Pittsburgh vs. UNC: Preview, prediction, info and more

UNC takes on Pittsburgh in a early big ACC game this season. Will the Tar Heels continue the win streak?

The North Carolina Tar Heels will welcome the Pittsburgh Panthers into Kenan Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the first regular season ACC game for both teams. Both teams enter the game at 2-1 on the season, looking for a leg up in the Coastal Division race.

Despite being week four of the season, this game will very well have some big implications on the Coastal Division race.

The two teams finished first and second in the Coastal last season, with UNC earning the top spot and an appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

Last season’s contest saw the Tar Heels come out victorious against the Panthers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The Thursday night game was entertaining as the game was tied at three after one quarter.

But then UNC took over.

The Tar Heels scored 17 points in the second half then three more in both the third and fourth quarters to win 26-19.

There are some similarities from the last two times these teams met, that hold true for this year’s game. The Tar Heels run defense is still pretty bad and they welcome a running back who can change the game at anytime.

Pitt’s James Conner didn’t play in 2015 but he torched the Tar Heels defense in 2014. Conner rushed for 220 yards on 30 carries and had four touchdowns. That included a 56-yard touchdown run.

UNC won that game, but the gameplan will be very similar for Pitt: Get Conner the ball and force UNC’s defense to stop him.

But can they?

The Tar Heels played much better defense in the second half against James Madison in the week three win, but they were gashed in the first half. The Dukes ran all over UNC, mounting scoring drives and driving Tar Heels fans nuts.

UNC has to buckle down and focus on stopping Conner early and often. Then there’s the UNC offense against the Pitt defense.

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky had a career day against the Dukes just a week ago, but the competition will be a little tougher on Saturday. The Panthers defense is allowing 330.3 passing yards a game thus far. With an aerial offensive attack, UNC playmakers Ryan Switzer, Bug Howard and Mack Hollins can do some damage.

We know about the Tar Heels two-headed monster of a backfield featuring Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan, but the Panthers run defense hasn’t been bad at all this season. They are only giving up an average of 75.7 yards per game on the ground this season.

The Tar Heels are rushing for an average of 176 yards per game, so something is going to give.

Look for the Tar Heels to run early and often, attempting to open up the play action and letting their receivers make big plays.

Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s game:

WHAT? Pittsburgh at UNC
WHEN? Saturday, September 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET
WHERE? Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ESPN U.
RADIO? Tar Heel Sports Network. Jones Angell (play-by-play), William Henderson (analyst) and Lee Pace (sideline)
WEATHER? Sunny, high of 89 degrees with just a 10 percent chance of rain.
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 7-3.
LAST MEETING? UNC def. Pitt 23-16.
BETTING LINE? UNC – 7
PREDICTION? UNC wins 31 – 27

As always, make sure you check back with Keeping It Heel for postgame coverage following the game on Saturday.

Home/UNC Football