Pitt vs Boston College: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers will look to close out the home slate of their 2023 season on a high note as they host Boston College on Senior Night at Acrisure Stadium.
The Panthers are riding their second four-game losing streak, tied for the longest losing streak of Pat Narduzzi's tenure as head coach, but are aiming to play spoiler on the Eagles' resurgent season.
Game Info
Opponent: Boston College (6-4 overall, 3-3 ACC)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Acrisure Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: ACC Network and 93.7 The Fan
Odds
Pitt opened as a two-point favorite over Boston College at Acrisure Stadium and the line has since shifted to a three-point spread in favor of the Panthers. Pitt is also a -152 favorite on the moneyline, to +126 for the Eagles and the point total line has been set at 46.
The QB Question
Pat Narduzzi opened the discussion following last week's loss to Syracuse and declined to close it during his lone media availability of the week. The Panthers have not yet announced a starting quarterback for this game, meaning either Christian Veilleux will reprise his role as starter or second-stringer Nate Yarnell will make his first start since Week 3 of 2022, when he beat Western Michigan.
Veilleux has struggled in recent weeks, turning the ball over seven times while throwing just two touchdowns and completing just 49% of his passes. Yarnell, meanwhile, has been efficient in very limited action, completing five of eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in his two appearances this season.
Narduzzi will either get a jump on the 2024 quarterback competition or stick with the status quo. We'll know for sure at kickoff.
Can The Run Defense Respond?
Rushing defense has been a hallmark of good and great Narduzzi defenses of the past but the 2023 edition of the Panthers has fallen well short of that ethos, especially as of late.
Pitt ranks 102nd nationally and 11th in the ACC, allowing 176 yards rushing per game and is coming off a game in which they allowed Syracuse to run for 382 yards on 66 attempts an average of 5.8 yards per tote. And that was with a former quarterback turned tight end taking the bulk of the carries.
They'll face a diverse rushing attack from the Eagles, who feature four different rushers who have amassed 250 yards or more this season. They average 4.6 yards per carry, which is tied for the 36th-most nationally and the sixth-most in the ACC.
A better effort on the ground will start with containing quarterback Thomas Castellanos, one of the most electric dual-threat players in the conference, if not the country. If Pitt can get back to their roots
Lingering Injury Questions
Pitt was far from perfectly healthy when they arrived in New York City to play Syracuse last week and left even more banged up after a physical game against the Orange.
Backup Tight end Karter Johnson and starting offensive guard B.J. Williams did not travel with the team last weekend. Then during the game, defensive tackles Devin Danielson and Tyler Bentley and tight end Gavin Bartholomew went down with undisclosed injuries of various kinds.
Time is certainly not on the Panthers' side as they got just four days to rest, recover and prepare to take on the Eagles. Odds are they won't be at full strength for this one.
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