FiveDimes recently released over/under regular season win totals for college football teams.
Here is an early season look at the Pittsburgh Panthers in the ACC.
Over/under
FiveDimes has Pittsburgh at six regular season wins. Last year, the Panthers went 6-6 in the regular season. The line features an even return on the over/under at -120.
The upside
No game can get worse than Pittsburgh’s bowl loss to Houston last season. In case you don’t remember, check out this.
At least it likely won’t be that bad this year. As far as the schedule, the Panthers did receive a few gifts from conference officials. Clemson and Florida State aren’t on the docket. The Panthers also will host Virginia, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Louisville and Miami.
Offensively, there are several question marks, especially on the offensive line. However, reigning ACC Player of the Year James Conner returns as the featured running back, along with top wide receiver Tyler Boyd.
There’s no doubting head coach Pat Narduzzi’s ability to coach defense. The only problem is there aren’t many weapons left, other than linebacker Matt Galambos, and Lafayette Pitts and Reggie Mitchell in the secondary.
The downside
Pittsburgh is the epitome of mediocrity. Don’t believe me?
The Panthers have gone 6-6 in the regular season every year since 2011. The end of their season ends in a directional, pizza or armed forces bowl, where they have lost three of the past four years.
To get more than six wins, the Panthers will have to adjust to another new head coach, their fifth head coach since 2010.
Narduzzi does have a quality track record as a defensive coordinator, but he’s never been a head coach in his 25-year career. He also is inheriting an offense that doesn’t have a great track record of being explosive, and that could be another issue with the graduation of two All-ACC starting offensive linemen.
Quarterback Chad Voytik will return, but his inconsistency was on full display for most of the season last year. However, on the upside, he did finish well, throwing only one of his seven interceptions in the last six games.
Getting to seven wins will likely come down to navigating through a semi-difficult schedule. The Panthers must travel on the road to Iowa, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Duke.
The verdict
Adjusting to a new coach isn’t easy, but if any team can do it, it’s likely the Panthers. However, the schedule seems to be too difficult for the Panthers to achieve seven wins.
Pittsburgh will play six road games, and will likely be underdogs in at least four, and possibly a fifth against the Orange. In its six home games, the Panthers may only be favored in two, depending how the season shakes out for Miami and North Carolina.
Those numbers aren’t promising for the Panthers to reach the over. Take the safe bet and go with the under.
