Can the ACC have two teams in the College Football Playoff field? The possibility of that outcome remaining alive depends squarely on the result of Saturday’s Miami vs. Pittsburgh matchup (12:00 p.m. ET, ABC), even though neither team may end up in next week’s ACC Championship Game.
Entering the final weekend of regular season action in the ACC, the 12th-ranked Hurricanes (9-2, 5-2 ACC) and 22nd-ranked Panthers (8-3, 5-1 ACC) are on the outside looking in for a berth in next week’s ACC title tilt in Charlotte. If 18th-ranked Virginia (9-2, 6-1 ACC) holds serve at home against Virginia Tech and No. 21 SMU (8-3, 6-1 ACC) wins at Cal, the Cavaliers and Mustangs will meet for the conference crown and a spot in the CFP.
However, the Hurricanes could also be one of the 12 championship combatants if they defeat the Panthers and have the dominoes fall in all the right directions elsewhere nationally. The odds are not favorable, but it has been a wild season, and this particular weekend has seen some memorable results over the years.
First and foremost, however, Miami must put away Pittsburgh, who had an impressive 42-28 win at Georgia Tech last weekend. It was a de facto elimination game for both teams, and the Panthers knocked the Yellow Jackets out of the running behind a big game by Ja’Kyrian Turner (21 carries, 201 yards, TD).
Will the Panthers crush the Canes’ lingering CFP hopes as well? Read on for our Miami vs. Pittsburgh prediction and best bets. Also, get the best betting odds from top online sportsbooks such as BetOnline.
Miami vs. Pittsburgh Prediction and Best Bets
Prediction: Pittsburgh to win
Those who hope to see Miami in the CFP will point to their head-to-head win over Notre Dame, who is currently three spots ahead in the rankings and slated to secure a seat at the table as it stands. They also own a blowout win over South Florida, who was a top-20 team and arguably the favorite in the American Conference until being undone by its defense in losses to Memphis and Navy.
But when the Hurricanes have come up against their stiffest competition in the ACC, they have failed to get the job done, and that is why they find themselves in this position ahead of their final regular season game.
It is ultimately not much different than last season, when they started 9-0 and were bound for a berth but missed out due to losses at Georgia Tech and Syracuse, the latter of which may still remain fresh in the memory of Miami fans for the blown 21-0 lead.
So, what’s going to be different for Miami vs. Pittsburgh?
Honestly, it is difficult to picture anything other than a win for the Panthers.
Sure, they were battered, splattered, and bruised in a blowout loss to Notre Dame the last time they played at home two weeks ago. But the Fighting Irish are a different team than they were when they opened the season with losses to Miami and Texas A&M, in part because redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Carr has settled in after opening with two of the toughest starting assignments he possibly could have.
Current College Football Playoff Rankings
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Texas A&M
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- BYU
- Miami
- Virginia
- SMU
- Pittsburgh
- Georgia Tech
But enough about the Irish. Pitt was clearly not thrown off by the loss to Notre Dame, as the Panthers dusted themselves off then dusted the Yellow Jackets, who looked like the ACC’s best team for much of the season.
From a talent perspective, Miami obviously has the edge vs. Pittsburgh. But six of Carson Beck’s nine interceptions came in the losses to Louisville (four) and SMU (two), and those teams rank third and first, respectively, in the ACC in interceptions.
Who ranks second? That would be Pitt, who has 14 interceptions this season. That includes two last week of Georgia Tech QB Haynes King, who threw two picks in 41 passes against the Panthers after throwing two in 253 attempts in his first nine games this season.
Also, the Canes committed a dozen penalties against SMU and nine against Louisville, and their ground game was especially ineffective against the Cardinals, who limited them to only 63 yards on 24 attempts (2.6 yards per carry).
At this point, if you are pointing at Miami’s win over Notre Dame as a sign of its strength and worthiness of a spot in the CFP, you are likely not an impartial observer. This team has stumbled, bumbled, and fumbled time and again in its most meaningful conference games, and this matchup vs. Pittsburgh should be more of the same for Miami.
Miami vs. Pittsburgh Best Bets
1) Pittsburgh +7 (-110 at Everygame)
Yes, Pittsburgh lost at home to Notre Dame by 22, and Miami beat Notre Dame.
But for the Hurricanes to be favored by a touchdown for the kind of game that they have lost not once, not twice, not three times, but four times in the last two seasons under Mario Cristobal just feels silly.
Bet accordingly and chuck a few coins on the Pitt ML as well.
2) Mason Heintschel (Pittsburgh) Over 1.5 Touchdown Passes (+140 at Bovada)
In seven starts, Heintschel has thrown two or more touchdown passes. In the two in which he didn’t do that, he didn’t throw a single touchdown pass. Miami has allowed only 10 touchdown passes all season (third in the ACC), and the Hurricanes rank first in the ACC in passing yards allowed per game (190.2), second in passing yards allowed per attempt (6.0), and tied for second in sacks (30).
But at these odds, this is a play that I can’t pass up. Even if Heintschel doesn’t have his best day statistically, he can still end up with a couple of touchdown tosses.
Other College Football Betting Information
Other NCAA Football Content at Betting News
College football is one of the most popular sports to bet on, and Betting News cover it extensively. In addition to predictions and expert picks for matchups such as Miami vs. Pittsburgh, you can check out our aggregated college football picks, compare NCAA football odds from BetOnline and other college football betting sites, and learn how to bet on college football through the content we have on the site.
Be sure to bookmark Betting News so you can keep up with the content we provide for the 2025 college football season.
Follow Betting News on Social Media
Also, we cover college football in great depth on our Twitch streams and our other social media channels. Follow us on Twitch, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube for frequent NCAA football betting insight from our content team.
That includes our weekly college football show, “The Ole College Try,” which streams every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.