Six Games to Watch During Pitt's Off Weekend

There are still plenty of games worth watching this weekend, even with the Pitt Panthers idle.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are idle this weekend and not in action until early next week, meaning they get to sit back and watch a crowded ACC battle each other for another week. 

As the Panthers try to make sense of a logjammed middle of the conference, here are six games to keep an eye on that could impact their place in the league and potential NCAA Tournament projections. 

Clemson at Syracuse 
12:00 pm EST, ESPN2

Pitt is tied in the ACC standings with Syracuse in that seventh-place logjam in the ACC standings and Clemson is only a half of a game back in 10th place. These are two teams with some higher internal expectations that aren't being met . The battle between Tigers backcourt-mates Chase Hunter and Orange guards Joe Girard and Judah Mintz is perhaps the most entertaining part of this matchup. 

Providence at Butler
2:00 pm EST, Fox Sports 1

Both of these teams currently sit on the bubble of Joe Lunardi's latest NCAA Tournament projections - Butler as one of the Last Four Byes and Providence as one of the Next Four Out. Pitt still sits well on the outskirts of the bubble but has fought back to earn some late consideration, so any bubble team falling is good news. It's likely more advantageous for the Panthers if the Friars lose and bow out from the top of the bubble. 

NC State at Wake Forest
4:00 pm EST, ACC Network

Wake Forest and NC State both sit just ahead of the Panthers at fourth and sixth, respectively, in the conference standings and are separated by just half of a game. Pitt has wins over both but still one more game to play against either. Just how big those games are will be determined in part by what these two teams do this weekend. 

The Demon Deacons could continue rising to the top on the strength of their undefeated home record or stunt their own momentum. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack have an opportunity to either fall further down the pecking order after losing four of their last six or get back on track with a massive win. 

No. 3 North Carolina at Miami 
4:00 pm EST, ESPN

Miami is the other team locked in step with Pitt in seventh place and, with the Hurricanes still fresh off of an embarrassing 60-38 loss to Virginia, they will seek a momentum swing and way out of the thee-way tie they're in currently. Seeing as Pitt's lost to Miami once already and doesn't play them again this season, they'll hope the Hurricanes fall far away and don't get involved in any tiebreaker scenarios at the end of the year. 

This one should feature points, points and more points with two explosive offenses squaring off in South Florida. So get your popcorn ready for a midafternoon shootout. 

Virginia at Florida State
7:45 pm EST, The CW

The Panthers get the weekend off before traveling to Charlottesville, Virginia to face the Cavaliers. They are riding a seven-game winning streak, the longest in the ACC, and a 23-game home winning, which is the longest in the country, both of which have vaulted them into second place in the league standings. But Florida State has proven to be no slouch in conference play and has postseason aspirations of their own. 

So what kind of team will await Pitt at John Paul Jones Arena next week? A group stunned and reeling from an upset on the road? Or one still riding high after extending their league-best winning streak?

Kansas State at No. 21 BYU
10:00 pm EST, ESPN2

Kansas State played their way onto the bubble with a thrilling upset over No. 7 Kansas in their home stadium "The Octagon," and they currently sit as one of Joe Lunardi's "Considered" teams. Pitt was in that same position at one point earlier this season and it would help their budding NCAA Tournament case if the Wildcats fall back down to earth. 

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