Pitt football is legitimate threat to win ACC Coastal division in 2021

How will Pitt football fare in 2021?

Pitt’s schedule is a tale of two halves. Pitt has their soft non-conference slate first and then takes on the weaker side of the ACC. The back-end of the schedule includes dates with Clemson, North Carolina, Miami, and Virginia.

Pitt is always a dangerous and chaotic team to play, but they will have to earn another trip to the ACC championship. Pitt played every game other than Clemson and Notre Dame close last season and they will need better late-game execution to improve their record.

• Game 1: UMass (W) — UMass is going to be one of the worst teams in the country and it will show in the first game.
• Game 2: at Tennessee (W) — This is not as tough of a game as one would think, because Tennessee is going through another full-blown rebuild.
• Game 3: Western Michigan (W) — The Broncos are sleepers in the MAC, but they won’t give Pitt much trouble.
• Game 4: New Hampshire (W) — This might be an easier game than UMass. Maybe.
• Game 5: at Georgia Tech (L) — The Panthers ACC opener will be against a Georgia Tech team that is looking to show improvement in Geoff Collins’ third season and I think the Yellow Jackets can pull the mild upset.
• Game 6: at Virginia Tech (L) — I think the Hokies could implode this season, but they are a tough team to beat at home.
• Game 7: Clemson (L) — Pitt pulled a shocker over the Tigers in 2016, but Clemson has dominated them since that game and that will continue.
• Game 8: Miami (L) — I think Pitt is fully capable of winning this game, but the Hurricanes offense will be too much for Pitt.
• Game 9: at Duke (W) — Pitt breaks into the ACC win column by beating the Blue Devils.
• Game 10: North Carolina (L) — Another home game with a chance to pull a big upset, but I think Pitt falls short again.
• Game 11: Virginia (W) — Pitt will become bowl eligible with a win over an underrated Virginia team.
• Game 12: at Syracuse (W) — Pitt closes the season out with a win over a bad Syracuse team.

Prediction: 7-5, 3-5 ACC

Pitt is likely to outperform this projection, but they never seem to get over that 7-8 win hump. Pickett is talented, but he still has never flashed elite upside and with the losses on defense, I think Pitt will have another good, but not great season.