Panthers finally hit the road
The Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1) travel for the first time this season in Week 4 as they head to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face the North Carolina Tar Heels (0-2).
Pitt is fresh off a 24-19 win over Georgia Tech in the Panthers’ first ACC contest of the young campaign. As for North Carolina, the Tar Heels have a pair of road losses to Cal and East Carolina on its resume. UNC was slated to host UCF in Week 3 but had the game cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.
That makes Week 4 the home opener for North Carolina.
Should Pittsburgh prevail over the Tar Heels in Week 4, it would be Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi’s first 3-1 start at the helm since 2015 — his debut season at the school. The last time Pittsburgh started 2-0 in ACC play was also in 2015.
Pittsburgh’s win over Georgia Tech showcased plenty of positive trends for the Panthers. Pitt was penalized just four times for 38 yards against the Yellow Jackets after committing 14 in their loss to Penn State.
The Panthers’ defense has also shown a penchant for the big play in 2018. Pittsburgh has 20 tackles for a loss through three games, five more than it did through three games in 2017.
But North Carolina has had Pittsburgh’s number as the Tar Heels have won the last five meetings over the Panthers.
“Obviously we got North Carolina, who we’ve struggled with in the past,” Narduzzi said.
“And, again, as you guys know, I don’t look in the past, I look really the last three years, and really what’s happened, and how they’ve been able to squeak it out at the end. It’s always been a close game. We know it’s going to be a ballgame this weekend. We’ve got to come to play against a great football team. I think Larry Fedora does a great job, how he does it on both sides of the football.”
