Pitt-West Virginia Preview: Everything You Need to Know
The Pitt Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers will meet for the 108th time in the Backyard Brawl Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va.
It marks the final matchup between the two programs until 2029 as the recent four-game installment comes to a close. The home team has won each game in this recent stretch with Pitt winning 38-31 in 2022 and 38-34 last season, while WVU took home the 2023 matchup, 17-6.
Pitt holds the all-time series lead with a 63-41-3 record. This century, WVU owns an 8-7 edge in the rivalry.
The last four games played in Morgantown have been settled by less than 10 points.
Pitt Outlook
Pitt enters the contest 2-0 with victories over Duquesne, 61-9, and Central Michigan, 45-17.
Quarterback Eli Holstein has settled in and is off to a strong start, completing 36-of-51 (70.5%) passes for 519 yards, eight touchdowns to two interceptions. He has helped Pitt score 53 points per game — tied-eighth in the country — and 462 yards of offense per game — tied-34th in the nation.
Raphael Williams has been his top receiver with six receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Kenny Johnson has also hauled in six passes to go along with 105 receiving yards and one touchdown. Louisville transfer Cataurus Hicks has five receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Desmond Reid has compiled 112 yards on the ground at a 6.2 yards per carry clip. He has one rushing touchdown, while adding an 88-yard punt return touchdown in the opener.
Defensively, Pitt has eliminated the run through two games. Pitt has allowed just 34.5 yards per game, which is the fifth-best in the country. The Panthers have once again lived in the backfield this season with 11 tackles for loss per game — second in the FBS — and nine sacks.
Linebacker Rasheem Biles leads Pitt with 15 total tackles (12 solo). Kyle Louis is not far behind with 11 tackles, to go along with the team lead with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
This matchup against West Virginia proves as Pitt’s first big test of the season coming against a Power Four opponent.
West Virginia (Big 12)
HEAD COACH
Rich Rodriguez (1st season – 7th season overall)
Rodriguez returns to his roots as the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Grant Town, W.Va. native spent seven seasons as the Mountaineers head coach from 2001-2007, compiling a 60-26 record with four Big East Conference championships.
His final Backyard Brawl came in the notorious 13-9 game that kept WVU from playin in the national championship. After that season, he would take the head coaching job at Michigan, then bounce around at Arizona, Ole Miss, Louisiana-Monroe and Jacksonville State before being rehired by West Virginia prior to this season. He holds an overall coaching record of 190-129-2.
WEST VIRGINIA PREVIEW
It’s been tough sledding for West Virginia in Rich Rodriguez’s first year back. The Mountaineers endured high roster turnover.
West Virginia pulled away from Robert Morris in its opener, 45-3, despite only holding a 10-3 lead at halftime.
Last week, West Virginia fell to Mid-American Ohio, 17-10. The Mountaineers were dealt a huge blow when Jahiem White went down during the game as he will miss the remainder of the season. Top wide receiver Jaden Bray will also miss the remainder of the season with an injury.
Without White, West Virginia struggled to move the ball on offense. Quarterback Nicco Marchiol went 15-of-26 for 178 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He added nine yards rushing on 11 attempts.
The Mountaineers defense did force three interceptions of Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro, along with three sacks.
Redshirt sophomore Cam Vaughn leads the WVU receiving corp with nine catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.
West Virginia has generated 437.5 yards of total offense per game — 42nd-best in the nation. Defensively, the Mountaineers are holding teams to 278.5 yards of offense per game.
Spread
Pitt is favored by 7.5 points, according to Bet MGM. Pitt is -300 on the Money line and the over/under is set at 55.5.
Game Time
Pitt and West Virginia is set to kick off Saturday at 3:30 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
TV
Pitt vs. West Virginia can be found on ESPN with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (reporter) calling the game.
Radio
Pitt vs. West Virginia will be live on 93.7 The Fan as well with Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Dorin Dickerson (sideline) and Larry Richert (sideline) calling the action.
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