The ACC Tournament tips off with an intriguing meeting between Pittsburgh and Stanford on Tuesday, March 10. While the Panthers enter the postseason with a losing record, they have shown improved play over the past couple of weeks and have quietly covered spreads at a strong rate. Stanford arrives in better form overall and has surged into March after winning four of its last five games. Who will win this Pitt vs Stanford rematch? Continue reading to get my prediction for the opening game of the 2026 ACC Tournament.
Pick: Stanford -5.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Stanford enters this game with a 20-11 record and solid momentum after closing the regular season with four wins in its last five outings. The Cardinal capped that stretch with an 85-84 victory over NC State, a game highlighted by a huge scoring effort from their top offensive weapon, Ebuka Okorie. Their offense has been particularly dangerous lately, scoring 85 or more points in three straight games.
Pittsburgh finished the regular season at 12-19 but has been more competitive recently. The Panthers have won three of their last five games and nearly pulled off a massive comeback against Florida State before falling by a single point before defeating Syracuse in overtime. While their overall record is underwhelming, they have played several ACC teams tough and covered the spread in five straight games entering this contest.
Stanford Cardinal
Pittsburgh Panthers
Team | Points Per Game | Points Allowed Per Game | Field Goal % | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh | 70.2 | 71.3 | 44% | 34.7 | 13.3 |
Stanford | 76.4 | 73.0 | 44% | 33.9 | 12.0 |
Score Projection: Pittsburgh 68 – Stanford 75 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Pittsburgh 36%, Stanford 64% ATS PRO
While Pittsburgh has been competitive recently and continues to cover spreads, Stanford enters the ACC Tournament with more overall talent and stronger offensive production. The Cardinal also hold the advantage of already defeating the Panthers earlier this season, which gives them confidence entering this game. With Ebuka Okorie leading a high-scoring offense and Stanford playing some of its best basketball of the season, the Cardinal appear positioned to control this game and I'll lay the points with them to open the ACC Tournament.
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