Trust the Process:

I’ll be using a standard format across all Chop’s Takes:

1. I’ll take a look at the returning production (keeping in mind the evaluation of talent applicable to each ACC Program) and compare to each team they face on their schedule.
2. I’ll look at the opponent faced the week before, that game’s final score, and days passed before the current game being evaluated.
3. I’ll take a look at the opponent the ACC team faces after the present game, considering look-ahead games and rivalries, and days separating that game from the present.
4. I’ll weigh advantages of home versus away games for each game.
5. Where possible, I’ll take into consideration potential weather considerations (not Hurricanes or other natural disasters but rather seasonal conditions).

Pittsburgh’s 2018 Football Schedule:

Albany (September 1st, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: N/A

Following Game: Rhode Island (September 8th, 2018 1:00 P.M. EST Away)

Television: ACC Network Extra

Prediction: Pittsburgh WIN

I’ll keep this brief: ACC teams SHOULD win their FCS match-ups. Pittsburgh is at home against a vastly inferior opponent. Pittsburgh should win this. Next.

Penn State (September 8th, 2018 8:00 P.M. EST at home)

Rivalry

Previous Game: App State (September 1st, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST at home)

Following Game: Kent State (September 15th, 2018 12:00 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ABC

Prediction: Pittsburgh WIN

Amazing. This might be the most shocking prediction I’ll make during this series I’m publishing. Yes, you’re reading this right: I HAVE PITT BEATING PLAYOFF CONTENDER PENN STATE AT HOME! Why? Penn State out-recruits Pitt, sure. However, Penn State is only returning half of their offensive production from a season ago, a paltry 105th in the nation. Pitt is returning about 75% of their defense, good for 33rd in the country. The veteran leadership of Pitt’s defense will cause heads to spin at Penn State, while the offensive production will be just enough to give Pitt the edge. Rivalry, yes. Prime-time television? Yes. Will it live-up to the hype: absolutely. Pitt will shock some teams. Penn State will be the first.

Georgia Tech (September 15th, 2018 12:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: USF (September 8th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Clemson (September 22nd, 2018 at home Rivalry)

Television: RSN

Prediction: Pitt WIN

Pitt is on a roll now, they will win against Georgia Tech at home. The option is tricky to handle, however Georgia Tech is lacking in any returning production value to win an early away game at Pittsburgh. This game also serves as a game where Georgia Tech will be looking-ahead to their rivalry match-up against Clemson.

University of North Carolina (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Previous Game: University of Central Florida (September 15th 12:00 P.M. EST at home)

Following Game: University of Miami (September 27th, 2018 8:00 P.M. EST Thursday Night away)

Prediction: Pittsburgh WIN

What is the rational that drives the Pitt win? The preceding games. UNC will face Miami on a short week, double away games. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, will be facing UCF. Pitt will want the conference win over UNC more than the win versus UCF, in regards to preparation. UNC will need to prepare for Miami more-so than for Pittsburgh. While comparable in returning talent, Pittsburgh will have the upper-hand in scheduling.

University of Central Florida (September 29th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: FAU (September 21st, 2018 at home)

Following Game: SMU (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: Pitt LOSS

No run lasts forever. Pittsburgh, while riding high, will stumble at UCF. UCF returns more starters overall than Pitt, and while lesser in talent, will still be a formidable opponent. Trust me, while an FSU alum/fan, UCF has always had a place in my heart, being my hometown team. I attended the UCF vs Memphis game last season. Their stadium atmosphere is no-joke: Power 5 caliber in intensity. UCF has developed a reputation as a giant slayer. They’ll want to live to that reputation. Pitt put their production in preparing for UNC. While paying-off for in-conference standing, their OOC record will falter here. This won’t be a pretty loss, but it could of been a lot worse. 

Syracuse (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Clemson (September 29th, 2018 away)

Following Game: UNC (October 20th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: Pitt WIN

Pitt will bounce back against the Orange. This game is at home, Syracuse will be coming off a loss at Clemson and follow-up with another away game at Pitt. Pitt will be thirsting for blood after a seemingly embarrassing loss to UCF. While I suspect a shoot-out, I don’t believe Syracuse will have enough man-power to outlast Pitt.

Notre Dame (October 13th, 2018 2:30 P.M. EST away)

Previous Game: VT (October 6th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Navy (October 27th, 2018 rivalry away)

Television: NBC

Prediction: Pitt LOSS

This loss, one might say, would be expected. Notre Dame will be coming off a tough battle against Virginia Tech. Pitt will be elated after their win over Syracuse at home. However, travelling to Notre Dame is always tough. Notre Dame will have one of the better teams this year, and simply too much of a talent advantage for Pitt to overcome. Despite questions on offense at Notre Dame, it’s their unparalleled Defense that should be a cause for concern for Pitt fans. Notre Dame will simply out-pace Pitt at home.

Duke University (October 27th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: University of Virginia (October 20th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: University of Miami (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Prediction: Pitt WIN

Duke is of a similar talent level as Pitt, and could beat Pitt at home, consider Pitt’s in-conference record at this point. However, this game lies between Duke and the University of Miami. Pitt has an ideal schedule to win this game at home against the Blue Devils. I expect that they will.

University of Virginia (November 2nd, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST Friday Night away)

Previous Game: UNC (October 27th, 2018 rivalry at home)

Following Game: Liberty (November 10th, 2018 at home)

Television: ESPN2

Prediction: Pitt LOSS

Yeah, I’m a bit surprised myself. However, Pitt’s schedule works against it here. Pitt wouldn’t be looking forward to a middling UVA team when perennial coastal contender VT is on the horizon. This screams trap game, on a Friday night with a short week after beating a tough Duke team. Virginia has just enough to pull the upset on their home field. I think they’ll get it against a contender program in Pitt.

Virginia Tech (November 10th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Boston College (November 3rd, 2018 rivalry at home)

Following Game: University of Miami (November 17th, 2018 rivalry at home)

Prediction: Pitt WIN

Crazy how the schedule is really doing favors for this Pitt team. Pitt has no look-ahead game when compared to facing the Hokies. Meanwhile, VT has Miami to deal with the following weekend. I think the talent at Virginia Tech is better, however the returning production at Pitt, and having Virginia Tech at home, should be enough to pull the upset. Also being the last home game of the season, Pitt will want to end the year in a bang.

Wake Forest (November 17th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: NC State (November 8th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST Thursday Night rivalry away [ESPN])

Following Game: Duke (November 24th, 2018 rivalry away)

Prediction: Pitt WIN

Blessed by scheduling, Pitt once again finds an opponent at an inopportune moment. Wake Forest is coming off a rough game against their rival, and will face yet another on Rivalry week. Wake Forest knows it is out of contention for the Atlantic at this stage, having lost to undefeated Clemson. Despite a balanced roster and playing at home, Wake Forest has its eyes on another prize: owning its rival in the following week. Pitt will strike and contend for the coastal crown.

University of Miami (November 24th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Virginia Tech (November 17th, 2018 rivalry away)

Following Game: N/A

Prediction: Pitt LOSS

With no other team to look ahead to, Miami will focus entirely on Pitt in this match-up. Miami has elite talent, one that Pitt can’t compete with. Additionally, they’ll be playing at Miami, after having upset Miami at home the previous season. Miami will be thirsty for blood and revenge after a tough loss to Virginia Tech. Miami will get theirs against Pitt to end the regular season.

My Predicted 2018 Regular Season Record for University of Pittsburgh: 8-4 (6-2 ACC)

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