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Matchup preview

Syracuse vs Pittsburgh

Syracuse visit Pittsburgh in Week 3. The model favors Pittsburgh by 13. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
22%
78%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 16 · refreshed weekly

SP+ separates these ACC sides by 8.3 points of rating, Pittsburgh at 10 (rank 36) against Syracuse at 1.7 (rank 67), and projects Pittsburgh by 10.7. That sits within a point of the consensus -10.5 on a 51.5 total, and both the model and the two-book market land on identical win probabilities: Pittsburgh 74 percent, Syracuse 26 percent. The ProphetX exchange prices the favorite steeper still, Pittsburgh -385 (79 percent) against Syracuse +370 (21 percent).

The unit ranks reinforce the gap. Pittsburgh's offense (#35) faces a Syracuse defense (#54), while Syracuse's offense (#84) draws the tougher assignment against Pittsburgh's #46 defense. The series leans hard one way: Pittsburgh leads 10-2, and won the 2025 meeting 30-13.

Season form fits the ratings. Pittsburgh is 2-0, blending a 59-14 rout of Miami (OH) with a 12-7 grind past UCF, and projects to 7.8 wins with a 9 percent Playoff chance. Syracuse split, crushing New Hampshire 66-3 before a 21-18 loss to California, and models out to 4.7 wins and 0.3 percent to reach the Playoff. Neither the numbers nor the market offer Syracuse much room.

Model and consensus market agree on Pittsburgh at 74 percent, with the exchange pricing the favorite a notch steeper.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 3 books
Spread
PITT -10.7
Total (O/U)
51.5
Favorite
PITT
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 3 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Syracuse1%-45 ptsvsPittsburgh99%+45 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Syracuse favoredPittsburgh favoredSep 7Sep 9Sep 11Sep 13Sep 15Sep 17Sep 18

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Syracuse's win price; Pittsburgh's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Syracuse is favored, below it Pittsburgh is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#69SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#37
#99FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#39
1182EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.1614
-Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.0.8%
SyracusePittsburghsolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Pittsburgh lead 10-2
Pittsburgh have won the last 2
20162025
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2025
30-13
Pittsburgh
at Syracuse
2024
41-13
Pittsburgh
at Pittsburgh
2023
28-13
Syracuse
neutral site
2022
19-9
Pittsburgh
at Pittsburgh
2021
31-14
Pittsburgh
at Syracuse
2020
21-10
Pittsburgh
at Pittsburgh
2019
27-20
Pittsburgh
at Syracuse
2018
44-37
Pittsburgh
at Pittsburgh
2017
27-24
Syracuse
at Syracuse
2016
76-61
Pittsburgh
at Pittsburgh
2015
23-20
Pittsburgh
at Syracuse
2014
30-7
Pittsburgh
at Pittsburgh
More Week 3 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Syracuse vs Pittsburgh game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Syracuse vs Pittsburgh market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Syracuse and Pittsburgh play?

Week 3 of 2026, on Sep 17, 2026 at Pittsburgh.

Who is favored?

The model projects Pittsburgh by 13 (78% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Pittsburgh lead 10-2 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

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