The last time the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets traveled to Pittsburgh, it was 1920 and the Panthers earned a 10-3 victory. Fast forward 94 years later, and football doesn't look that much different for Georgia Tech, as the team will bring its triple-option offense led by quarterback Justin Thomas to face Pittsburgh's stout defense.
How to watch Georgia Tech vs. Pittsburgh: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Georgia Tech will travel to face Pittsburgh in a game that will be crucial in deciding the ACC Coastal Division champ.
Whether Pittsburgh employs an option-style offense of its own on Saturday will be a point worth watching. In a 21-16 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Panthers added a new wrinkle to the team's struggling offense by letting quarterback Chad Voytik run a read option. It worked excellently, but head coach Paul Chryst has been slow to commit to a future offense that features more read option.
If Pittsburgh is able to find offensive success against Georgia Tech, it could spell a third-consecutive conference loss for the Yellow Jackets. That would be devastating in the ACC’s Coastal Division, which features zero teams with more than two conference victories and zero winless teams, either. The winner of Saturday’s tilt will be tied at the top of the division with three conference victories.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU, Adam Amin, John Congemi
Radio: 93.7 The Fan (Pittsburgh), 93.7FM/680AM (Georgia Tech)
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Our blogs on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh are unranked in both the AP and Coaches’ Polls. The Yellow Jackets are 2-2 in ACC play with a 5-2 overall record, while Pittsburgh is 2-1 in conference and 4-3 overall.
Vegas: Pittsburgh opened as a 4-point favorite, but that line has since slimmed to 3 points. The over/under is set at 54.5.
Weather forecast: 67 degrees and partly cloudy
Two things at stake
The winner will remain in the thick of the chase for the Coastal Division title and, in all likelihood, a shot at Florida State in the ACC title game.
The loser will need a lot of help to stick in the race.
One big matchup
The Georgia Tech triple option vs. the Pittsburgh defensive line: The Panthers no longer have Aaron Donald wreaking havoc in the middle of the defensive front, but the line has managed to find success anyway. While Virginia managed to find running room against Pittsburgh, no one else has had too much luck moving the Panthers off the line of scrimmage.
Pittsburgh ranks 118th in the FBS in tackles for loss, but top-20 in total, scoring, passing and rushing defense. The team’s ability to hold the line of scrimmage will be especially tested against the triple option of the Yellow Jackets, which has netted the team more than 300 yards rushing per game.
Further reading
For full coverage of Georgia Tech, visit From The Rumble Seat. For extended coverage of Pittsburgh, check out Cardiac Hill.
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