Novig pricesVirginia Tech adds goalpost cameras after disputed kick that gave Pitt a 35-33 win
After the disputed miss that gave Pitt a 35-33 win in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech has reportedly put cameras on its goalposts pointing straight up.
The field goal that sent Pittsburgh home from Blacksburg with a 35-33 win is now changing how Virginia Tech's stadium is set up. According to EssentiallySports, which cited images posted on social media by the account CFB Kings, the Hokies have mounted cameras on their goalposts that point straight up. They are aimed at the vertical plane above the uprights, which no sideline or end-zone camera could show clearly when John Love's 36-yard try went up as time ran out.
That kick came from the right hash with three seconds left. It hooked toward the left upright, the official underneath ruled it no good, and Pitt players ran onto the field. As CBS Sports reported, a fan video shot from behind the post seemed to show the ball inside the upright, while a view from the far end of Lane Stadium seemed to show it wide. Former NFL referee Terry McAulay said no camera angle could settle it, and he noted that the two officials with the best view both judged it a miss.
The new cameras do not change the rules. Replay can only review a field goal when the ball passes below the top of the uprights, and Love's kick was above them. Unless the NCAA rewrites that rule, the overhead view would help television viewers and the officials' own understanding of a play, but a kick like Love's still could not be overturned. EssentiallySports noted that ACC Network has used cameras built into goalposts for soccer since 2020 and has tried pylon, helmet and referee cameras in football. This would be the first time that kind of camera is aimed at a football kick.
Virginia Tech coach James Franklin admitted after the game that he could not tell whether the kick was good. "From my angle, I couldn't tell you, one way or another," he said, in comments Newsweek reported and EssentiallySports cited. The box score showed how much Pitt needed that call. The Hokies outgained the Panthers 499-295, and Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 434 yards. Virginia Tech also lost four turnovers, while Pitt lost none.
What it means for Pitt at Miami
The win in Blacksburg was Pitt's third straight and put the Panthers at 5-0. They have not won since. North Carolina beat them 21-17 at home, and Boston College won 27-21. Those two losses came by a combined 10 points and dropped Pitt to 5-2. Pitt's season has been decided by narrow margins, and the next test is the hardest yet: Saturday's trip to No. 1 Miami, televised on ESPN and Disney+.
The board on this site expects a lopsided game. Miami is favored by 20.5 points on Novig, and Novig prices the Hurricanes at -1150 to win outright. BetRivers has the shortest number among the 11 venues, Miami -19 at -122. On the moneyline, Pitt is +1076 on Novig, and Hard Rock Bet has the best Pitt price at +1100. The total is 48.5 on Novig, and Pinnacle has the highest total at 49. Sportsbook hold on the spread runs from 3.3% to 6.7% depending on the venue, which shows how much the prices differ from one venue to the next. The full board is on the Pitt at Miami odds page.
The Panthers needed a disputed call to beat Virginia Tech. To beat Miami, they will have to win clearly enough that the ending is not in doubt.