Virginia Cavaliers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 9th 2024

Preview and Prediction

No. 18 Pittsburgh will try to recover from its first loss of the season as they face struggling Virginia in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Saturday night. The Panthers (7-1, 3-1 ACC) managed to stay undefeated longer than expected, but suffered a 48-25 defeat against SMU last weekend.

Pittsburgh's quarterback, Eli Holstein, failed to throw a touchdown pass for the second time in three games and threw his fourth interception in four ACC games. Head coach Pat Narduzzi reminded everyone that Holstein is a redshirt freshman and that the team's loss was not solely his fault.

Holstein has tied the record for most touchdown passes by a Pitt freshman with 17, previously set by Alex Van Pelt in 1989. Running back Desmond Reid ranks fifth in the nation with an average of 156.3 all-purpose yards per game, while linebacker Kyle Louis leads the defense with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Next up for the Panthers is a Virginia team that started the season with a 4-1 record and had hopes of making it to a bowl game in coach Tony Elliott's third season. However, the Cavaliers (4-4, 2-3) have struggled in their last two games, allowing 99 points and 967 yards.

After a bye week, Virginia will try to end their three-game losing streak against Pittsburgh. With three of their last four games on the road and matchups against tough opponents like Notre Dame and SMU, the Cavaliers face a difficult challenge in securing two more wins for bowl eligibility.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea has thrown for 1,805 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions for Virginia. Wide receiver Malachi Fields leads the team with 43 catches for 654 yards and four touchdowns, while safety Jonas Sanker has recorded a team-high 64 tackles, including 43 solo stops.

Colandrea has been sacked 24 times this season, including nine times in a loss to North Carolina on October 26. He will face a tough Pitt defense that ranks fifth in the ACC with 24 sacks. Despite the challenges, coach Elliott praised Colandrea for his resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Pittsburgh has dominated their recent matchups against Virginia, winning six of the last seven meetings. In their most recent game in 2022, the Panthers defeated the Cavaliers 37-7.

Coach Narduzzi is confident that his team will bounce back from their loss and perform well on Saturday night. He believes that young players are more resilient than coaches and that his team is determined to not let another defeat happen.

PREDICTION

Virginia Cavaliers

Pittsburgh Panthers

Virginia Cavaliers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers

Bryce Perkins threw two touchdown passes and Virginia's defense turned in a stingy effort in a 30-14 victory against host Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both schools Saturday night at Heinz Field.

With plenty of anticipation heading into the season, the Cavaliers hit some snags on offense, but scored 10 points in the first 6:37 of the third quarter to turn a 14-13 halftime deficit into a 23-14 lead. Brian Delaney's 45-yard field goal and Perkins' 13-yard scoring pass to Hasise Dubois provided those points.

Wayne Taulapapa's 10-yard run capped the scoring with 32 seconds to play. That came after the Panthers turned the ball over on downs, failing to convert on fourth-and-6 at their own 27 with 4 minutes to play.

Perkins completed 20 of 34 passes for 181 yards and two scores on the night. Taulapapa's 66 rushing yards on 10 carries led the Cavaliers on the ground.

Pittsburgh, which was limited to 263 yards of total offense, took its only lead on Kenny Pickett's 3-yard pass to Tre Tipton with 38 seconds to play in the first half to make it 14-13.

Virginia took a 10-0 first-quarter lead as Perkins was 8 for 10 for 77 yards in the opening quarter. Delaney's 39-yard field goal and Perkins' 2-yard pass to Chris Sharp accounted for the scoring.

The touchdown was set up following Noah Taylor's blocked punt that Dubois returned to the Pitt 19.

Pittsburgh got on the board on A.J. Davis' 2-yard run early in the second quarter.

Delaney's 36-yard field goal padded Virginia's edge to 13-7 with 10:19 to go in the half, which held until Tipton's touchdown with 38 seconds to play in the half.

Pickett ended up 21 for 41 for 185 yards. He threw two interceptions, with Joey Blount and Matt Gahm making the picks.

Gahm's third-quarter interception put the Cavaliers at the Pittsburgh 29-yard line, leading to Dubois' touchdown.

The game pitted the ACC's reigning Coastal Division champion (Pittsburgh) against this season's preseason divisional favorite (Virginia).