Pitt at Miami: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines
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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