The Miami Hurricanes look to maintain their Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes alive with a win of their regular-season finale towards Pittsburgh, which has its personal path to pursue in the case of the ACC Championship Recreation and the CFP.
The Hurricanes moved up within the newest CFP rankings from the choice committee, leaping forward of Utah after final week’s 17-point win at Virginia Tech. Now at No. 12, Mario Cristobal’s group is 2 spots away from being in place to seize an at-large bid if it doesn’t wind up within the ACC Championship Recreation on the conclusion of Week 14.
However Pitt additionally made a transfer up within the eyes of the committee, going from unranked final week to No. 22 after beating Georgia Tech in Atlanta final weekend. Pat Narduzzi’s group confirmed a robust response after a high-profile loss to Notre Dame that has the Panthers again on the committee’s radar, however the win towards the Yellow Jackets additionally opened up the pathways to the convention title recreation.
If the Panthers can beat Miami and get an upset win from both Virginia Tech (at Virginia) or Cal (towards SMU), then Pitt may have a shot to probably play for the second ACC crown of the Pat Narduzzi period. It ought to be famous that Miami’s path to the ACC title will not be off the desk, with rooting pursuits for Hurricanes followers together with a win for Virginia Tech towards Virginia.
With all of the Faculty Soccer Playoff and ACC Championship tiebreaker implications, it is clear why this ranked-on-ranked matchup shall be a key piece within the postseason outlook for 2025. Now let’s get into how these groups stack up towards one another.
The place to look at Miami vs. Pitt reside
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: ESPN | Dwell stream: Fubo (Attempt at no cost)
Miami vs. Pitt: Must know
Class of the ACC: Although Miami is nonetheless pursuing its first ACC Championship Recreation underneath Mario Cristobal, the Hurricanes have been the most effective workforce in convention play over the past two years. Miami is 19-5 in ACC play because the begin of 2024, and that .791 successful share in that span is the most effective within the convention rating simply forward of SMU (.760). Much more spectacular in the case of competitiveness, none of Miami’s 5 losses in convention play throughout the final two seasons have been by greater than six factors.
Miami’s defensive enchancment amongst FBS greatest: One of many key enhancements that Miami sought to handle within the offseason after 2024 was seeking to repair the protection. The Hurricanes ranked seventieth amongst FBS groups giving up 25.3 factors per recreation, and Cristobal made a change going out to rent Corey Heatherman because the workforce’s new defensive coordinator. Mixed with some key switch portal additions and higher well being alongside the defensive position, the enhancements have been noticeable. Miami ranks No. 7 nationally and No. 1 within the ACC permitting simply 14.5 factors per recreation.
Mason Heintschel again on monitor after Georgia Tech win: Pitt freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel has supplied a spark for the Panthers offense, main the workforce to a 6-1 file since ascending to the highest of the depth chart in the course of the season. Heintschel has thrown a number of touchdowns in 5 of these seven video games, and since changing into starter in Week 6 he ranks second within the ACC in passing yards (1,863 yards) and third in passing touchdowns (14) in that span. Whereas the loss to Notre Dame was paired with Heintschel’s worst recreation as a starter, he bounced again at Georgia Tech with 226 passing yards and three whole touchdowns (two passing, one speeding) within the win towards the Yellow Jackets.
Miami vs. Pitt prediction, picks
So long as Miami doesn’t flip the soccer over, the Hurricanes ought to be poised to deal with enterprise with a ground-and-pound fashion that would result in decrease scoring. Pitt’s aggressive defensive nature ought to open up the chance for giant splash performs from Malachi Toney and the Hurricanes ability gamers, which may energy a win and canopy. Decide: Miami -6.5
Who will win and canopy in every Week 14 faculty soccer rivalry recreation? Legendary Vegas skilled Bruce Marshall is on a 38-29 roll on faculty soccer picks. Go to SportsLine now to see all his faculty soccer picks.
