Yeah, okay, fine, Miami is the No. 1 team in the AP and Coaches polls, but that’s more because it’s one of the last teams standing than for anything it has done, especially considering it needed two overtimes to get by a blah Florida State team.
If this is really the No. 1 team in the nation, it blasts past a struggling Pitt team without having to sweat too much.
The Panthers pulled off an amazing win over Virginia Tech, but lost star quarterback Mason Heintschel, and that’s been it, with losses to North Carolina and Boston College after a 5-0 start.
Miami vs Pitt: Quick Hits
- Pitt gets two straight home games after this before closing out at Louisville and Cal.
- Miami has this, and then the landmine against North Carolina to follow. And then it’s the game of games – at Notre Dame.
- The Hurricanes rolled by Pitt 38-7 last year and is 5-1 in the series since 2017.
How To Watch Miami vs Pitt
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
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Why Miami Will Win
The Pitt offense lost its mojo when it lost Heintschel.
Holden Geriner was supposed to be ready to take over, but the two interceptions didn’t go over well in the loss to North Carolina. He wasn’t awful against the Tar Heels, but he was replaced by 6-6 freshman Corey Dailey, and he only completed 44% of his throws with two picks in the loss to Boston College.
The last thing the Pitt offense needs is a great pass rushing defense on the other side, but that’s what it’s about to get. The Hurricanes will turn the front four loose to make the Pitt offense rush. Speaking of rushing, Miami is second in the nation in run defense, allowing just 58.5 yards per game, ranking only behind …
Why Pitt Will Win
Pitt leads the country against the run, giving up 57 yards per game. Now, that’s partly because everyone travels by air against the leaky Panther secondary, but the front and the pass rush really are solid.
Under head coach Pat Narduzzi, Pitt occasionally finds a way to screw someone up. Last year it was a great shootout win late in the season at Georgia Tech. In 2021, it was a win over Clemson, with the Panthers going on to win the ACC Championship. In 2024, it was an interception-fest against Syracuse, and on and on from there.
The program won’t be scared of anything when it gets to Miami Gardens, but …
Miami vs Pitt Prediction, Betting Lines
It’s a relatively early game, and the forecast is for potentially brutal weather. It’s going to be hot, muggy, and the rain is expected to fall all day. That won’t be a help to Pitt, though.
Miami’s lines will be a bit better, with the ground game working just enough to let Darian Mensah and the passing game be more effective on the possibly wet track.
Miami 37, Pitt 13
Latest Consensus Line: Miami -20.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.