Syracuse at Pittsburgh

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN
Records: Syracuse 1–1; Pittsburgh 2–0
Current line: Pittsburgh -10.5.
Total:  51½

Opener Pitt  -10/53.5.

Last year: PITT (-9.5) over Syracuses 30-13.

Syracuse scored 66 against FCS New Hampshire, while Pitt scored 59 against Miami of Ohio. The performances against Cal and UCF are more useful for handicapping this matchup. Syracuse statistics and Pittsburgh statistics.

Last week
California 21, Syracuse 18

Syracuse substantially outgained Cal 437–249, ran 87 plays and earned a 27–17 advantage in first downs. However, the Orange committed 14 penalties for 110 yards, threw three interceptions and went only 3-for-5 on red-zone scoring opportunities.

Quarterback Steve Angeli completed 24 of 50 passes for 307 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His fourth-quarter pick-six provided Cal’s winning touchdown. Syracuse also missed two field goals and failed on both two-point attempts. .

Last week: Pittsburgh 12, UCF 7

Pitt’s defense dominated, holding UCF to 206 yards, including only 20 net rushing yards on 22 attempts. The Panthers possessed the ball for more than 35 minutes and ran 72 plays, but their offense produced only 315 yards and 4.4 yards per play.

Mason Heintschel completed 18 of 29 passes for 212 yards without a touchdown or interception. Pitt rushed 43 times for only 103 yards, so the Panthers’ offense.

Quarterback matchup
Steve Angeli vs. Mason Heintschel

Angeli: 44-of-79, 570 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He is capable of generating explosive passes and averaged 38.3 team points in his four starts before suffering a season-ending injury in 2025.  

Heintschel: 49-of-70, 665 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. His overall numbers are superior, although seven touchdowns and 480 of his passing yards came against Miami of Ohio. Syracuse held Pitt to only 255 yards last season.

Coaching matchup

Fran Brown, Syracuse: Brown’s team is physical and talented enough to compete, but its discipline is the primary issue. Syracuse has already committed 26 penalties for 235 yards in two games. Cleaning up pre-snap penalties and protecting Angeli must be the priority on the road.

Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh: Narduzzi has historically given Syracuse trouble with pressure, disguised coverages and defensive physicality. Pitt’s defense just suffocated UCF, and Narduzzi should attack Angeli after his three-interception game.

Last year’s matchup

Pittsburgh defeated Syracuse 30–13 at Syracuse on October 18, 2025. Pitt was held to 255 total yards, but Syracuse generated only 212 and quarterback Rickie Collins threw three interceptions. A 66-yard Pitt punt-return touchdown also played a major role.

Mason Heintschel started that game for Pitt, but Angeli did not play because of his season-ending injury. Consequently, last year’s quarterback matchup is not directly comparable. 2025 box score.

Pitt has won 20 of the past 24 meetings straight up.
Syracuse has lost 11 consecutive games at Pittsburgh and has not won there since 2001.
Pitt has covered five of its past six games as a home favorite. The Under is 7–1 in the past eight meetings.   

NFL

Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: New Highmark Stadium (first game in the Bills’ new stadium), Orchard Park
TV: Prime Video
Records: Detroit 1–0; Buffalo 1–0
Current line: Buffalo approximately -5.5
Total: 55.

Open: Buffalo -3/52.5.

Detroit edged New Orleans 31-30 in overtime last week, giving -7.5. Buffalo edged Houston 36-31 as a 1.5-point favorite on the road.  

Both offenses scored at least 31 points, but both defenses showed major vulnerability—particularly in the secondary.

Last week
Detroit 31, New Orleans 30 — overtime

Detroit built a 21–0 third-quarter lead but allowed New Orleans to rally and force overtime. Jared Goff eventually threw the winning four-yard touchdown to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Saints answered but unsuccessfully attempted a two-point conversion for the victory.

Goff finished 26-of-39 for 206 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Jahmyr Gibbs carried 29 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while St. Brown caught 10 passes for 67 yards and two scores.

The concern was Detroit’s pass defense. Rookie Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns, and New Orleans accumulated 501 total yards. Detroit’s three forced turnovers helped compensate for the yardage allowed. Lions–Saints box score.

Buffalo 36, Houston 31

Buffalo won a back-and-forth game when Josh Allen led a 96-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive, capped by a 34-yard pass to Joshua Palmer. Greg Rousseau then forced a fumble on Houston’s final possession to seal the victory.

Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 23 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Dalton Kincaid caught five passes for 130 yards, and DJ Moore produced five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Buffalo’s offense averaged approximately 7.9 yards per play, but its defense allowed Houston to reach the nine-yard line with an opportunity to win on the final possession. Official Bills recap.

Quarterback matchup
Jared Goff vs. Josh Allen

Goff: Precise, experienced and effective when protected. Detroit’s strong running game creates play-action opportunities, but Goff is much less dangerous when interior pressure prevents him from establishing rhythm. He was far more productive from the shotgun last week than from under center.

Allen: Coming off 357 total yards and four touchdowns. His combination of arm strength, downfield aggression and rushing ability creates a major problem for a Detroit defense that just surrendered 410 passing yards to an inexperienced quarterback.

Coaching matchup

Dan Campbell, Detroit: Campbell’s aggression and fourth-down philosophy fit Detroit’s personnel. The Lions remain committed to establishing Gibbs and controlling the game physically, but Campbell’s staff must solve the second-half defensive collapse against New Orleans.

Joe Brady, Buffalo: Brady won his head-coaching debut in Houston and maintained the offensive system in which Allen is most comfortable. Buffalo used motion, multiple tight ends and explosive downfield concepts effectively. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is installing a more attacking 3–4 structure.

Offensive-line injury factor

Detroit will reportedly be without starting left guard Christian Mahogany and starting right tackle Blake Miller. That is especially concerning on a short week against Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, Ed Oliver and Buffalo’s attacking front.

Prop Bets

(odds from DraftKings)

Jaymyr Gibbs  2+ TDs +155