I understand this is Pittsburgh's toughest game of the season and also its longest road trip. But I don't see the 7-0 18th-ranked Panthers being inferior to 7-1 20th-ranked SMU. These teams have amazingly close statistics.

Pittsburgh could easily win this game straight-up. So I'm happy to take this many points with the Panthers in what I consider a toss-up game. Note that both starting quarterbacks, Eli Holstein for Pittsburgh and Kevin Jennings for SMU, entered the week as questionable. Both are expected to start.

The Panthers rank sixth in the nation averaging 40.9 points. They give up an average of 22 points per game. SMU averages 39.1 points a game and allows 21.4 points. Pittsburgh holds a slight edge in yards per play on both sides of the ball.

Pittsburgh's defense is in better form holding Syracuse to 13 points in its last game, which was last Thursday. So the Panthers are on extra rest.

SMU, on the other hand, had a struggle with Duke on the road last Saturday, nearly blowing a two-touchdown lead in a 28-27 overtime win. Jennings was picked off three times in that game by a Duke defense that isn't as talented as Pittsburgh's defense.

(Editor's note: Stephen Nover is 30-21 on his premium/free college football plays this season. His Saturday card is topped by his Mountain West Conference Game of the Year. Stephen also has a three-pack of early start-time CFB plays in addition to this free selection. All of Stephen's plays come with his deep dive analysis and are guaranteed to win.)