00:00We got a key one today, and it feels like another elimination Saturday game as you take a look, Joe, at Pitt.
00:05It really is, and you look at Georgia Tech, they're a dominant home team right now.
00:09They got pushed to the limit last week against Boston College as an 18-and-a-half-point road favorite.
00:15They had to kick a game-winning field goal prevail in that matchup, 36-34, but they are undefeated at home.
00:23They're 5-0, have won those games by an average margin of victory of 22.2 points per game.
00:28They're 4-1 against the number.
00:30The only game they didn't cover is the game against Temple where they lay 23-and-a-half and won it by 21 with a backdoor cover with about a minute left.
00:38But you have a dominant rush attack by Georgia Tech, averaging 224 yards on the ground, 5.9 yards per rush,
00:46and they're going up against one of the best rush defenses in the ACC in Pittsburgh,
00:51allowing only 90 rushing yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry, Donnie.
00:57You have the edge of quarterback, Haynes King is one of the most dynamic, dual threat.
01:02He leads the team in rushing with 800 rushing yards, 5-and-a-half yards per carry, multiple touchdowns.
01:07He's accounted now for over 25 touchdowns through the air and on the ground.
01:12Can that Pitt defense contain him?
01:14Here's the factor.
01:16Last week, they got abused by a bigger, more physical team in Notre Dame.
01:20They were 0-13 on third-down conversions.
01:22Can they win the turnover battle number one, and can they convert on third-down?
01:27Because Georgia Tech is averaging 51% of third-down opportunities.
01:31All they do is move the chains and score.
01:34This game is intriguing to me.
01:36I think it is lower scoring, but I'm going to take a shot.
01:39I like Pittsburgh.
01:40I like Norduzzi.
01:41I think their defense is a little bit better.
01:44I think they step up and get the outright win.
01:46You take a look at the opening line here, at least at FanDuel, Joe, 3-and-a-half points.
01:49Now it's dipping down to 2-and-a-half at most outlets on game day now.
01:53Pittsburgh there, total 61-and-a-half down to 59-and-a-half.
01:56But also, let me ask you this question.
01:58Norduzzi had some very interesting comments last week going up against Notre Dame,
02:01basically saying this doesn't even matter.
02:02It's a non-conference game.
02:04We win our conference.
02:05Things will take care of business and probably make it into the college football playoff.
02:08How do you feel that played last week getting smoked,
02:10and then your basically biggest game of the year, which is actually this week?
02:13Is that a, hey, we didn't worry about last week.
02:15We were preparing more for this week?
02:16Or is that one of those where I like to look at like a Mike Norvell?
02:19Hey, you know what?
02:20Things don't go our way, and this doesn't matter.
02:22We're going to tank it.
02:22And then your team doesn't respond.
02:24Yeah, I think it was a bad look for him.
02:26Again, but again, in a bounce-back spot with a conference game,
02:30you could have erased a loss to Notre Dame.
02:32You would think that playing at home, they would step up, marquee matchup.
02:36They could have been an at-large team, even if they, let's say,
02:39didn't get their way into the ACC championship game.
02:42That win over Notre Dame would have catapulted them into national recognition.
02:47They didn't get it.
02:47They fell behind 14-0.
02:49They allowed the drive.
02:51They get the turnover, the pick, which led to points,
02:54and then all of a sudden it was lights out for Heinz Schoel in that offense.
02:58But you have a quarterback that's still a legitimate quarterback
03:03and could challenge that defense over the top.
03:05When you see Georgia Tech, the game that they got exposed was C.J.
03:09Bailey and NC State.
03:11They put up 40, I think, 8 points.
03:12They won that game 48-36.
03:15Bailey throws for 340, multiple touchdowns.
03:19Heinz Schoel and this offense have the ability to do that.
03:22I still think Pitt bounces back with a better effort,
03:25and I think Pitt's defense is better than what NC State was a couple weeks ago.
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