Pitt at Notre Dame: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines
SOUTH BEND -- The Pitt Panthers suffered a gutting loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons last week and the road only got harder from there.
The Panthers kick off a stretch of back-to-back games against top-15 ranked opponents with a trip to South Bend, Indiana to renew a series with the Fighting Irish that stands as one of the longest-running in both schools' storied histories.
Game Info
Opponent: No. 14 Notre Dame (5-2 overall)
Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Location: Notre Dame Stadium; South Bend, Indiana
Broadcast: NBC and 93.7 The Fan
Odds
The Fighting Irish are 20.5-point favorites over Pitt, whose moneyline odds sit at +800 vs. -1,350 for Notre Dame The point total line has been set at 45, per Action Network.
Three Storylines
Pitt Needs Quick Fixes For Run Defense
The Pitt defense has not been as stout against the run this season as in years past.
Four of the six FBS opponents the Panthers have faced this season ran for 150 yards or more and four have rushed for multiple touchdowns. Pitt is allowing 3.1 yards per carry and an average of 1.6 rushing touchdowns per game, the second-highest rate of the Narduzzi era at Pitt.
They own the sixth-best rushing defense in the ACC entering Week 9 and are coming off a game in which they surrendered 172 net rushing yards on an average of 4.2 yards per tote to Wake Forest, who ranks 10th in the league in rushing offense.
The Panthers feel they have some solutions in line - defensive line coach Charlie Partridge hopes to see more from his defensive ends against outside runs and head coach Pat Narduzzi wants the same from his linebackers -but those adjustments will be put to the test against Audric Estime (787 yards and nine rushing touchdowns) and a Notre Dame offense that averages 165 yards on the ground per game and 5.0 yards per carry.
Lingering Injury Questions for Pitt
The Panthers are slowly getting more whole after injuries have decimated their ranks during the first half of the regular season, but there are some open questions coming into this game.
Starting offensive linemen Jake Kradel and Blake Zubovic made their returns from undisclosed injuries against Wake Forest but didn't play until the second half Narduzzi said Kradel is feeling better this week but it remains to see how much either will play.
Pitt's think linebacking corps was missing a starter - Solomon DeShields - and two reserves - Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace - when they took on the Demon Deacons. Narduzzi provided an update on Lovelace, who he said is progressing but could be on a pitch count this week. DeShields and Louis will be names to monitor as the Panthers warm up this afternoon.
Expect a Classic
The Panthers are almost three- full-touchdown underdogs to Notre Dame but history indicates the game will not end with these two teams so separated.
Notre Dame is Pitt's fourth-most commonly played opponent in school history. The Fighting Irish own a 48-21 advantage in the all-time series but the recent history of these matchups has been full of close contests.
11 of the last 13 matchups between the Panthers and Irish have been decided by one score and two have gone to three overtimes or more.
Pitt hasn't won at Notre Dame Stadium since 2008 but each of their last six trips to face the Fighting Irish on the road have ended in a one-score game.
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