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

Pitt goes on a second straight road trip, this time to Charlottesville to face the Cavaliers.

Bronco Mendenhall’s program went 9-3 during the season before dropping their final two games against Clemson in the ACC title game and Florida in the Orange Bowl. Virginia should once again have a physical defense, like Pitt keeping them in any ACC game, but will be tasked with replacing quarterback Bryce Perkins.

Perkins accounted for over 6,200 yards and 47 touchdowns as a two year starter for the ‘Hoos and was their leading rusher. He was one of the most dynamic playmakers in the offense and if Virginia is going to repeat in the Coastal, Mendenhall will have to hope Brennan Armstrong or Mississippi State grad transfer Keytaon Thompson can come in and light a fire like Perkins did after transferring from Arizona State.

Pitt will see this as a game they need to win in order to make a jump to the next level, but the Panthers fall short on the road.

Record: 7-4, 4-3

A second straight ACC loss would knock the Panthers out of contention in the ACC Coastal race, but they should end the season and their recent two-game skid with a home win over rival Syracuse. After failing to meet high expectations in 2019 and posting a 5-7 record, Dino Babers’ program will look to 2020 as a chance to show 2018 was not a fluke.

Syracuse will once again be led by Tommy DeVito who showed glimpses of success after taking over from Eric Dungey. He had an inconsistent season and will struggle against Pitt’s strong defense. A win over Syracuse puts the Panthers at 8-4 for the year after getting off to a 4-0 start. The Panthers finish the year 5-4 in conference but each conference game outside of Georgia Tech should be considered a toss-up.

The Panthers have one of the nation’s top defenses and outside of Notre Dame and Pitt lines up favorably against its 2020 opponents.

Pitt has experience where it matters and if Kenny Pickett can take the step from game-manager to game-changer, it could be looking at its first 10-win season since 2009. Anything less than an 8-4 season should be considered a disappointment.

Final Record: 8-4, 5-3