Oct. 03, 2024 10:35 AM EST

Pittsburgh Looks To Stay Unbeaten When It Visits North Carolina In Acc Play

By The Associated Press
Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi, left, celebrates with quarterback Eli Holstein, right, after defeating West Virginia in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed) Matt Freed, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi, left, celebrates with quarterback Eli Holstein, right, after defeating West Virginia in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton (28) gets wrapped up by James Madison defensive lineman Eric O'Neill (99) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Daniel Lin/Daily News-Record via AP)
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Pittsburgh (4-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) at North Carolina (3-2, 0-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Pittsburgh by 3.

Series record: UNC leads 12-5.

What’s at stake?

PIttsburgh is chasing its first 5-0 start since 1991 as it opens ACC play, as well as its first win in eight tries in Chapel Hill. North Carolina is trying to regroup after two weeks that have shaken the program, first in a 70-50 home loss to James Madison of the Sun Belt Conference and then blowing a 20-point lead in a 21-20 loss at rival Duke.

Key matchup

Pitt's offense against UNC's reeling defense. The Panthers have thrived under new coordinator Kade Bell, who was previously at Western Carolina. They're averaging 48.5 points per game, fifth-most in Bowl Subdivision ranks. They're facing a UNC defense that had gotten off to a solid start under first-year coordinator Geoff Collins — the former Temple and Georgia Tech head coach — before the JMU and Duke losses. The Blue Devils had 297 yards after halftime in their comeback and averaged 6.4 yards per rush after managing just 2.1 in the first half.

Players to watch

Pittsburgh: RB Desmond Reid. The Western Carolina transfer has been a revelation since following Bell to Pitt. Reid sat out a blowout victory over Youngstown State but is averaging an ACC-best 188.0 yards from scrimmage. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Reid is also averaging a healthy 8.5 yards per touch.

UNC: RB Omarion Hampton. He is the engine of UNC's offense, ranking fifth in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by averaging 131.6 yards on the ground. The preseason Associated Press All-American is tied for 16th in FBS with six rushing touchdowns.

Facts & figures

This has been a close series, with 12 of 17 games decided single-digit margins. ... North Carolina won the last two meetings by almost identical scores: 42-24 in 2022 at home, 41-24 on in 2023 on the road. ... Pitt freshman QB Eli Holstein is in the top 25 nationally in total offense (343.8 yards per game/sixth), touchdown passes (12, 11th) and passer rating (172.3, 15th). ... Holstein has topped 300 yards passing in three of four starts and ran for 93 yards and two scores against Youngstown State. ... The Panthers have the most sacks in the FBS since the start of the 2019 season and rank 26th nationally this year (2.75 sacks per game).

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