Pittsburgh at Syracuse Week 8 College Football Matchup Pittsburgh at Syracuse Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 18 2025 · Week 8 · 🏟 Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY · Turf · 49,250 cap
Pittsburgh✈ 268 miSame TZ
30 13
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Pittsburgh
38
PITT -9.5
Syracuse
17
P&R Line Pittsburgh -21
P&R Total O/U 55
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Pittsburgh -9.5 · O/U 54.5
Matchup Prediction
Pittsburgh has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Pittsburgh entering this game.
Momentum Control
80.6%
Pittsburgh wins
Strong
Game Control
75.9%
Pittsburgh wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Pittsburgh -9.5
O/U 54.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Pittsburgh · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 Syracuse Coming off BYE 🚌 Pittsburgh 2nd straight Road Game
Pittsburgh 2025 Schedule
Pittsburgh's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Pittsburgh vs Duquesne-39.5W61–958.5W61–9OY
Sat 9/6Pittsburgh vs Central Michigan-21.5W45–1748.5W45–17OY
Sat 9/13Pittsburgh at West Virginia-6.5L24–3154.5L24–31ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/27Pittsburgh vs Louisville+3.0L27–3453.5L27–34ON
Sat 10/4Pittsburgh vs Boston College-6.5W48–754.5W48–7OY
Sat 10/11Pittsburgh at Florida State+10.5W34–3156.5W34–31OY
Sat 10/18Pittsburgh at Syracuse-9.5W30–1354.5W30–13UY
Sat 10/25Pittsburgh vs NC State-5.5W53–3452.5W53–34OY
Sat 11/1Pittsburgh at Stanford-13.5W35–2051.5W35–20OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/15Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame+12.5L15–3755.5L15–37UN
Sat 11/22Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech+2.5W42–2861.5W42–28OY
Sat 11/29Pittsburgh vs Miami+6.5L7–3849.5L7–38UN
Sat 12/27Pittsburgh vs East Carolina-13.5L17–2351.5L17–23UN
Syracuse 2025 Schedule
Syracuse's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Syracuse vs Tennessee+13.5L26–4553.5L26–45ON
Sat 9/6Syracuse vs UConn-7.0W27–2057.5W27–20UN
Fri 9/12Syracuse vs Colgate-37.5W66–2464.5W66–24OY
Sat 9/20Syracuse at Clemson+17.5W34–2153.5W34–21OY
Sat 9/27Syracuse vs Duke+4.0L3–3859.5L3–38UN
Sat 10/4Syracuse at SMU+17.5L18–3156.5L18–31UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/18Syracuse vs Pittsburgh+9.5L13–3054.5L13–30UN
Sat 10/25Syracuse at Georgia Tech+17.5L16–4152.5L16–41ON
Fri 10/31Syracuse vs North Carolina-1.5L10–2745.5L10–27UN
Sat 11/8Syracuse at Miami+28.5L10–3847.5L10–38OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/22Syracuse at Notre Dame+36.5L7–7051.5L7–70ON
Sat 11/29Syracuse vs Boston College+2.5L12–3454.5L12–34UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
Pittsburgh PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Pittsburgh
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Pittsburgh
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Pittsburgh
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Pittsburgh #57
+0.465
Syracuse #127
+0.110
Pittsburgh Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Pittsburgh #40
+0.776
Syracuse #124
+0.303
Pittsburgh Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Pittsburgh #13
0.189
Syracuse #114
0.134
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Pittsburgh Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Pittsburgh #74
+7.798
Syracuse #123
+6.790
Pittsburgh Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Pittsburgh #94
+0.860
Syracuse #117
+0.728
Pittsburgh Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Pittsburgh #6
66.7
Syracuse #109
72.4
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Pittsburgh Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 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
Syracuse
-2.2
Offense Rating
Pittsburgh
19.3
Syracuse
16.1
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Pittsburgh
10.2
Syracuse
18.3
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Pittsburgh Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Pittsburgh #5
2.80
Syracuse #126
0.40
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Pittsburgh #66
0.80
Syracuse #109
1.20
Pittsburgh +2.40
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 80.6% of games historically
Based on 5 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Pittsburgh Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Pittsburgh #1
68.2
Syracuse #1
35.4
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Pittsburgh #22
19.8
Syracuse #130
56.8
Pittsburgh +32.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% 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 Pittsburgh with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

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

Coaching Matchup
Pittsburgh
Pat Narduzzi #1
72–55 (57%) · Yr 11 at school
OC Kade Bell Yr 2 #1
DC Randy Bates Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Syracuse
Fran Brown #1
9–3 (75%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Jeff Nixon Yr 1 #1
DC Elijah Robinson 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