Pitt-Georgia Tech Preview: Betting Odds, Storylines & More
The race for the ACC championship is scorching hot as Pitt takes on No. 16 Georgia Tech in a pivotal conference game with both teams fighting for a title game appearance.
Pitt stands at 7-3 overall with a 5-1 mark in ACC play. If Pitt wins out, and receives a little bit of help, the Panthers will return to Charlotte for the first time since 2021. A Pitt win would also put Georgia Tech’s championship hopes in peril.
The Yellow Jackets are 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference. The matchup against Pitt wraps up Georgia Tech’s conference slate, and a win would secure a spot in the championship game.
It’s the first time that the Panthers and Yellow Jackets have met since the 2022 season when Georgia Tech defeated Pitt 26-21. Pitt won the previous four meetings. Georgia Tech has not beat Pitt at home since 2017.
Pitt Outlook
Pitt closed out its nonconference slate last weekend against No. 9 Notre Dame in a humbling 37-15 loss in front of a sold out Acrisure Stadium.
The Panthers totaled 219 yards of offense as freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel failed to record a touchdown through the air or on the ground for the first time as a starter. Eli Holstein connected with Malachi Thomas as time expired for the Panthers lone offensive score.
Pitt’s defense provided some life for the Panthers with a Rasheem Biles pick-six and a Kavir Bains-Marquez interception that was returned deep into Notre Dame territory. The Panthers managed three points from that takeaway.
The Panthers were ranked 22nd in the College Football Playoff rankings before falling out after the Notre Dame setback.
Pitt is still riding a five-game winning streak in the ACC with victories over Boston College, Florida State, Syracuse, NC State and Stanford.
The Panthers lead the ACC with 37.8 points per conference game and in passing offense with 296.3 yards per game. The Panthers have compiled 428 yards of offense per game against ACC opponents.
Heintschel has completed 134-of-217 (61.8%) passes or 1,673 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions on the year.
Pitt will look for its ground game to take a step forward against Georgia Tech. The Panthers totaled just 14 rushing yards through the first three quarters against Notre Dame. Star running back Desmond Reid is questionable heading into the matchup. Ja’Kyrian Turner has paced the ground game for the Panthers with 414 yards and six touchdowns.
Kenny Johnson leads the receiver room with 41 receptions for 600 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Raphael Williams has 39 receptions for 539 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, Pitt still owns one of the top run defenses in the nation, holding teams to 90.3 yards per game. Pitt ranks 32nd in total defense and sixth with 7.3 tackles for loss per game.
Pitt will play without starting defensive tackle Sean FitzSimmons for the second straight week.
Linebacker Rasheem Biles returned against Notre Dame after missing three games with an injury. Biles leads the Panthers with 62 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss to go along with 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Braylan Lovelace has recorded 61 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, while Kyle Louis has 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.
Georgia Tech
HEAD COACH
Brent Key (3rd)
Key is now in his third season as the head coach at Georgia Tech. He led the Yellow Jackets as the interim head coach in 2022 when they defeated the Panthers in the last meeting between the two schools.
Georgia Tech finished 7-6 in the first two seasons of Key’s tenure. The Yellow Jackets made back-to-back bowls for the first time since 2013-14.
GEORGIA TECH PREVIEW
Georgia Tech has just one loss on the season, which came on Nov. 1 at NC State, 48-36. Ranked No. 8 at the time, the Yellow Jackets trailed in the second quarter and could never overcome the deficit despite 559 yards of total offense. NC State racked up 583 yards of offense with 243 yards on the ground.
The Yellow Jackets were in danger of losing their second ACC game of the season last week against Boston College on the road. The Eagles led 28-17 late in the third quarter before Georgia tech scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the span of a minute and a half,. The Yellow Jackets still needed a late 23-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to defeat the Eagles 36-34.
Georgia Tech has one of the most imposing offenses in the country. The Yellow Jackets lead the nation with 496.7 yards per game. It’s a balanced approach with the Yellow Jackets registering more than 220 yards on the ground and through the air. It’s red zone offense converts at 95.3 percent of the time and limit teams to 0.70 sacks per game — both sixth-ranked nationally.
Senior quarterback Haynes King has been the centerpiece of the offense with an FBS-leading 340.7 total yards per game. King has completed 72.7 percent of his passes for 2,259 yards and 10 touchdowns to two interceptions. He has added 807 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Running back Malachi Hosley had added 625 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while Jamal Haynes has rushed for 454 yards and four scores. Eric Rivers leads the receivers with 38 receptions and 516 yards to go along with one receiving touchdown. Malik Rutherford has a team-high three receiver touchdowns.
Georgia Tech’s defense has been another story, allowing 409.2 yards per game — 102nd in the country. It has recorded just six turnovers on the season.
Linebacker Kyle Efford leads Georgia Tech’s defense with 66 tackles to go along with 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Defensive tackle Jordan Van Den Berg paces the Yellow Jackets with 8.5 tackles for loss per game, while Akelo Stone has racked up four sacks.
Spread
Pitt is a 2.5-point road underdog, according to Bet MGM. Pitt is +110 on the money line and the over/under is set at 60.5.
Game Time
Pitt and Georgia Tech is set to kick off Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EST in front of a sold out crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
TV
Pitt vs. Georgia Tech can be found on ESPN with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (reporter) calling the game.
Radio
Pitt vs. Georgia Tech will be live on 93.7 The Fan as well with Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst) and Larry Richert (sideline) calling the action.
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