Best / Worse Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Florida State | Virginia Tech | NC State | Clemson | Syracuse | North Carolina | Wake Forest
Pittsburgh
The last 2 years have shown what Pitt is capable of and how far they have to go to be a top tier program. They have wins over Penn State, Clemson, and Miami. Penn State was the 2016 Big 10 Champ, Clemson the National Champs, and Miami was ranked in the top 5 and was 10-0 when they lost to Pitt last year. There have also been 12 losses the last two seasons that marks an inconsistency coach Pat Narduzzi would like fixed. The program just oozes potential. It’s just matter of time before they have a 9 or 10 win season. On any given day no matter who you are, you better be ready to play a Narduzzi coached team.
Will Go 9-3 (6-2) if:
QB Kenny Pickett can build on his play at the end of last year. An epic last minute goal line stand by Virginia Tech is all that separated from the Panthers from finishing the season with wins over Virginia Tech and Miami. Road games with Notre Dame and Miami are daunting, but the rest of the games will have Pitt favored or in the toss-up category.
The defense returns largely in-tact and that’s Narduzzi’s specialty. The pass defense was atrocious at times last year. If improved Pittsburgh defense would be considerably better. The linebacking crew is solid. The defense has a chance to be pretty good. If Pitt can be 5-1 when they head to Notre Dame, a 9-3 season is possible.
Will Go 5-7 (2-6) if:
Kenny Pickett was a late season wonder. Let’s say Pickett just caught lightening in a bottle to end the year. Pitt is going to have a hard time improving on an offense that ranked 101 in the country last year. There’s potential at the skill position on offense, but that’s what it is – potential. Qadree Ollison was the 2015 ACC Offensive Rookie of year. He has ability. Darrin Hall is also a capable back, and there is highly recruited RB A.J. Davis – As we said potential is there.
The pass defense can’t rank in the 100s again. The schedule has road games at Miami, Notre Dame, UCF, and always tricky Wake Forest. Virginia Tech and Penn State are difficult home games. Pitt could easily go 1-5 in those six games, and it could mean a second straight missed bowl game.
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