Something funny is going on with WVU-Pitt gambling line

Whether you’re a West Virginia fan or a Pitt fan, if you’re trying to figure out what your team is really going to be like this season, you’re not alone. Or at least that seems to be the case based off what all is happening with the spread and across various sportsbooks with this game. 

Because of the rivalry nature of this game, odds for this game came out on certain sportsbooks – especially those with access to Pennsylvania and West Virginia residents – months ago. Those openings typically had West Virginia as a 4.5-point favorite at the time. 

On Sunday of this week – when lines are typically released for the upcoming week’s games – the game opened at other sportsbooks…. and showed up all over the place. Sports like BetMGM had the Mountaineers as 2.5-point favorites. Others, like Circa Sportsbook, listed the game as a pick ’em, with no favorite at all. 

According to ProFootballFocus’ Greenline, the ‘market’ – which is somewhat of a consensus of the sportsbooks – has moved all over the place, with WVU opening as a 2.5-point favorite, jumping up to three, dropping down to two by Wednesday, and even 1.5 by Friday afternoon. As of the moment that I am typing up this story – Friday night – WVU is anywhere from a one point favorite (Bally) to a 2.5-point favorite (ESPN Bet). 

The fact that the books can’t come to a true consensus on this is already odd enough, but what makes it even stranger is that a falling line should mean that money is coming in heavy on the underdogs, which would be Pitt. Sportsbooks tend to adjust lines in order to even out money on both sides of the game to insure a win for the book. 

That’s not the case, though. According to ActionNetwork, 79% of the money wagered against the spread is coming in on WVU. Looking at the moneyline (simply who is going to win the game), the cash distribution is similar, with 70% of money being wagered on the Mountaineers.