Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Pittsburgh Panthers Picks and Prediction for Saturday February 21 2026
Use Code WWWC The Notre Dame Fighting Irish head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers, with both teams still trying to find their footing in ACC play this season. Notre Dame comes in at 12–14 overall and 3–10 in the conference, while Pitt sits at 9–17 overall and 2–11 in ACC action. With both teams having a tough time stringing together wins within the conference, this game feels like an important chance for each side to get some momentum and finish the season on a better note. Get involved in the action with our free college basketball picks.
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh Game Information
- February 21, 2026
- 2:00pm EST
- Peterson Events Center
- ACC Network
Pittsburgh Form & Recent Results
Pittsburgh heads into this game in a tough stretch, having dropped five straight. Their most recent loss came Saturday in Chapel Hill, where they fell 79–65 to No. 11 North Carolina. Cameron Corhen did what he could to keep the Panthers in it, finishing with 23 points and adding six assists, and Barry Dunning Jr. helped on the glass with eight rebounds. Even with Pittsburgh shooting a respectable 47% from the field and 37% from three, they never managed to get in front at any point, and they ended the night with 32 total rebounds, numbers that look decent on paper, but didn’t translate into control of the game.
Pittsburgh’s scoring has been fairly balanced at the top this season, with Brandin Cummings leading the way at 12.5 points per game and Corhen right behind him at 12.4. Corhen has also been their most reliable rebounder, pulling down 7.2 boards per game, while Damarco Minor has been the main playmaker, averaging 3.4 assists. The bigger issue lately has been defense as the Panthers have given up about 73 points per game during their five-game skid, and that trend has continued at home, where they’re 7–9 and allowing 73.6 points per game. With the ACC standings tightening near the bottom, Pittsburgh will be trying to snap the streak and pull even with Notre Dame as they fight to avoid finishing last.
Notre Dame Form & Recent Results
Notre Dame comes into this game trying to shake off a rough patch as of late, as they’re currently riding a one-game losing streak and have dropped four of their last five games overall. The Fighting Irish did pick up an impressive 89–74 win over Georgia Tech at home on Saturday, though, and they did it with some standout individual performances. Cole Certa carried the scoring load with 37 points, Logan Imes controlled the glass with nine rebounds, and Braeden Shrewsberry helped run the offense with four assists. Notre Dame was also efficient in that game, shooting 49% from the field and an excellent 50% from three-point range. Even with 13 turnovers, they still won the rebounding battle with 36 boards and were in control for most of the game, leading for 91% of the action.
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Markus Burton has been Notre Dame’s most reliable scoring option throughout the year, leading the team at 18.5 points per game, while Jalen Haralson isn’t far behind at 15.5 points per contest. Carson Towt has been their top rebounder at 9.3 per game, giving them a consistent presence inside, and Burton also sets the pace as their main playmaker with 3.7 assists per game. Defense has been a major issue lately, however, as Notre Dame has surrendered an average of 81.4 points over its last five games. Their road struggles have also been hard to ignore, sitting at 2–7 away from home while allowing 76.9 points per game in those matchups. Much like Pittsburgh, conference play has been a frustrating part of their season, but the Irish will be looking to flip the script here, clean up the mistakes, and steal a much-needed road win.
Key Stats
- Notre Dame’s Markus Burton this season: 18.5 points, 3.7 assists per game
- Pittsburgh’s Cameron Corhen this season: 12.4 points, 7.2 rebounds per game
Betting Odds & Market Overview:
- PITT -1.5; O/U 138.5
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh Picks and Prediction
Pittsburgh has struggled away from home, losing nine of its sixteen road games, and Notre Dame has had an even tougher time on the road, dropping seven of nine. On top of that, both teams have been near the bottom of the ACC for much of the season, so this game isn’t exactly the kind of matchup fans circled on the calendar. Still, someone has to come out on top, and the Panthers will be trying to take advantage of playing at home to grab the win. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Panthers win and cover the spread, 76-67.
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