In Week 3 of the 2025 college football season, the Pittsburgh Panthers will visit the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. The Panthers come into this game with a perfect 2-0 record, having secured wins at home against Central Michigan and Duquesne. This matchup will mark their first road game of the season. On the other side, the West Virginia Mountaineers hold a 1-1 record after splitting their first two games. They had a strong start at home, defeating Robert Morris, but fell short against Ohio in an away contest. This upcoming game will be their second home outing, where they aim to leverage the home advantage. The Panthers are entering this matchup as favorites according to the consensus odds, with a moneyline of -250 and a spread of -6.5. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers, with a moneyline of +204, will look to capitalize on their positive home momentum to counter Pittsburgh’s strong start to the season. The game, broadcast on ESPN, has an over/under set at 57.5 points.
West Virginia vs Pittsburgh At a Glance
- Game Location: Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV
- Game Date and Time: Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 3:30 PM
- Broadcast Information: Watch live on ESPN
- Pittsburgh Panthers Record: 2-0 overall, 0-0 on the road
- West Virginia Mountaineers Record: 1-1 overall, 1-0 at home
- Game Odds: Pittsburgh -250, West Virginia +204, Spread: Pittsburgh -6.5
Analyzing the Road Ahead for West Virginia Mountaineers
Offensive Performance Overview
In the 2025 regular season, West Virginia has put 55 points on the board, positioning them 38th in the national rankings. The Mountaineers have demonstrated a balanced approach, with 410 passing yards ranking them 70th and 465 rushing yards placing them 26th. Their ability to move the chains is evident as they rank 25th with 39 first downs.
Comparing this to their 2024 performance, the Mountaineers have shown improvement in their rushing game, ascending from 24th to 26th in the national rankings. The passing game, however, still lags slightly, moving from 80th to 70th in the rankings. First downs have also seen a marginal improvement, climbing from 28th to 25th.
Defensive Insights
Defensively, the Mountaineers have been staunch, allowing only 20 points, which ranks them 12th nationally. The defensive line has been imposing, tallying 7 sacks and ranking 4th in this category. Their secondary has been opportunistic with 3 interceptions, also placing them 4th nationally.
Comparatively, the Mountaineers have vastly improved their defense from the previous season. In 2024, they ranked 136th in points against, highlighting the strides made to ascend to 12th this season. The team’s ability to recover fumbles is another area of strength, holding the 4th position nationally.
Quarterback Contributions
Nicco Marchiol has been pivotal, leading the quarterbacks with 402 passing yards over two games, ranking 73rd nationally. Marchiol has thrown one touchdown and one interception, indicating room for growth in his passing efficiency. Scotty Fox Jr. and Jaylen Henderson have seen limited action, with Fox Jr. contributing 8 passing yards.
The quarterbacks have shown potential, but the lack of passing touchdowns and the presence of interceptions suggest areas for development. The Mountaineers will need their signal-callers to elevate their game to continue their competitive edge.
Betting Trends
- SU in Home Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU in Away Games: 0-1 (0.0%)
- ATS in Home Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS in Away Games: 0-1 (0.0%)
- O/U in Home Games: 0-1 (0.0%)
- O/U in Away Games: 0-1 (0.0%)
Pittsburgh Panthers Prepare for a Showdown at West Virginia
Offensive Insights
The Pittsburgh Panthers have been showing their offensive strength early in the 2025 season, scoring a total of 106 points, ranking them 6th overall. Their passing game, led by Eli Holstein, is particularly noteworthy with 642 yards, putting them in 19th place. However, their rushing game lags at 76th with 282 yards, indicating room for improvement.
In their recent victory against Central Michigan, Pittsburgh’s offense was dominant, accumulating 340 passing yards. This was a continuation of their solid start, having also recorded 302 passing yards against Duquesne. The Panthers’ ability to secure first downs consistently has been crucial, with 43 first downs ranking them 21st.
Defensive Stand
The Panthers’ defense has also been performing admirably, allowing only 26 points so far in the season, ranking them 17th. Their defensive line is a formidable force with 8 sacks, putting them 3rd overall in that category. Notably, Pittsburgh has yet to record an interception, an area they might aim to improve.
A strong aspect of their defense is their ability to recover fumbles, ranking 5th with one recovery. In both of their recent games, the Panthers have managed to keep their opponents’ rushing yards low, which bodes well for their defensive strategy. The defensive unit will look to maintain this momentum against the Mountaineers.
Key Players
Quarterback Eli Holstein has been a standout performer with 519 passing yards, ranking 1st in team standings. He also leads with 8 passing touchdowns, showcasing his effectiveness in the air. Desmond Reid leads the rushing attack with 112 yards, though his numbers show the need for more rushing contributions from the team.
On the receiving end, Raphael Williams Jr. has been a critical asset, recording 166 yards, ranking 1st on the team. His two receiving touchdowns highlight his role in the offense. The Panthers will rely on these key players to deliver against West Virginia.
Betting Trends
- The Panthers have been strong against the spread in their recent outings.
- They have covered the spread in both of their games this season.
- The total has gone over in both games, reflecting their high-scoring offense.
West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Prediction: Pittsburgh -6.5
Pittsburgh has started the season strong with a 2-0 record, thanks to a robust offense that has accumulated 106 points, ranking 6th in the nation. Their defense has also been impressive, allowing only 26 points through two games, ranking 17th. This balance between offense and defense should favor them against a West Virginia team that has struggled to find consistency, particularly on the offensive side.
West Virginia has shown promise at home, holding a 1-0 record in Morgantown. However, their overall performance this season has been mixed, with a 1-1 record and their only victory coming in a close game. The Mountaineers’ offense has been less productive compared to Pittsburgh, scoring only 55 points this season.
Given Pittsburgh’s offensive capability and their strong defensive showing, they appear well-equipped to handle West Virginia, even on the road. The Panthers have covered the spread in recent encounters against West Virginia, and with their current form, they seem poised to cover the 6.5-point spread again.
Projected final score: Pittsburgh 38, West Virginia 28. With Pittsburgh’s current momentum and the effectiveness of their offensive and defensive units, they should secure a comfortable victory by more than a touchdown.
- West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Prediction: Pittsburgh -6.5
- West Virginia vs Pittsburgh Score: Pittsburgh 38 – West Virginia 28
