Pitt Faces North Carolina in ACC Opener

Chris Rossetti

Chris Rossetti

Published September 23, 2016 4:16 am
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After a tough loss at Oklahoma State last week, Pitt looks to get back on the winning track when it travels to North Carolina for its ACC opener against the defending Coastal Division champion Tar Heels.

(Photo of Ejuan Price, Pitt defensive lineman. Photo courtesy of Pitt YouTube)

Watch Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi’s weekly media conference. Video courtesy of Pitt Athletics.

Pitt’s offense has been lethal in the early going averaging 36 points per game, but the Panthers defense has had its issues and is allowing 30.3 points per contest.

VIEW PITT GAME NOTES

Most of Pitt’s problems on defense have come in pass defense, as the Panthers (2-1) rank 10th in the nation in rushing defense allowing just 75.7 yards per game.

But teams have passed all over Pitt for 330.3 yards per contest.

The defense is led by the ACC’s reigning Defensive Line of the Week, Ejuan Price, who has 11 tackles, 7 1/2 of them for losses, with 4 1/2 sacks and six quarterback hurries.

Watch Price at Pitt’s weekly media conference. Video courtesy of Pitt Athletics.

Offensively, James Conner (281 yards rushing, 3 TDs; 9 catches, 105 yards, 2 TDs) and Quadree Henderson (9 catches, 113 yards, 1 TD; 153 yards rushing, 2 TDs) do a bulk of the damage.

Nathan Peterman is completing 58 percent of his passes (44 of 76) with six touchdowns and two picks but is averaging 11.4 per completion and 167.7 yards per game.

Pitt’s rushing defense will be challenged by a North Carolina attack that averages 6.0 yards per carry led by Elijah Hood (266 yards, 4 TDs) and T.J. Logan (175 yards, 4 TDs).

The Tar Heels can also throw the ball with quarterback Mitch Trubisky completing nearly 74 percent of his passes (67 of 91) for 853 yards and five touchdowns without throwing an interception.

EXTRA POINTS

  • Pitt is 2-1 all-time in ACC openers with both wins on the road
  • Narrow margins have been the rule in recent Pitt-UNC series history. The past five meetings have been decided by a combined 24 points, an average of 4.8 points per game.
  • Since 2013, North Carolina is the only team in the Coastal that Pitt has not beaten. The Panthers are 0-3 against the Tar Heels in ACC play.
  • This is the 11th meeting between Pitt and North Carolina in a series that dates back to 1974. Seven of the 10 games have been decided by single digits, including each of the last five contests. The Tar Heels lead the overall series, 7-3, and have won all three ACC encounters: 26-19 in Pittsburgh last season, 40-35 in Chapel Hill in 2014 and 34-27 in Pittsburgh in 2013

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