panthers to win outright holds -122 odds.

FanDuel has also set Pitt as a 1.5-point favorite, with odds against the spread at -105, and the over/under has bet set at 37.5 points. A bet for Pitt to win outright holds -120 odds.

The matchup will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first football game at Yankee Stadium — which was also played by Pitt and Syracuse.

“We look forward to celebrating this significant anniversary involving Pitt, Syracuse and the Yankees,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in the release. “This is an incredible milestone in college football, and we appreciate the cooperation of our tremendous partners to make this a special opportunity for our student-athletes, programs and fans. Yankee Stadium has a rich history of hosting college football games and we’re proud to add this game to its tradition.”

It will be Pitt’s fourth trip to Yankee Stadium for a football game, with the first being a 3-0 loss to the Orange in 1923. The most recent was Pitt’s Pinstripe Bowl appearance against Northwestern — a 31-24 loss — in 2016.

Pitt and Syracuse have met every season for the last 55 years, and with the new ACC scheduling format, the matchup will continue for the foreseeable future.

Pitt has played Syracuse 78 times in program history, dating back to a 30-0 inaugural win in the 1916 season. With a 43-32-3 all-time record against the Orange, Pitt has gotten the best of Syracuse of late.

A 19-9 win over a then-ranked Syracuse last November extended Pitt’s win streak to five games. Pitt has won 18 of the last 21 games played dating back to 2002.

And while Pitt is 0-4 on the road this season, with just two wins at home, ‘Cuse is winless in the ACC to start the season — and lost by a combined score of 167-44. It’s not looking good for head coach Dino Babers or his team.

LeQuint Allen has been a successful running back for the Orange this season, but inconsistent quarterback play has held the team back in conference play this season.