The Pittsburgh Panthers will try to record a blowout victory to open the season when they host the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday afternoon. Pittsburgh is coming off its worst campaign since 1998, going 3-9 under head coach Pat Narduzzi. The Panthers have a new offensive coordinator in Kade Bell, who led FCS Western Carolina previously. Kent State is an ideal opening opponent for Pittsburgh, as the Golden Flashes went 1-11 and 0-8 in MAC games last season.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh is favored by 24 points in the latest Pittsburgh vs. Kent State odds, while the over/under is 55.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Kent State vs. Pittsburgh picks, you'll want to see the college football predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.
The model has set its sights on Kent State vs. Pitt. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college football betting lines for the game:
- Pittsburgh vs. Kent State spread: Pittsburgh -24
- Pittsburgh vs. Kent State over/under: 55.5 points
- Pittsburgh vs. Kent State money line: Pittsburgh -3333, Kent State +1263
- Pittsburgh vs. Kent State picks: See picks here
Why Pittsburgh can cover
Pittsburgh is eyeing an offensive resurgence under Bell's guidance, and its quarterback competition is expected to continue on Saturday. Junior Nate Yarnell threw for 595 yards and four touchdowns in four games last season, while redshirt freshman transfer Eli Holstein from Alabama is also expected to see some action. The Panthers also added a new running back to their depth chart in Desmond Reid, who rushed for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns at Western Carolina last season.
Reid added 21 receptions for 283 yards, and he is familiar with Bell's schemes. Senior running back Rodney Hammond Jr. returns after rushing for 547 yards and four touchdowns last year, creating a power punch with Reid. The Panthers have won eight of their last nine season openers, while Kent State has only covered the spread once in its last nine games. See which team to pick here.
Why Kent State can cover
Kent State is used to playing as an underdog after going 1-11 last year, but Pittsburgh is not as formidable as some other Power Four opponents. The Panthers only covered the spread three times in their final 11 games last season, and they lost five of their final six games outright. They have not decided on their starting quarterback, which can create a problematic situation for their offense.
Quarterback Tommy Ulatowkski returns for Kent State after throwing for 737 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions last season. Junior quarterback Devin Kargman also saw time last season, giving the Golden Flashes a second option if they need it. Wide receivers Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea are back after combining for 80 receptions in 2023. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pittsburgh vs. Kent State picks
The model has simulated Kent State vs. Pittsburgh 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pittsburgh vs. Kent State, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Kent State vs. Pittsburgh spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer model that's up well over $2,000 on its top-rated college football spread picks since its inception, and find out.
