Free College Football Picks Today: Pittsburgh Panthers vs Duke Blue Devils 11/19/22

The Duke University Blue Devils (7-3, 4-2 ACC), one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most potent rushing offenses, are on the road to face the No. 24 University of Pittsburgh Panthers (6-4, 3-3 ACC), one of the conference’s softest ground defenses, at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.

The Panthers are 7.5-point favorites, and the total is 50. Duke is coming off an impressive 24-7 win over Virginia Tech at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium last Saturday, their third straight victory. Riley Leonard threw for 262 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Jordan Waters ran 15 times for 61 yards. Jalon Calhoun caught five passes for 94 yards.

Pittsburgh beat Virginia 37-7 at David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium last Saturday. Kedon Slovis was 14 of 24 for 208 yards and a touchdown. Israel Abanikanda carried 24 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. Bub Means also scored once. He had three receptions for 90 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Panthers won the only game between the teams last season, a 54-29 victory in November, their fourth straight win against Duke. Kenny Pickett threw three touchdowns for Pittsburgh.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Blue Devils are averaging 33.7 points per game for the season, fifth in the ACC, and they are facing a Panthers defense that has surrendered 23.9 PPG (7th). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has scored 30.0 points a game this season, sixth in the conference, and Duke is allowing 21.5 PPG (6th).

The Blue Devils rank 89th in the country in passing yards per game (215.6) and 23rd in rushing (203.8). They will be facing a tough test on the ground, as the Panthers are 10th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (97.7).

Against the pass, Pittsburgh is 45th (212.1).Pittsburgh is 82nd in the country in passing yards per game (220.3) and 46th in rushing (180.7), while the Blue Devils are allowing 261.0 passing yards (107th) and 121.8 rushing yards per game (28th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 10 games, Riley Leonard has thrown for 13 touchdowns (5 INT) and 211.3 yards per game to lead Duke in passing. In five away games this season, he has five TDs (2 INT) and an average of 198.8 yards passing.

Riley Leonard also leads the team in rushing with an average of 62.5 yards per game. He has 10 touchdowns on the ground. Jalon Calhoun is the Blue Devils’ leading receiver with 58.5 yards a game and two TDs.

Kedon Slovis has six passing touchdowns (6 INT) with 216.1 yards per game through nine games to lead Pittsburgh. In six home games this season, he has thrown for five TDs (4 INT) and an average of 223.8 yards. Israel Abanikanda has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 134.1 yards a game through nine games.

He has 18 total touchdowns, 17 rushing and one receiving. Jared Wayne has been the primary target in the Panthers’ passing game. He has one touchdown and a 79.3 yard per game average through nine appearances.