Five Games for Pitt Fans to Watch During Off Weekend

The Pitt Panthers don't play this week but there's plenty still on the line in other games.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are enjoying some rest this weekend. They are on their scheduled bye weekend and get six days in between their last contest - a marquee win over North Carolina - and their next game against Louisville. 

Even though the Panthers aren't in action, there are still some key games to follow that will impact their standing in the race for the NCAA Tournament and seeding in the ACC. 

No. 6 Virginia at Virginia Tech, 12:00 PM, ESPN2

The Cavaliers sit second in the ACC, just a half of a game up on the Panthers in the standings. A loss today would move the Panthers into sole possession of second place by virtue of a head-to-head win. It will be a hostile environment at Cassel Coliseum for this rivalry game and the struggling Hokies are favored to knock off their in-state rivals. 

No. 15 TCU at Oklahoma State, 2:00 PM, ESPN+

The Cowboys have rallied from their 1-4 start in conference play to become a contender for the Big Dance. They played Kansas to a one-possession game on the road and took down Iowa State at home. These giant killers have another of the Big 12's Goliaths in town in the TCU Horned Frogs and will have a chance to move up and encroach on Pitt's standing right above the bubble by notching another marquee win at home, where they are 9-2 this season. 

No. 23 Miami at No. 20 Clemson, 3:00 PM, ACC Network

The game of the day in the ACC will feature two football schools. One of the few contests in America that pit ranked opponents against one another will take place in Clemson, South Carolina. Pitt fans are Hurricane fans today - not only because they want their home win over Miami to look more impressive - but because a Tigers' loss would put them just a half a game back of first place in the conference with eight games to go. 

Missouri at Mississippi State, 6:00 PM, SEC Network

The Tigers are almost a mirror image of the Panthers - experienced, talented offensively and in position to make the NCAA Tournament as a middle seed. They're on the road today against Mississippi State and Panther fans can root for the Bulldogs to defend home court, because a Missouri loss would give Pitt room to move up. The Tigers were a seventh seed in Lunardi's last bracket while the Panthers sat on the nine line. 

Villanova at Creighton, 7:00 PM, Fox

The Blue Jays are another seventh seed that the Panthers could leap. Losing to an improved, but still struggling Villanova team would drop Creighton to the bubble and give Pitt a chance to leapfrog them up to an easier side of the bracket. As of right now, the Jays would play New Mexico in the first round and UCLA if they win. That's an easier path to the Sweet 16 than what the Panthers have in front of them - a date against Michigan State in the first round then a possible matchup with first-seeded Alabama in the second. 

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