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Virginia Football vs. Pittsburgh Game Preview, Score Prediction

Virginia Football vs. Pittsburgh Game Preview, Score Prediction

Virginia Cavaliers and the No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers will meet Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 8 p.m. The two will face off for the first time since 2022, when the Panthers defeated the Cavaliers 37-7 in Charlottesville. This game is crucial for both teams as Virginia looks to make one last shot at bowl eligibility while Pittsburgh will look to bounce back from a blowout 48-25 loss to SMU last week.

Keep reading for a complete recap of the Virginia vs. Pittsburgh matchup with everything you need to know, including game details and notes, opponent scouting report, what to watch and score prediction.

WHO: Virginia Cavaliers (4-4, 2-3 ACC) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-1, 3-1 ACC)

When: Saturday, November 9, 8:00 pm ET.

Where: Acrisure Stadium (68,400 people) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

How to watch: ACC network

How to listen: SiriusXM 137, SXM App 137 | Virginia Sports Radio Network

A series for all times: Pittsburgh leads 10-4.

Last meeting: Pittsburgh defeated Virginia 37-7 in the 2022 season in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Read Virginia’s injury report against Pittsburgh here: UVA Football Week 11 Injury Report: Bryan Stevens, James Jackson, Antonio Clary

Below is UVA’s Week 11 depth chart for the Pittsburgh game: Virginia vs. Pittsburgh Football Depth Chart | Conclusions, Analysis

Virginia Cavaliers football depth chart for Week 11 against Pittsburgh.

Virginia Cavaliers football depth chart for Week 11 against Pittsburgh. / Virginia Athletic

2023: 3–9, 2–6 ACC
2024: 7–1, ACC 3–1

The Pittsburgh Panthers took the ACC by storm this season, starting 7-0 before losing on the road to SMU. The Panthers began their season with four non-conference games, including a 28-27 win over Cincinnati, in which Pitt scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, and a 38-34 win over West Virginia, where Pittsburgh scored 14 unanswered points. to seal another reverse victory.

With non-conference play eliminated, the Panthers made a run at the ACC with a commanding 34-24 win over North Carolina before Cal’s missed field goal allowed Pittsburgh to remain undefeated with a 1-0 win over the Golden State Warriors. 17–15. Bears. Pittsburgh responded to the blowout victory by leaving no doubt against Syracuse with a blowout 41-13 victory, including five tackles by the Panthers defense against Kyle McCord, three of which went for touchdowns.

The Panthers suffered their first loss of the season last week, beating SMU on the road 48-25. Their performance placed them 18th in the inaugural College Football Playoff rankings.

Check out our Week 11 ACC power rankings: Virginia Football: Week 11 ACC Football Power Rankings

Defenseman Eli Holstein is considered the main reason for Pittsburgh’s resurgence. Holstein, who spent his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Pittsburgh, became a star for coach Pat Narduzzi, throwing for 2,053 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Just a redshirt freshman, Holstein hopes to be a force in the ACC for the next few years.

Holstein spreads the ball around with five receivers with over 250 receiving yards and at least three touchdown receptions. Konata Mumpfield leads the Panthers with 541 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Behind Mumpfield, running back Desmond Reed is second in receiving yards with 385 yards and four touchdowns out of the backfield, and Kenny Johnson is Holstein’s second receiver target with 358 yards.

On the ground, Reed is a force to be reckoned with with 590 yards and three touchdowns and is a dual threat for defenses out of the backfield. Holstein is also dynamic, with 305 rushing yards this season as a passer and runner on defense.

Defensively, Pittsburgh is in the middle of the pack, ranking 9th in total defense in the ACC and 14th in passing defense. Despite this, the Panthers’ defense put up an impressive performance, including a 41–13 win over Syracuse, where the Pittsburgh defense threw five interceptions against former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, who had had a good year up to that point.

Sophomore linebacker Kyle Louis leads the Panthers’ defense with 68 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble. Other defensive standouts include cornerback Donavan McMillon, who has 67 tackles, four pass deflections and one interception, and linebacker Rasheem Biles, who has 56 tackles, four sacks and one interception. Throwing the ball into midfield proved dangerous for other opponents against the Panthers.

Battle of the Defenders
It’s no secret that Anthony Colandrea has struggled in the last few games, which is due in part to a strong defense, poor offensive line play and his wide receivers struggling to get separation. With Bryan Stevens set to return to Virginia’s offensive line after missing the game against North Carolina and Pittsburgh’s pass defense not being particularly strong, Colandrea has a chance to make a statement on Saturday. On the other hand, Eli Holstein will prove to be a formidable counterpart to Colandrea, who he will get to know as Holstein is just a redshirt freshman. This game has the potential for a penalty shootout if both players play their best football.

Can Virginia’s defense contain Desmond Reed?
Last time against North Carolina, the game had “Omarion Hampton” in the title. The Cavaliers blew that call, allowing Hampton to rush for 105 yards and two touchdowns as the Tar Heels humbled Virginia 41-14. Against the Panthers, the key to their offense besides Holstein is its outlet in Desmond Reed, who Holstein has relied on for his explosive checks all year. The first tackle against Reed and his containment will be vital in forcing Holstein to throw the ball down the field rather than consistently moving the ball up the field with easy passes.

Can the Cavaliers solve their red zone problems?
Virginia’s red zone was terrible on both sides of the ball. Starting with an offense that had just 12 red zone touchdowns in 2024, second to last in the ACC, the overall red zone conversion rate is 26/33, with the majority of those being field goals. If the Cavaliers want to beat Pittsburgh, they need to start by putting sevens on the board rather than sending Will Bettridge to the chips. Defensively, the Cavaliers rank second to last in the ACC in red zone defense, allowing points on 30/33 trips against opposing offenses. If Virginia’s defense can even force Pittsburgh to leave the red zone empty-handed on one drive, it will be a huge help in Virginia’s efforts to possibly leave Pittsburgh with a much-needed win.

After three straight losses, the Cavaliers’ morale is at its lowest point of the season. On the other hand, Pittsburgh suffers its first loss of the season, which exposed many glaring weaknesses in the team. The question now is whether Virginia can expose these flaws, but does the Hoos have the talent to do so? Next, how did Pittsburgh react to the loss? A bye week could help the Cavaliers return to Pittsburgh healthier. Tony Elliott’s lack of preparation for the North Carolina game can’t be discounted when you look at how different things will be against Pitt. This game is closer than people think, but the Panthers will get back in the win column and hand the Cavaliers their fourth straight loss.

Score prediction: Virginia 23, Pittsburgh 26

Stats comparison: How Virginia stacks up against Pittsburgh on paper

UVA Football: Players to Watch for Virginia vs. Pittsburgh

UVA Football Week 11 Injury Report: Bryan Stevens, James Jackson, Antonio Clary

Virginia vs. Pittsburgh Football Depth Chart | Conclusions, Analysis

Virginia Football: Week 11 ACC Football Power Rankings