WVU Opens as Home Underdogs to Pitt in Backyard Brawl

The WVU football team is listed as a 4.5-point home underdog to the Pitt Panthers in the Backyard Brawl, set for this Saturday. Both FanDuel and DraftKings agree with the line opening the week at -4.5 in favor of Pitt.

WVU comes into the matchup after failing to gain any momentum against the Ohio Bobcats, losing 17-10. Including the win over Robert Morris, WVU sits at 1-1.

Pitt comes into the matchup undefeated with wins over Duquesne and Central Michigan.

This year’s Backyard Brawl will feature some familiar faces. Pending a change at quarterback, redshirt junior Nicco Marchiol is set to start for WVU.

Marchiol faced Pitt in the 2023 edition of the brawl after an injury to starting quarterback Garrett Greene. He led the Mountaineers to a 17-6 win.

Sophomore quarterback Eli Holstein is returning to the matchup as Pitt’s quarterback. Last year, he diced up WVU for 301 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-34 loss for WVU.

The game marks WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez’s return to the Brawl after his previous tenure was upended by a 13-9 upset loss to the Panthers in 2007, ending WVU’s national title hopes.

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, WVU wide receiver Rodney Gallagher will honor his late mother during the Brawl.