ACC Power Rankings Week 12: Miami, Georgia Tech Move Up, Duke, Clemson Fall

Nov 15, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Chad Voytik (16) with the ball in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Obviously, Pittsburgh has to win out to have any shot at a bowl game, and the final two games are Syracuse at home and Miami on the road. Conventional wisdom would make the Panthers obvious choices to win the first game and lose the second. This team is not one that fits the conventional wisdom mold though. So anything can happen.

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11

Pittsburgh Panthers 4-6 (2-4)

Last week: Lost to North Carolina Tar Heels 40-35
Last rank: 8

It’s probably unfair to put the Pittsburgh Panthers below the Virginia Cavaliers in our ACC Power Rankings, especially when you consider the talent level of those two schools, which clearly favors Pitt.

But if you take into account the fact that the Panthers have let their inexperience get the best of them throughout the season, including on Saturday in the loss to UNC, it becomes a lot easier to have them this low.

Paul Chryst’s team has talent at the right spots with superstars like James Conner at running back and developing talent like Chad Voytik at quarterback. And the future is incredibly bright for the Panthers. They have just been far too inconsistent this year because of how incredibly young they are. That inconsistency is what’s created wins against Boston College and losses to Akron. And it gives no indication to where they’ll go at the end of the season.

Obviously, Pittsburgh has to win out to have any shot at a bowl game, and the final two games are Syracuse at home and Miami on the road. Conventional wisdom would make the Panthers obvious choices to win the first game and lose the second. This team is not one that fits the conventional wisdom mold though. So anything can happen.