The Voice of Morgantown’s staff picks the winner of today’s game against the West Virginia Mountaineers and Pitt Panthers.
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia – The West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1) host the Pitt Panthers (1-1) in the Backyard Brawl tonight in Morgantown. West Virginia dominated Duquesne last week, winning 56-17, while Pitt fell 27-21 at home to Cincinnati. Here’s how our experts think the game will play out today:
Ben Gilbert, Writer, The Voice of Morgantown, 2-0
This has all the makings of being a blowout or a dog fight. If WVU can get up early and never choose to play safe, statistical football, Pitt will unravel. Never let them catch up and have a couple impenetrable stands in the red zone, and we got this in the bag. The 2023 Backyard Brawl goes to the West Virginia Mountaineers. Cue Country Roads.
West Virginia 41 Pitt 30
James Gravley, Writer, The Voice of Morgantown, 2-0
It’s hate week. WVU hates Pitt. Pitt hates WVU. That goes for the fans, too. This game though has all kinds of stipulations. Narduzzi linked to the Michigan State job, Neal Brown hot seat is still hot and will get hotter if WVU loses this game. Brown is 0-1 in the Brawl and going 0-2 will call for his head in Morgantown. I think WVU wins this one. It’ll be close, but WVU somehow puts together a complete game and takes care of business.
West Virginia 28 Pitt 27
Clark Johnson, Senior Writer, The Voice of Morgantown, 2-0
Eat Shit pitt.
West Virginia 19 Pitt 16
Brad Smith, Publisher, The Voice of Morgantown, 1-1
I think this is going to be a high-scoring shootout tonight. West Virginia’s secondary is terrible and Pitt should – and likely will – pass downfield effectively all game. I don’t believe that Pitt can stop CJ Donaldson and I predict he will have his biggest game of his young career with over 200 yards rushing.
West Virginia would not beat this team on the road or on a neutral field, but tonight, in Morgantown, in front of a rabid crowd, the Mountaineers get it done and Neal Brown survives another week.
West Virginia 49 Pitt 42
