The Atlantic Line
Pitt gets a healthier Boston College on Saturday; Florida State lists eight out at Miami
Boston College's availability report for Pitt is its shortest since the Rutgers game, and Florida State lists eight players out for its trip to No. 3 Miami.
Pittsburgh will see a healthier Boston College than it would have a few weeks ago. The ACC's Wednesday availability reports came out ahead of Saturday's game in Chestnut Hill, and Kevin Stone of On3's Eagle Action reports that the Eagles' list is the shortest it has been since their game against Rutgers. Stone wrote that this is the healthiest Boston College has looked on paper since that early-season game.
For Pitt, that removes some of the advantage it could have expected from the matchup. The Panthers are 5-1, but they dropped out of the rankings after a 21-17 home loss to North Carolina, and now they face an opponent that is getting players back.
The other high-profile report this week came out of Florida State and Miami. Jordan Silversmith of SB Nation reported that Florida State has eight players out for its trip to Miami. They are running back Samuel Singleton Jr., receiver Devin Carter, defensive backs Karson Hobbs, Jamari Howard and Jordan Crutchfield, and linebackers Blake Nichelson, Izayia Williams and Daylen Green. Defensive lineman Darryll Desir, who was questionable all of last week, is now probable, along with defensive back Zae Thomas and offensive lineman Paul Bowling. Reserve linebacker Noah LaVallee is the Seminoles' only questionable player. Miami is coming off a bye and has no one listed as questionable or probable. Six Hurricanes are out: receiver Joshua Moore, running back CharMar Brown, defensive backs Ja'Boree Antoine and Romanas "OJ" Frederique Jr., offensive lineman Max Buchanan and tight end Luka Gilbert.
What it means for Saturday
Pitt's season so far has been a strong defense paired with close finishes. The Panthers held UCF to seven points and Syracuse to 13, won a 35-33 game at Virginia Tech, and then lost to the Tar Heels by four. That Virginia Tech result is the clearest link to Boston College, which lost 21-14 at home to the Hokies. The game kicks off Saturday on ESPN2.
On this site's board, Pitt is favored across 11 venues. Novig has the Panthers at -212 on the moneyline and Boston College at +199. The spread differs by venue. Novig lists Pitt at -6.5 for -102, while the best Pitt number anywhere is BetRivers at -4.5 for -122, so the venues are two full points apart. Novig's total is 42.5, BetRivers lists the under at 44, and theScore Bet has the best over price at 42.5 for -105. Sportsbook hold on the game runs from 3.4% to 7.0%.
The gap is much larger in Coral Gables. Miami is 5-0 and won its last game 41-13 at Clemson. Florida State is 3-3 after a 44-20 loss at Louisville, with losses to SMU and Alabama earlier in the season. The Hurricanes are favored at -1329 on Novig, and Florida State is +1150. The spread is Miami -21.5 on Novig at -102, and Pinnacle offers the best Miami spread at -21 for -115. Totals across the 12 venues range from 56 to 57.5, with Novig at 56.5. Florida State's absences are mostly in the secondary and at linebacker, which matters against a Miami offense that has scored at least 33 points in four of its five games. The Seminoles have a bye after this game.