Inside The Panthers

Pitt at Miami: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines

The top seed in the ACC Tournament is on the line when the Pitt Panthers visit Miami.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt at Miami: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines
Pitt at Miami: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines /
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PITTSBURGH -- This one is for all the marbles. The Pitt Panthers could have wrapped up at least a share of first place in the ACC at season's end if they can knock off 

Game Info

Opponent: No. 16 Miami (23-6 overall, 14-5 ACC)
Time: 6:00 PM EST
Location: Watsco Center; Miami, Florida
Broadcast: ESPNU and 93.7 The Fan

Odds

Pitt is a 6.5-point underdog on the road to Miami. The Hurricanes are -299 favorites on the moneyline and the Panthers' odds are at +230. The point total line has been set at 154.5. 

Three Storylines

Unofficial Championship on the Line

The ACC hasn't recognized a regular season championship since the 1960s but that doesn't mean finishing in first place wouldn't hold significance for the Panthers. This game, on the final weekend of the regular season, before postseason play begins four days later, is a battle between two teams vying for the top seed in the ACC Tournament. 

The difference between winning and losing is the difference between being able to possibly avoid Virginia and Duke (or whoever falls to the second and third seeds). Either way, the Panthers are battling for a more favorable draw in the conference tournament. Win and secure the one seed or lose and risk falling as far as five if everything shakes out wrong.  

Hurricanes Battling Injuries

Miami didn't play a midweek game this week, meaning they are well-rested heading into their season finale and that's good news for the Hurricanes because they are dealing with an injury to one of their best players. 

Nijel Pack, an outstanding 3-point shooter and Miami's fourth-leading scorer, is recovering from an injury to his "lower extremity", as the program put it. They announced Pack's injury prior to the Florida State game last weekend, in which  Pack did not play. Head coach Jim Larrañaga said they are optimistic Pack will play against Pitt but it is not a guarantee.  

Responding and Finishing Strong

The Panthers suffered one of their worst losses of the season days ago at Notre Dame. They were the sacrificial lambs in Mike Brey's final home game of his head coaching tenure of the Irish. 

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Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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