West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Picks and Prediction – 9/14/2024

The West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1) take on the Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0) in a key early-season matchup. West Virginia is coming off a dominant 49-14 win against Albany after dropping the opener to Penn State. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh eked out a 28-27 victory over Cincinnati, building on a solid 55-24 win over Kent State. Dominate the college scene with our College Football picks.

West Virginia’s offense has been efficient, especially quarterback Garrett Greene, who has thrown for 397 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions through two games. The ground game is equally effective, led by CJ Donaldson Jr., who has rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Receiver Hudson Clement, with 73 yards and one touchdown, has been Greene’s top target. West Virginia averages 35.5 points per game but must avoid inconsistency, as shown in the loss to Penn State, where they managed just 12 points.

On defense, West Virginia has shown some vulnerability, especially in the opener, allowing 34 points to Penn State. The Mountaineers’ ability to defend against the pass will be crucial, as they gave up 325 passing yards in that game. The defensive line needs to step up against a more balanced Pittsburgh attack. They have yet to prove consistency on defense, which could be an issue.

Pittsburgh’s offense has been led by quarterback Eli Holstein, who has been strong with 638 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. The running game has been strong, too, with Desmond Reid rushing for 293 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Konata Mumpfield has been Holstein’s go-to receiver, with 179 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh is averaging 41.5 points per game, an example of a balanced and explosive offense, which will look to exploit West Virginia’s defense.

Defensively, Pittsburgh has been fairly solid, allowing 25.5 points per game, but they showed some cracks against Cincinnati, giving up 27 points. The secondary will be tested by Greene and the Mountaineers' offense, but they’ve shown an ability to make key stops. Pittsburgh will rely on its defense to control the tempo and limit West Virginia’s offensive threats.

West Virginia’s balanced attack and Pittsburgh’s occasional lapses on defense give the Mountaineers a slight edge in this matchup. Expect Garrett Greene to put up solid numbers, and CJ Donaldson Jr. to control the ground game. Final Score Prediction: West Virginia wins 30-24.