Pittsburgh vs Miami (FL) Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Miami is still undefeated, but Florida State made the Hurricanes work for every bit of that sixth win. Double overtime. Forty-three to thirty-five. And now Miami gets Pittsburgh, which just lost to Boston College and has a serious quarterback problem. You can understand why the sportsbooks aren’t expecting a close game.
Pittsburgh visits Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, October 24, 2026. One current schedule lists kickoff for 4:00 PM ET on ESPN, although some earlier listings show noon, so that needs confirmation before publication. Miami is favored by 23.5 points at DraftKings, with the total at 51.5. The early weather outlook calls for temperatures near 79 degrees, an 18% chance of rain, and wind around 14 mph. Gusts still need checking. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions.
Pittsburgh Has A Tough Assignment
Pittsburgh is 5-2, and the Panthers have lost two straight after starting 5-0. They lost to North Carolina, then went to Boston College Saturday and fell 27-21. That Boston College game was frustrating because Pitt had chances. The Panthers jumped ahead early, including a long touchdown on their first offensive play, but couldn’t finish the job. Now they have to travel to Miami and face an undefeated team that’s probably going to be ranked near the top of the country. That’s a pretty rough way to try to end a losing streak.
Pitt scored 21 against Boston College, and that wasn’t enough. The Panthers had opportunities to put the game away, but the offense struggled to sustain drives. The defense gave up several big passing plays, including a 68-yard touchdown, and that’s a bad sign heading into Miami. The Hurricanes have receivers who can turn a short completion into a long gain, and Pitt can’t afford to give them that kind of room. The Panthers need to tackle better and force Miami to put together long drives. Otherwise, this could get ugly.
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The biggest problem is quarterback Mason Heintschel’s season-ending injury. That’s a tough loss for an offense that had been playing well during the unbeaten start. Freshman Corey Dailey showed some ability against Boston College, including a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play, but asking a young quarterback to go into Miami and beat an undefeated team is a different matter. Pitt needs to protect him, run the football, and avoid third-and-long. The Panthers also need their defense to create a few turnovers. They aren’t going to win a straight-up scoring contest with Miami.
Miami Keeps Finding Ways To Win
Miami is 6-0 after beating Florida State 43-35 in double overtime. That was one heck of a game. The Hurricanes had to come from behind, made some big plays late, and finally got the win on an interception in the second overtime. It wasn’t pretty defensively, but nobody in Miami is going to complain about staying undefeated. The Hurricanes have been winning games in different ways, and that’s usually a good sign. Now they get Pittsburgh at home, and the matchup looks pretty favorable.
Miami piled up 583 total yards against Florida State. That’s a lot of offense, even in a double-overtime game. The Hurricanes moved the ball through the air and on the ground, and Florida State had trouble stopping them once they got going. But Miami also gave up 35 points, including some big plays in the passing game. That’s something I’d be watching. The Hurricanes have been excellent offensively, but the defense has shown it can be beaten. Pitt probably doesn’t have the quarterback experience to take full advantage, especially with Heintschel out, but Miami can’t afford to keep giving up explosive plays.
Darian Mensah threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State, completing 23 of 34 passes. Malachi Toney had 11 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns, while Javian Mallory ran for 108 yards and two scores. That’s a lot of production from three players. Miami has enough offensive talent to score quickly, and Pitt’s defense just gave up some long passing plays against Boston College. The Hurricanes also got a game-clinching interception from Bryce Fitzgerald in overtime. That’s the sort of play that keeps an undefeated season alive. Miami needs to clean up the defensive mistakes, but offensively, this team has been difficult to stop.
Pittsburgh vs Miami (FL) Picks and Predictions
Miami -23.5 (-110)
I’m laying the 23.5 with Miami, and I know that’s a huge number. Pitt is 5-2, not some winless team that can’t play football. But the Panthers have lost two straight, they’re dealing with a season-ending injury at quarterback, and now they’re facing a Miami offense that just put up 583 yards against Florida State. That’s a bad combination. Miami has enough speed to score from anywhere on the field, and Pitt’s secondary just gave up several big plays to Boston College. The concern is Miami coming out flat after that emotional double-overtime win. That can happen. But I think the Hurricanes get ahead early and make Pitt throw more than it wants to. Give me Miami to win comfortably.
Under 51.5 Points (-110)
I’m going under 51.5, and this one is a little uncomfortable because Miami can score 40 by itself. But Pitt’s offense has taken a step backward since losing its starting quarterback, and I don’t expect the Panthers to score much against Miami. The Hurricanes could win this game 38-10, and we’d still be under. That’s the kind of score I’m looking for. The danger is Miami’s defense giving up a couple of big plays or the Hurricanes scoring on special teams. But I think Pitt struggles to sustain drives, Miami controls the game, and the fourth quarter becomes a chance to get some backups on the field. Give me the under.
Final Picks: Miami -23.5 (-110) and Under 51.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 18, 2026. Betting lines, player availability, kickoff details, and weather forecasts may change before Saturday’s game.
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