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Pitt Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020 season

By David Glancy

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 02: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in action during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 02: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in action during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Shocky Jacques-Louis, Pitt football (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Prediction. 7. 880. 33. 866

After a tough two-game stretch at Miami and against Notre Dame, the Panthers get a visit from Geoff Collins’ Georgia Tech program.

After 11 seasons of Paul Johnson’s spread option offense, the Yellow Jackets finished 3-9 under Collins. Collins headed to Atlanta after one year as the Temple head coach and had the major challenge of bringing Johnson’s program back into the modern era of college football.

Georgia Tech struggled in their first season under transition allowing an average of 32.4 points per game and ranking 124 out of 130 in points scored. After a full year of recruiting, the Yellow Jackets should be able to start putting the 2019 season behind them but will once again struggle in ACC play.

A still in transition Tech team will again struggle to put up points against the Pitt defense and the offense is due for a breakout game.

Record: 5-2, 2-1

17. 866. 16. 804. Prediction

Pitt football missed their big upset opportunity at home against Notre Dame but may get a chance to knock off a potential top 25 team when they head to Tallahassee to take on Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles.

Norvell left Memphis after posting a 38-15 record and is coming off a Cotton Bowl appearance. He is taking over a Florida State program coming off back-to-back losing and plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball.

While the Seminoles should have a talented defense led by defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, Norvell is going to have to light a spark at the quarterback position. Florida State won’t look like they did when they last played Pitt in Jameis Winston‘s debut, going on to finish 14-0 along with a national championship. Florida State has had one of the worst offensive lines in the country and will led by either James Blackman, Jordan Travis or a true freshman.

Blackman has struggled to breakout behind a poor line and has dealt with injuries while Travis is not the established passer needed to thrive in Norvell’s offense. The first-year coach may have things clicking by Oct. 31, but this looks to be a favorable matchup for Pat Narduzzi’s defense.

Record: 6-2, 3-1

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