Pitt at Wake Forest: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines
PITTSBURGH -- Despite sharing a conference for the past decade, the Pitt Panthers and Wake Forest have played just twice in school history and only once during the regular season.
Pitt has won both games, each of which became landmark victories in the history of the Pat Narduzzi - a 2018 victory in Week 11 that clinched the program's first ACC Coastal Division title and a 45-21 thrashing in the 2021 ACC Championship Game, Pitt's first outright conference title in school history.
The Panthers will try to defend their undefeated record against the Deacons, who are undermanned and riding a three-game losing streak, this week.
Game Info
Opponent: Wake Forest (3-3 overall, 0-3 ACC)
Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Location: Allegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Broadcast: ACC Network and 93.7 The Fan
Odds
This game is essentially a pick 'em, with the Panthers pegged as 1.5-point favorites over the Demon Deacons and owning a -105 advantage on the moneyline while their opponents sit at -115. The point total line has been set at 45.5.
Three Storylines
Big - Literally - Players Returning
The Pitt Panthers offensive line played perhaps it's best game of the year against Louisville, paving the way for 93 yards rushing (sack adjusted) - their most since week four against North Carolina - and allowing just one sack on Christian Veilleux, the fewest since a Week 3 contest against West Virginia in which they ran 36 times compared to just 20 passes.
This increasingly young unit has been getting better with each passing week and reinforcements could be on the way soon. Guard Blake Zubovic and center Jake Kradel did not play last week against Louisville but head coach Pat Narduzzi left the door open for both to return this week.
Should Zubovic play, he'll be one of the starting guards but for Kradel, his role is more up in the air. Given that guard, where the Panthers have been relying on a pair of inexperienced players in B.J. Williams and Jason Collier Jr., and the strong three starts Terrance Moore has turned in with Kradel out, he could shift over to guard to keep the talent and experience more evenly distributed.
Wake's Shaky QB Situation
The Demon Deacons appeared to have found a quarterback they could ride with last time out against Virginia Tech. After rattling off three strong performances in three wins to open the year, Mitch Griffs has struggled over the following two contests, completing 58% of his passes but gaining just an average of 190.5 total yards in the next two.
Griffs split time with fifth-year senior Michael Kern in Wake's last outing against the Hokies and Kern was by far the more efficient of the two, completing 14 of 22 passes for 166 yards and no touchdowns but no interceptions either, while Griffs went 8-17 for 61 yards, 15 rushing yards and one interception.
But Kern injured his shoulder late in the second half and will be out multiple weeks, according to head coach Dave Clawson, leaving Griffs as the presumed starter against Pitt. That is, until Clawson revealed that Griffs is also banged up and questionable to play this week.
That would leave redshirt sophomore Santino Marucci, who has attempted and completed one pass that lost three yards in his two-year career at Wake Forest. Safe to say, the quarterback situation is dicey for the Demon Deacons this week.
More Freshmen LBs Lined Up For Bigger Roles
You already know about Kenny Johnson, B.J. Williams, Ryan Bear, Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace - a quintet of freshmen that have broken into the rotations at their respective positions already this season. But there will be more names from their class to learn as the Panthers embrace a full-on youth movement.
Head coach Pat Narduzzi said that Pitt will start to integrate two more freshmen linebackers - Jordan Bass and Rasheem Biles - into the lineup this week when they travel down to Winston-Salem.
Biles has made some splash plays on special teams, namely a pair of blocked punts against North Carolina and West Virginia, that have earned him a shot at playing in the regular defense. And after earning just four snaps against Louisville, Bass will level up his snap count.
These two explosive athletes won't start or even be primary reserves but they will get a chance to prove what they can do against the Demon Deacons.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!
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