Two straight defeats have put a damper on Florida State’s comeback season. Still, the Seminoles remain one of the ACC’s most dangerous teams. They’ll hope to get back on track this week vs. a conference foe, Pittsburgh. The Panthers destroyed Boston College last week, thanks in large part to starting quarterback Mason Heintschel.
Can the freshman QB lead his team to an upset win this afternoon? Below is my prediction and pick for College Football Week 7’s game between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Florida State Seminoles.
FSU enters this contest as ten-point favorites (-115) over Pitt, with the over/under set at 57.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Pittsburgh vs. Florida State prediction, preview
Making sense of Pittsburgh’s season is a fool’s errand. Two straight losses caused then-starting quarterback Eli Holstein to get benched. It’s not difficult to see why; the Panthers blew a 17-point lead over Louisville in Week 5. However, last Saturday’s 48-7 domination over BC has given fans some hope. That’s primarily due to Heintschel; he threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns on 73.2% passing. It doesn’t matter what one thinks of the Eagles. Those numbers against any Power-4 opponent are impressive, especially for his first career start.
Any freshman gunslinger needs all the help he can get. Getting back a healthy Desmond Reid (lower body) will be crucial for Pitt. The star running back has missed the team’s last two contests. Through 11 games last season, the senior gained 1,545 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns. If Reid can’t suit up, backup Juelz Goff will be in line for more touches. Last week vs. BC, he gained 59 rushing yards and a touchdown.
A balanced attack on offense is needed for Pittsburgh against one of the ACC’s most formidable defensive units. Florida State ranks inside the top five for all ACC schools in passing and rushing yards allowed. The potential return of starting safety Ashlynd Barker this weekend could make things even more difficult for Heintschel. FSU has recorded six interceptions through five weeks this season.
The main attraction for the Seminoles is on the other side of the ball. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos has helped turn this program around, leading FSU to a season-opening upset of Alabama. The dual-threat has recorded 274 rushing yards and four TDs. Through the air, he’s notched six passing touchdowns and a conference-leading 16.0 yards per completion. Turnovers (five interceptions) are a notable flaw in his game.
Pittsburgh vs. Florida State pick, best bet
Saturday’s matchup might not be a cakewalk for Castellanos and company. Pittsburgh has held opponents to an ACC-best 64.6 rushing yards per game. Even the disastrous Louisville loss was a result of the Panthers’ lackluster secondary.
If (big if) Pitt can keep things close early, Heintschel won’t need to be a hero. Florida State’s opportunistic secondary is something to fear, but Reid’s potential return makes this offense far more dynamic. The Panthers are a scary team to bet on, but I’m expecting a close, hard-fought affair this afternoon.
