Pitt is 7-0 for the primary time since 1982 and is occurring the highway this week for an enormous ACC sport at SMU. SMU is favored by a few landing.
Pitt’s speedy one-year turnaround has been led by a very revamped offense that enters the week averaging 40.8 factors per sport, the sixth-highest quantity in the complete nation.
The switch portal has performed a giant function in that enchancment, with beginning quarterback Eli Holstein and operating again Desmond Reid serving to to remodel the offense. Holstein, a redshirt freshman switch from Alabama, has been the largest issue and enters the week with 1,805 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and solely 5 interceptions. He has additionally made an impression on the bottom with 286 yards speeding and three touchdowns.
The priority for Pitt, nevertheless, is whether or not or not he’ll have the ability to play. He was injured late in Pitt’s blowout win over Syracuse, and his availability is just not but recognized. If he can not go, Nate Yarnell would get the beginning, which might be a big drop-off for the Pitt offense.
SMU’s offense is equally dynamic, coming into Saturday’s sport averaging 39.1 factors per sport whereas having performed a barely harder schedule than Pitt has thus far.
SMU boasts a dominant operating sport that’s averaging over 200 yards per sport. Brashard Smith is main the best way with 745 yards and 6.4 yards per carry, whereas quarterback Kevin Jennings has additionally rushed for 321 yards.
Pitt’s protection is coming off a dominant sport towards Syracuse’s Kyle McCord the place they intercepted him 5 occasions, returning three of them for touchdowns.
The way to watch No. 18 Pitt at No. 20 SMU
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(Photograph of Kevin Jennings: Grant Halverson / Getty Pictures)