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Pitt vs. Virginia Tech fearless prediction and game preview.
Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
Network: ESPN2
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Pitt (7-3) vs. Virginia Tech (7-3) Game Preview
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Why Pitt Will Win
So here’s the deal. If Virginia Tech wins this game, next week’s showdown against Virginia is the for the ACC Coastal title. But if Pitt wins, it’s going back to the ACC championship if it beats Boston College next week and the Hokies get by the Cavaliers.
First, the Panthers have to take care of business with a defense that’s been every bit as nasty at times as any in the ACC.
Pitt has the nation’s best pass rush – coming though time and again with five sacks to stop North Carolina in last week’s overtime thriller. The Virginia Tech offensive line is fine, but it’s not a killer, and it’s not going to blast away enough for the running game to take over.
To pull this off, the Hokies have to be solid at moving the chains, getting past the swarming rush, and hit the third down plays. Pitt, though, has been excellent at coming up with the key stops – again, to beat this into the ground – because it’s getting to the quarterback.
The Hokies have rushed for 200 yards or more in four of their last five games. So far this year they’re 1-3 when they’re under 140 yards – struggling way too much in the win over a miserable Old Dominion team – and 6-0 when they’re over.
How many times this season has Pitt allowed more than 140 yards?
Once. To Penn State. No one else has been able to average more than four yards per carry.
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Why Virginia Tech Will Win
Virginia Tech has a pass rush, too.
The Hokies are getting enough out of their defense to hold on in a few shootouts, and come up big lately in big moments against everyone but Notre Dame.
The pressure in the backfield is getting the job done for a run defense that’s holding its own, and unlike last year, Pitt doesn’t have the ground attack good enough to take over.
Pitt is able to survive on just enough of passing attack to get by at times – Kenny Pickett threw for 359 yards against UNC – but it’s not a consistent attack. Virginia Tech is a bit better equipped to handle the Pitt pass rush than the other way around.
Hendon Hooker has the mobility and the accuracy to keep on pushing the ball down the field when everything is swarming around him. The freshman quarterback has yet to throw an interception in his five games of major work, he’s averaging over ten yards per pass, and he’s taking off just enough to make defenses worry.
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What’s Going To Happen
Pitt’s been playing with fire just a wee bit.
Since getting blasted by Virginia in the opener, seven of Pitt’s last nine games have been decided by seven points or fewer, and the other two were decided by ten points.
This team knows how to handle itself in tight spots, but in Virginia Tech’s final home game of the year, it’s about to dial up something special.
The defense has been fantastic over the last three weeks – it all started right after the 43-41 win over North Carolina – and it’s going to be every bit as effective up front as Pitt’s D.
The difference? The Hokies will run just enough to be okay. Pitt won’t be able to get its running attack going at all.
Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Prediction, Line
Virginia Tech 26, Pitt 20
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Virginia Tech -3.5, o/u: 46.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
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Must See Rating: 4
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