With the line for Georgia Tech's game at Pittsburgh favoring the Panthers by 6 or 6 ½ points, betting analyst Josh Nagel doesn't feel confident about siding with either. (He does like Pitt to win straight up.) But Nagel, who writes for the sports betting website Sportsline, likes another wager – the over/under, set at 50 ½ or 51 points.
The over/under is a bet on the total number of points scored in the game.
“I would play over 51 and that’s about it, because I don’t want anything to do with the spread on this one,” Nagel said.
Nagel thinks that Pitt’s offense is underappreciated and capable of moving the ball in chunks with running backs James Conner and Chawntez Moss and quarterback Nathan Peterman. At the same time, he has some doubts about the Panthers’ ability to stop option offenses. Pitt lost 44-28 to Navy in its bowl game last year, allowing 417 yards, and gave up 9.4 yards per carry to Tech, the Yellow Jackets’ second-highest rate with coach Paul Johnson. (Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said that the defense has done more to prepare for Tech this season.)
“Georgia Tech has played some impressive defenses,” Nagel said. “I don’t see this game as a low-scoring matchup. I see it being one where both teams get up and down the field.”
Nagel said he might place the over/under line closer to 57 ½ or 58 points. This season, Tech has been under twice, over once and hit the line once. (The Mercer game did not have a line.)
Last week, Nagel picked Tech to cover the 7 ½-point spread against Miami, and, like fans, was still miffed over the two fumbles returned for Miami touchdowns and two passes into the end zone that had a chance to be caught but were incomplete. Nagel said he made nine college picks for his website and hit on seven.
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