No. 20 North Carolina State (5-1, 3-0 ACC) at Pittsburgh (2-4, 0-2), Saturday, Noon ET (ACC Network)
Line: North Carolina State by 11.
Series record: Pitt leads 5-3-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The Wolfpack face a true “trap game” as they try to keep their momentum going heading into the most pivotal part of their season. N.C. State visits No. 16 Notre Dame in two weeks before hosting No. 2 Clemson. The Panthers are winless against Power Five teams this season. Pitt needs a win to breathe life into its hope of making a bowl for a 10th straight season.
KEY MATCHUP
Pitt offensive line vs. N.C. State defensive line. The Panthers expected to rely heavily on a veteran offensive line and their running game to take some of the pressure off a continually unsettled quarterback situation. It hasn’t happened. Pitt is averaging just 116.8 yards per game on the ground, 107th in the country. The Panthers have also allowed 12 sacks, 110th in the FBS. N.C. State is eighth in the country against the run (90.7 yards per game) and 19th in sacks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
N.C. State: TE Jaylen Samuels. The do-it-all senior is the only active player in the ACC with at least 15 touchdowns rushing and 15 downs receiving. Samuels is averaging 8.3 receptions per game.
Pittsburgh: S Jordan Whitehead. The junior has made up for lost time since returning from a three-game suspension. He’s averaging a team-high 6.3 tackles since making his 2017 debut while also averaging 44 yards rushing during spot duty as a running back.
FACTS & FIGURES
This is the first meeting between the two schools since the Panthers joined the ACC in 2013. … N.C. State last played in Pittsburgh in 1987, a 34-0 victory. … N.C. State is 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since 2002. … Finley has thrown 288 passes without an interception, the second-longest streak in ACC history. … The Wolfpack have scored a touchdown on their opening drive five times in six games. … The Panthers are 0-5 in their last five games against Power Five schools. … QB Ben DiNucci will make his second career start. DiNucci has thrown for 442 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while appearing in five games.
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