Pittsburgh at Wake Forest Week 8 College Football Matchup Pittsburgh at Wake Forest Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 21 2023 · Week 8 · 🏟 BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC · Turf · 31,500 cap
Pittsburgh✈ 298 miSame TZ
17 21
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Pittsburgh
24
Wake Forest
23
P&R Line Pittsburgh -1
P&R Total O/U 46
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Pittsburgh -3 · O/U 45.0
Matchup Prediction
Wake Forest has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Wake Forest entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Wake Forest wins
Lean
Game Control
58.6%
Wake Forest wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Pittsburgh -3
O/U 45.0
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
3 factors agree (PPA + PPO + Havoc) → Pittsburgh · 82.4% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Pittsburgh 2023 Schedule
Pittsburgh's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Pittsburgh vs Wofford-37.5W45–749.5W45–7OY
Sat 9/9Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati-6.5L21–2744.5L21–27ON
Sat 9/16Pittsburgh at West Virginia+2.5L6–1748.0L6–17UN
Sat 9/23Pittsburgh vs North Carolina+7.0L24–4149.5L24–41ON
Sat 9/30Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech-3.0L21–3840.0L21–38ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/14Pittsburgh vs Louisville+7.5W38–2144.5W38–21OY
Sat 10/21Pittsburgh at Wake Forest-3.0L17–2145.0L17–21UN
Sat 10/28Pittsburgh at Notre Dame+21.0L7–5845.5L7–58ON
Sat 11/4Pittsburgh vs Florida State+21.5L7–2450.0L7–24UY
Sat 11/11Pittsburgh vs Syracuse-4.5L13–2837.5L13–28ON
Thu 11/16Pittsburgh vs Boston College-1.0W24–1647.0W24–16UY
Sat 11/25Pittsburgh at Duke+4.5L19–3040.5L19–30ON
Wake Forest 2023 Schedule
Wake Forest's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 8/31Wake Forest vs Elon-33.5W37–1753.5W37–17ON
Sat 9/9Wake Forest vs Vanderbilt-9.5W36–2055.0W36–20OY
Sat 9/16Wake Forest at Old Dominion-13.5W27–2460.0W27–24UN
Sat 9/23Wake Forest vs Georgia Tech-3.5L16–3058.5L16–30UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/7Wake Forest at Clemson+21.0L12–1753.5L12–17UY
Sat 10/14Wake Forest at Virginia Tech+1.5L13–3048.5L13–30UN
Sat 10/21Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh+3.0W21–1745.0W21–17UY
Sat 10/28Wake Forest vs Florida State+21.0L16–4153.5L16–41ON
Thu 11/2Wake Forest at Duke+6.5L21–2441.0L21–24OY
Sat 11/11Wake Forest vs NC State-0.5L6–2642.5L6–26UN
Sat 11/18Wake Forest at Notre Dame+22.5L7–4547.5L7–45ON
Sat 11/25Wake Forest at Syracuse+3.0L31–3543.5L31–35ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Pittsburgh PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Pittsburgh
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Pittsburgh #119
+0.299
Wake Forest #122
+0.178
Pittsburgh Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Pittsburgh #109
+0.563
Wake Forest #98
+0.453
Pittsburgh Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Pittsburgh #36
0.178
Wake Forest #61
0.165
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Pittsburgh Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Pittsburgh #98
+7.713
Wake Forest #124
+6.435
Pittsburgh Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Pittsburgh #113
+0.782
Wake Forest #76
+0.808
Wake Forest Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Pittsburgh #121
73.3
Wake Forest #33
69.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Wake Forest Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Pittsburgh Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Pittsburgh
9.1
Wake Forest
4.6
Offense Rating
Pittsburgh
19.3
Wake Forest
16.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Pittsburgh
10.2
Wake Forest
12.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Wake Forest Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Pittsburgh #108
0.40
Wake Forest #131
0.80
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Pittsburgh #54
1.20
Wake Forest #47
0.60
Wake Forest +0.40
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 5 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Wake Forest Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Pittsburgh #1
29.4
Wake Forest #1
37.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Pittsburgh #102
53.6
Wake Forest #116
45.3
Wake Forest +8.5
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Wake Forest. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Pittsburgh
Pat Narduzzi #1
63–43 (59%) · Yr 9 at school
OC Frank Cignetti Jr. Yr 2 #1
DC Randy Bates Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Wake Forest
Dave Clawson #1
62–53 (54%) · Yr 10 at school
OC Warren Ruggiero Yr 3 #1
DC Brad Lambert Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself