Can Notre Dame football avoid Week 8 upset against giant-killer Pitt?

Notre Dame football did enough to hold off Louisville but will need a stronger offensive showing if they are to avoid another marquee upset for Pitt.

Notre Dame has continued its rise up the college football rankings, entering a matchup against Louisville as the early projected four seed in the playoff. While the Irish head to Pittsburgh with a perfect 4-0 record, there’s still much to be seen from Brian Kelly’s program before putting Notre Dame in the same discussion with Clemson and Alabama.

The Irish began their temporary term as a full ACC member with a season opening win against Duke and after a week, looked to shake off any rust with a 52-0 win against USF. Notre Dame’s first road trip of the year at Wake Forest was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns and after an bye week, the Irish regrouped with a 42-26 win against Florida State.

There is still plenty to be seen from Notre Dame and a growing list of questions only continued to expand following a nervy 12-7 win against a 1-4 Louisville team this past weekend. Their win saw Notre Dame rise up to No. 3 in the AP Poll but after considering the past performances from Clemson and Alabama, there couldn’t be a bigger drop off in the early season.

While Notre Dame heads to Pittsburgh as an overwhelming favorite, the Irish will face what is their biggest test so far in the shortened season. The matchup against the Panthers will be Notre Dame’s first game outside of South Bend and while home-field advantage does not carry the same significance in prior years, Pitt is not a team top programs should take lightly.

The Panthers started their 2020 campaign with a strong 3-0 record, rising to as high as No. 21 in the AP Poll, but have slumped to three straight losses. After collapsing in the final seconds against NC State to a 30-29 loss, the Panthers travelled for their first game of the year and again lost by a single point in a 30-29 overtime game against Boston College.

After a 31-19 loss against No. 13 Miami, the Panthers will be keen to pick up a win before back to back road games at Florida State and Georgia Tech before ending the year with matchups against Virginia Tech and Clemson. A matchup against No. 3 Notre Dame could just be the best thing for the Panthers.

While Pitt has been inconsistent both this year and under Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers have established the role as college football’s giant killer. Pitt defeated eventual champion Clemson in Death Valley in 2016, defeated No. 2 Miami 24-14 at home in 2017 and No. 15 UCF 35-34 last year.

Notre Dame is aware of Pitt’s wild card ability after surviving a triple-overtime win in 2012 and a late-game comeback the last time these two faced off in South Bend during the 2018 season.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s ACC battle:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: 3:30 p.m ET
Venue: Heinz Field
TV: ABC
Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

The close call against Louisville combined with their first trip outside South Bend could be just the shot in the arm Notre Dame needs to avoid complacency. With NFL talent on the defensive line and at safety, cracking the Pitt defense will be Notre Dame’s toughest task to date. The Irish look to expose Pitt’s cornerbacks and should involve their tight ends for short to medium yard routes down the middle.

The Irish have been strong defensively but will need a strong performance from their young secondary if fourth-year starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett returns for the Panthers. He was ranked third in the nation in passing yards before missing the Miami game with an ankle injury and his absence this week would prove detrimental for Pitt’s chance at an upset.

The Panthers have continued to struggle establishing a rushing game and will not last long if they cannot continue the Notre Dame offense. With struggling offensive line play, Pitt will find it difficult controlling the clock and will need a strong defensive performance keeping Ian Book in check.

Prediction

Pitt’s chances of pulling off the upset will hinge on Kenny Pickett’s ankle. With Pickett, the Panthers have a shot in moving the ball throw the air and breaking a big play, or two. Without Pickett, the Panthers will face an uphill battle relying on freshman Joey Yellen.

Assuming Pickett starts, Pitt should go into the half within a score of the Irish. However, Notre Dame regroups behind Ian Book with back to back scores. A multi-possession lead allows the Irish to close the game out on the ground but fails to address if Notre Dame is a true title contender.

Final Score: Notre Dame 30, Pitt 17