Pittsburgh vs Miami Prediction - Basketball Picks 3/4/23

Miami Hurricanes (23-6) vs Pittsburgh Panthers (21-9)

Game Info: Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 6:00 pm (Watsco Center)

Betting Odds: Miami Hurricanes -6 - Over/Under: Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Pittsburgh Panthers will head down to South Beach to battle the Miami Hurricanes from the Watsco Center on the ACC Network. Miami holds a slim series lead of, 23-20, but Pitt did win the first meeting at home this season.

Pittsburgh fell to 21-9 after losing to Notre Dame in South Bend. The Pirates fell victim to an emotional Fighting Irish team, and after failing to rally in the second half they’d fall by seven, 88-81. Pitt is scoring 75.9 points per game, while allowing 69.0 ppg, and shooting 45% from the floor.

Pittsburgh’s loss to Notre Dame in Mike Brey’s final home game has complicated things atop the conference, and it puts a very high stake on this game in Miami. Pitt is 14-5 in ACC play, with a 7-4 road record. Junior swingman Blake Hinson double-doubled against Notre Dame, and he leads Pitt in scoring (15.8), while grabbing 6.4 rpg. Senior guard Jamarius Burton has been one of most consistent players in the conference, and after flirting with a triple-double in the win over Syracuse, he’s posting a nice line of 15.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 4.4 apg. Colgate transfer Nelly Cummings dished out a season-high 13 dimes against the Orange last week and he’s up to 11.3 ppg and a team-lead 4.9 apg.

Miami dropped to 23-6 after losing to Florida State at home. The Canes were upended by a vicious rally in the second half from the Seminoles and they’d fall by one, 85-84. Miami scores 79.7 points per game, while allowing 71.6 ppg, and shooting 48.6% from the field.

Miami had their seven-game win streak snapped by a single point, but a victory here would lead to a conference title. The Canes are 14-5 in ACC play, with a 15-1 home record. Isaiah Wong leads the charge for a third season in a row for Jim Larranaga’s squad. The junior guard scored 27 points in a recent win over Wake, and he’s leading the Canes in scoring (16.2) and assists (3.4), while grabbing 4.3 rpg. Former GMU guard Jordan Miller scored 21 points in the narrow loss to FSU, and he’s now up to 15.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Norchad Omier posted a 17-point double-double in their last win over VT, and he’s leading the team in rebounding (9.9), while scoring 14.0 ppg. Former KState guard Nijel Pack (13.6) has scored 22 points or more in three of the last four games, but after missing the Sunshine Showdown last weekend, his status will be worth monitoring for this guard-heavy matchup.

Pitt is 20-9-1 against the spread this season, with a 19-11 over/under record. Miami is 18-11 ATS this year, with a 13-15-1 o/u record.

This is what conference expansion is all about. Miami and Pitt both joined the ACC after 2000 and ten years apart from each other, and they’ll now both look to make school history. The Canes truly control their own destiny, as a win here would give them their second conference crown, and I think they seize the moment. While I do think Miami wins this game at home, Pitt is going to go out with a fight. The Panthers have enjoyed one of their best seasons since joining the conference, and I like spotting them the points in what could end up being a spoiling effort. Take Pitt’s spread for this high stakes ACC battle.