West Virginia will tackle No. 17 Pittsburgh later this night, renewing the Yard Brawl to kickoff the 2022 soccer season. EerSports has taken this chance to go searching the trade for the specialists’ ideas on the sport and who would possibly win. Here is what we discovered:
Beginning with the computer systems, ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index provides the Mountaineers a 21.9% probability of profitable the sport. Bill Connelly’s SP+ provides the Mountaineers an identical 22% probability of profitable and predicts the ultimate rating will likely be 36-22 in favor of Pittsburgh. ProFootballFocus’ Greenline function would not really feel fairly that strongly, giving WVU a 30% probability of profitable the sport and really placing the Mountaineers as one in every of their worth picks for the weekend – you want WVU to win 28.9% of the time to interrupt even given the percentages, and their mannequin has them at a 30% probability. So, +1.1%.
Chris Hummer and Brad Crawford right here at 247Sports each choose WVU to maintain it shut, however neither count on the Mountaineers to win.
Hummer (Choose: West Virginia +7): Yard brawl, let’s go! Lot of latest for each groups. New QBs, new OCs and a (re)newed rivalry. I’m a little bit nervous about Pittsburgh’s offense. Shedding the mix of Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison is an amazing blow. And whereas I don’t have a lot religion about West Virginia this 12 months – I picked the Mountaineers ninth within the Large 12 – it does have the o-line (5 returning starters) to carry up in opposition to Pittsburgh. I believe this will likely be a high-scoring sport, and WVU does simply sufficient to cowl. … Pittsburgh 34, West Virginia 28.
Crawford (Choose: Pittsburgh -7): Watch out undervaluing the Panthers early this season as a result of Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison not being a part of a staff that is coming off a convention championship. Pittsburgh was 10-4 in opposition to the unfold final season — fifth-best in faculty soccer — and far of that manufacturing is coming again defensively. The Panthers managed the third-most sacks within the nation, by the best way. The Yard Brawl to open the season is nice for followers, however I do not assume the groups are evenly-matched in the meanwhile. I am taking Pittsburgh to cowl at residence. … Pittsburgh 31, West Virginia 20.
The experts over at CBSSports are cut up. 5 of the seven picked West Virginia to cowl the 7.5-point unfold, with two of these – Barrett Sallee and Jerry Palm – selecting the Mountaineers to win the sport outright.
Bill Bender over at SportingNews picks West Virginia to cowl the 7-point unfold, however finally fall to the Panthers, 29-23.
It is the primary Yard Brawl since 2011, and feelings must be excessive at Acrisure Stadium. Former USC quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and JT Daniels would be the focus, however the chess match between new offensive coordinators Frank Cignetti Jr. and Graham Harrell is even higher. Who lets it unfastened within the opener? 4 of the final 5 conferences have been determined by 4 factors or much less.
Morgan Moriarty over at BleacherReport feels the identical manner.
School soccer followers are in for a deal with. The rivalry coined the “Yard Brawl” will likely be renewed, as West Virginia takes on Pitt for the primary time since 2011. These rivals have performed 104 video games since their first assembly in 1895, and the Mountaineers have received the final three conferences.
Pitt received the ACC final season and completed 11-3. The Panthers, although, have to interchange two of their greatest stars in quarterback Kenny Pickett and receiver Jordan Addison, who transferred to USC. Head coach Pat Narduzzi landed quarterback Kedon Slovis from USC, so we’ll see how he suits within the new system.
West Virginia has been mediocre underneath head coach Neal Brown, who’s 17-18 in three seasons. The Mountaineers will begin Georgia switch JT Daniels behind heart.
This one would possibly come right down to which quarterback performs greatest. I like Slovis, who performed 27 video games for the Trojans over three seasons, and his expertise in a decent, enjoyable sport.
Prediction: Pitt 24, West Virginia 21
https://247sports.com/faculty/west-virginia/Article/Specialists-and-computers-pick-the-winner-of-The-Yard-Brawl-192353765/