Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh Prediction, Game Preview

The Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1) and the Virginia Tech Hokies (2-2) begin ACC play this weekend in Blacksburg. Check out the Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh prediction and game preview.

Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 3

Game Time: 12:00 ET

Network: ESPN3

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Why You Need To Care

Pitt and Virginia Tech meet this weekend at Lane Stadium, both looking to rebound from losses and kickstart their seasons. The Hokies will arrive in a worse mood, losing to East Carolina last Saturday and then losing star CB Kendall Fuller to a knee injury a few days later. Tech can still contend in the wide-open Coastal Division, but only if the team can quickly get past the upset loss from a week ago. The Panthers are enduring their own injury issues, playing without star RB James Conner for the rest of the year. However, they’d had the Hokies’ number of late, winning five of the last six meetings.

Why Pittsburgh Will Win

Pat Narduzzi’s defense is playing very well. And to suggestions that the Panthers haven’t faced a great offense, what’s Virginia Tech? Pitt is giving up less than 300 yards a game, and has yielded just one touchdown pass. The stifling pass defense has been a collaboration of a pass rush that’s produced 10 sacks and a secondary getting big plays and an energy infusion from underclassmen Avonte Maddox and Jordan Whitehead.

Why Virginia Tech Will Win

The Hokies are on their heels. It’s time for the D-line to step up. Tech’s front wall, flush in speed and explosiveness, has yet to deliver this fall. But this group, from ends Dadi Nicolas and Ken Ekanem to NT Luther Maddy and DT Corey Marshall need to routinely wreak havoc. The raw ability is in place, and the Panthers have had some issues in pass pro. Now that QB Nathan Peterman has supplanted Chad Voytik atop the depth chart, Pitt will have a more stationary target in the pocket.

Player Who Matters

Now that Fuller is undergoing season-ending surgery, redshirt freshman Terrell Edmunds is joining Brandon Facyson in the lineup. Edmunds is long on potential and ideal size, but obviously short on experience. The Hokie staff will want Facyson matched up with elite Panther WR Tyler Boyd, especially since Pitt doesn’t have another receiver on the roster with more than six grabs this season.

What’s Going To Happen?

The defenses will win the day. Points will come at a premium. And the outcome will be in doubt in the final few minutes. Back at home and facing a must-win situation, Virginia Tech will convert one additional field goal attempt, the margin of victory in a toss-up game that could go either way on Saturday.