The Pitt Panthers (7-3, 5-1 ACC) are coming off a lopsided loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last Saturday, 37-15. There’s no rest for the weary, however, as Pitt travels to Atlanta, GA to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1).
While it could have been worded better, head coach Pat Narduzzi was correct in saying that the Notre Dame game had no impact on Pitt’s push to get to the ACC Championship Game. Everything is in front of the Panthers, but they have a tall task ahead of them with Georgia Tech.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Narduzzi had this to say about Pitt’s opponent this week.
“But we move on to another great game, 7:00, ESPN, down in Atlanta against Brent Key, a great football coach who's done an outstanding job. They might as well just announce him as ACC Coach of the Year. He's done an incredible job. Just give it to him early. If you get to know him, he's smart, tough, and he's got an offensive background. They're the No. 1 offense in the country. Not the No. 2, not in the ACC; they're the No. 1 offense in the country that we've got to go down and face. It'll be the greatest challenge of the year for our defense to go down there and face all the different stuff they do. They're very multiple in personnels, multiple in formations, and just really good.“
Needless to say, Narduzzi knows his Panthers are in for a hard fought game, especially for Pitt’s defense.
KEYS TO WIN FOR PITT
-The Panthers need to stop the run. Last week the big matchup was Notre Dame’s rushing attack against Pitt’s run defense. Georgia Tech’s offense, statistically, is ranked better than Notre Dame’s. The Yellow Jackets are No. 10 in the country, averaging 224.6 rushing yards per game. This begs the question, is Pitt’s run defense a really good unit, or are they a byproduct of teams being able to pass so well they don’t need to run? Georgia Tech can beat you either way.
-QB Mason Heintschel needs to learn from the loss to Notre Dame. With RB Desmond Reid listed as questionable, the Pitt offense will have to rely on Heintschel to make plays to score. WRs Poppi Williams and Kenny Johnson should be able to get open against the Georgia Tech secondary. The Yellow Jackets are the No. 103 pass defense, giving up 243.2 passing yards per game.
KEYS TO WIN FOR GEORGIA TECH
-QB Haynes King is the heart and soul of the Georgia Tech offense. King has completed 72.7 percent of his passes for 2,259 yards with 10 TDs and 2 INTs. King also leads the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 807 yards and 14 TDs. It will be a battle for the Pitt defense to slow down Georgia Tech’s offense. King and the Tech offense need to be business as usual and attack Pitt’s defense.
-Tech’s defense has been leaky this season, surrendering 24.2 points per game. For the Yellow Jackets to win the defense will need to either create turnovers or get a couple of stops. They cannot let Pitt go score for score with the Georgia Tech offense.
PREDICTION
Georgia Tech needs this win to make the ACC Championship Game. They also need the win to guarantee consideration in the CFP if they lose to Georgia or the ACC Champs. Pitt is fighting for a spot in the ACC Championship Game as well, but their chances end if they lose to Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets struggled with a bad Boston College team last week, one that Pitt handily defeated 48-7 in Heintschel’s first collegiate start. With the struggles last week and the pressure mounting for Georgia Tech, the Panthers sneak out of Atlanta with a close upset win. Pitt 38 Georgia Tech 35.