The Pittsburgh Panthers and Wake Forest Demon Deacons are at Bank of America Stadium for an unlikely matchup in the ACC Championship. This game has been known as Clemson vs whoever wins the ACC Coastal. In most cases that team is the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Clemson nor North Carolina is in the ACC Championship on Saturday night. It’s something different which is never a bad thing. However, I am sure the conference would have liked this game to have College Football Playoff implications.
The ACC Championship Game is set ?@Pitt_FB x @WakeFB pic.twitter.com/naCrKRwAm2
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) November 27, 2021
There is a spot in a New Year’s Six game, but the ACC Championship is up against the Big Ten Championship. Michigan is playing for a College Football Playoff berth at the same time on Saturday night.
While most people tune in to see Michigan and Iowa, the most entertaining matchup on Saturday could be in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium. Pittsburgh is armed with the possible No. 1 quarterback off the board in the draft.
Kenny Pickett looks to continue his prolific season in the ACC Championship. He’s playing for much more than a conference championship and trip to a notable bowl game. NFL scouts are going to have a close eye on how Pickett performs in Charlotte tonight.
Pitt QB Kenny Pickett is officially on the ballot for the 2021 @HeismanTrophy ?
Fan vote for this year's award will help select the four finalists and winner.
Help @KennyPickett10 get to New York!
VOTE: https://t.co/O1MIAIdyUe#H2P » https://t.co/pY4cQf9C3r pic.twitter.com/ellskNGwjZ
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) November 29, 2021
He has to deal with an underrated Wake Forest offense on the other side. The Wake Forest offense has executed the RPO to perfection with Sam Hartman at the controls. When they get clicking, the Demon Deacons can be tough to stop.
They are coming off a blowout win against Boston College by a score of 41-10. BC isn’t much of a test, but the offense stayed on point. Hartman passed for 236 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception. He also gained 51 yards and a touchdown on 4.6 yards per carry.
It’s been that kind of season for Hartman. He can be a pest to deal with in this dangerous Wake Forest RPO. Hartman will have to keep up with Pickett and Pittsburgh. Head below for our free Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest ACC Championship pick on December 4, 2021.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Odds and Team Statistics:
The following odds are courtesy of BetUS:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Panthers | -3.5 (-110) | -165 | Over 71.5 (-110) |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | +3.5 (-110) | -165 | Under 71.5 (-110) |
| Team Data | Pittsburgh Panthers | Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 10-2 | 10-2 |
| ATS Record | 9-3-0 | 6-6-0 |
| Away/Home Record | NEUTRAL | NEUTRAL |
| ATS Away/Home | NEUTRAL | NEUTRAL |
| Points Per Game | 42.8 | 42.9 |
| Points Against Per Game | 17.2 | 29.1 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 356.7 | 315.5 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 157.8 | 168.2 |
Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest Prediction:
Kenny Pickett has passed for 40 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 67.7% completions. He’s racked up over 4,000 yards going into the ACC Championship.
The senior is off to the NFL next year following a career season. Pickett passed for 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions the past two years. He exploded this season in the Panthers’ offense.
Jordan Addison on 20+ yard throws:
? 19 catches (1st among WRs)
? 708 yards (1st)
? 10 TDs (1st)Should he win the Biletnikoff Award? pic.twitter.com/xkQ06KNSNh
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) December 1, 2021
It’s not like this was just Pickett, though. He has weapons around him to make this offense hum. Jordan Addison is going to be going to the NFL as well.
The standout wide receiver has put up 1,353 yards and 17 touchdowns on 15.9 yards per carry. He’s only a sophomore and has more time at Pittsburgh.
The game changer in this one is going to be Rodney Hammond Jr. and Vincent Davis in the backfield. Wake Forest can’t stop the run.
Pickett will get his yards, but it might be the Pittsburgh backfield that really gashes the Demon Deacons. The Demon Deacons are 118th in the nation with 209.9 yards allowed per game on the ground.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends:
Pittsburgh
- 7-2 ATS in their previous nine games
- 11-3 ATS in their previous 14 games as a favorite
- 1-5 ATS in their previous six games at a neutral site
- OVER is 15-5 in their previous games
- OVER is 7-3 in their previous ten games versus a team with a winning record
Wake Forest
- 4-2 ATS in their previous six games
- 5-1 ATS in their previous six games versus the ACC Coastal Division
- OVER is 4-1 in their previous five games as an underdog
- OVER is 6-2 in their previous eight games
- OVER is 5-1 in their previous six games versus a team with a winning record
Wake Forest can’t creep their secondary up and focus on being better against the run. Pickett will beat them deep. Their numbers against the pass are a bit skewed as well.
On paper they look good with 217.6 yards per game for 50th in the FBS. Note, though, that Wake Forest has played Old Dominion, Norfolk State, and a triple-option school.
The game against Army makes their numbers against the pass look much better than they are. BC can’t pass the ball either, as we saw last week in their 41-10 win.
For a comparison to the Panthers, look at what North Carolina did with 58 points in a 58-55 final. Pittsburgh torched the Wake Forest defense for 7 touchdowns.
The best counter to Pickett and the Pitt offense has to be Sam Hartman. Hartman and the Wake Forest RPO has averaged 42.9 points per game for third in the nation, 0.1 points better than Pitt.
? Manning Award Finalist ?
Let's go, @sam_hartman10 ? pic.twitter.com/WF7q7NaVtz
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) December 3, 2021
Hartman goes into tonight with 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 60.3% completions. He has also scored 10 touchdowns and 342 yards on the ground.
This should be a fun one on Saturday night. There may not be a College Football Playoff berth on the line, but it should be entertaining. In a duel between Pickett and Hartman, I like a bunch of points with a 41-37 or 45-37 final in Charlotte in the ACC Championship.
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