Year after year, it seems like Pittsburgh is in the title conversation in the Coastal Division. QB Kenny Pickett probably is who he is at this point entering his fifth season, but the Panthers could make some noise if he takes another step and the offense becomes more explosive.
When: Nov. 20, Time TBA Where: Pittsburgh
Series record: Pittsburgh leads, 8-4
Last meeting: Aug. 31, 2019; UVa won, 30-14 Streak: One for UVa
Last year's record: 6-5, 5-5- ACC
Best win: vs. Virginia Tech, 47-14; Hokies finished 5-6, but that was the best record of any of the teams that Pitt beat
Worst loss: at Boston College, 31-30 in OT; Eagles finished respectable 6-5, but all other losses came against better teams, and this was the most painful loss
Coach: Pat Narduzzi (seventh year, 42-34)
Worst loss: at Boston College, 31-30 in OT; Eagles finished respectable 6-5, but all other losses came against better teams, and this was the most painful loss
Coach: Pat Narduzzi (seventh year, 42-34)
Starters returning: 15 (8 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: WR Jordan Addison. It feels like Pickett has been around since the Stone Age, so I'm going with someone else here. Named to the Freshman All-America team, Addison in 2020 tallied 60 catches for 666 yards and four touchdowns. He also had nine carries for 58 yards.
Defensive player to watch: LB SirVocea Dennis. As a sophomore in 2020, Dennis collected 57 tackles, 14.5 for losses, four sacks, and six QB hurries.
Special teams player to watch: P Kirk Christodoulou. A semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2020, Christodoulou boomed punts an average of 44.7 yards with a long of 61 yards, and he put 23 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Fun fact: In 2020, Pitt tied Clemson for first in the nation with 46 sacks.
Season prediction: Pittsburgh was picked to finish fourth in the Coastal Division.
Early game thoughts: Pitt football is remarkably consistent. Its last really bad season came way back in 1998 when the Panthers went 2-9. Every year since then, they've had at least five wins, and usually between six and eight. They won nine games in 2002 and ’08 and 10 games in ’09. So this will likely be a tough game, as it often has been for UVa. The Cavaliers’ victory at Pitt in 2019 was just their second over the Panthers since they joined the ACC. Pickett is a veteran QB who isn’t spectacular but has won a lot of games and knows what he is doing. He does need to cut down on picks, though -- 24 over three years as a starter -- too many when considering he's never thrown more than 13 TDs in a season. Pitt’s D is expected to be its usual solid self. And the game is on the road. But this is one of those games in the division likely to be decided by just a few plays, and the result could mean the difference between a very good season and just an OK season for the Wahoos. It would be great to carry some momentum into Tech week, too, even if it doesn't really have a bearing on getting bowl eligible or not and/or being in contention for the Coastal.
Special teams player to watch: P Kirk Christodoulou. A semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2020, Christodoulou boomed punts an average of 44.7 yards with a long of 61 yards, and he put 23 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Fun fact: In 2020, Pitt tied Clemson for first in the nation with 46 sacks.
Season prediction: Pittsburgh was picked to finish fourth in the Coastal Division.
Early game thoughts: Pitt football is remarkably consistent. Its last really bad season came way back in 1998 when the Panthers went 2-9. Every year since then, they've had at least five wins, and usually between six and eight. They won nine games in 2002 and ’08 and 10 games in ’09. So this will likely be a tough game, as it often has been for UVa. The Cavaliers’ victory at Pitt in 2019 was just their second over the Panthers since they joined the ACC. Pickett is a veteran QB who isn’t spectacular but has won a lot of games and knows what he is doing. He does need to cut down on picks, though -- 24 over three years as a starter -- too many when considering he's never thrown more than 13 TDs in a season. Pitt’s D is expected to be its usual solid self. And the game is on the road. But this is one of those games in the division likely to be decided by just a few plays, and the result could mean the difference between a very good season and just an OK season for the Wahoos. It would be great to carry some momentum into Tech week, too, even if it doesn't really have a bearing on getting bowl eligible or not and/or being in contention for the Coastal.
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