Pitt to KO West Virginia in the Basketball Backyard Brawl

The 184th meeting of the Basketball Backyard Brawl sees Pitt (15-11, 4-9 Big East) host West Virginia (16-10, 6-7 Big East) at home on Thursday night. CBB Mogul is backing the Panthers to win in what will hardly be a scuffle.

These are two teams heading in opposite directions. With the return of point guard Tray Woodall from a groin injury, Jamie Dixon’s team has won four of their last six, including a 72-66 win in West Virgina against Bob Huggins's men. The Mountaineers, on the other hand, have lost five of their last six, and only squeaked by with a 87-84 victory in overtime against the Big East’s bottom dwellers, Providence.

 

CBB Mogul does not anticipate Huggins to turn his school's fortunes around tonight. Both teams are built very similarly, tending to dominate play on the glass while struggling with inefficiency from behind the arc. The game will be won from inside-the-perimeter shooting and defense. In Pitt’s last three games at home, they are averaging a 48% field goal average from the floor on offense, while defensively holding teams to 40% during the same time span. The numbers are reversed for West Virginia in their last three on the road, averaging 40% from the field on offense and giving away 48% on defense. Look for Pitt to win handily if they maintain such high-percentage shooting.

Pitt is 7-1 in games versus the Mountaineers in Petersen Events Center and have won 10 of their last 11 in the Steel City overall against their rivals.

Play: Pitt -3


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