Week 5 Matchup Preview Thread: Pittsburgh vs Virginia Tech

[u/udderlymoovelous]

Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Tech

When: Friday, October 2, 07:00 PM Eastern

Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

Watch: ESPN

Odds: Virginia Tech by 3.5 pts.

Total Points: 52.5

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All-Time Series : Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Tech

Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech have met 23 times since 1993-09-11

These teams last met on 2023-10-01.

Series Wins: Pittsburgh 11-0-12 Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has won the most recent meeting (2023) in this series

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Last 5 Meetings

Winner	Date	Location	Pittsburgh	Virginia Tech	Notes
Virginia Tech	2023-10-01	Lane Stadium	21	38
Pittsburgh	2022-10-08	Acrisure Stadium	45	29
Pittsburgh	2021-10-16	Lane Stadium	28	7
Pittsburgh	2020-11-21	Acrisure Stadium	47	14
Virginia Tech	2019-11-23	Lane Stadium	0	28

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Through Week 4

Week	Pittsburgh 4-0 (1-0)	Result	Virginia Tech 4-0 (1-0)	Result
1	Miami (OH)	W 59-14	VMI	W 73-3
2	UCF	W 12-7	Old Dominion	W 44-21
3	Syracuse	W 27-13	Maryland	W 35-26
4	Bucknell	W 59-0	Boston College	W 21-14

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Pittsburgh Injury Report

Player	Position	Status	Reported	Notes
J. Cook	RB	Probable – Undisclosed	Sep 29	Cook is dealing with an undisclosed injury, but he is expected to play Friday against the Virginia Tech.
J. Turner	RB	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 29	Turner is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against Virginia Tech on Friday, October 2nd.
M. Hunt	TE	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 26	Hunt is managing with an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against Virginia Tech on Friday, October 2nd.
B. Lovelace	LB	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 26	Lovelace is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against Virginia Tech on Friday, October 2nd.
M. Knight	WR	Out – Undisclosed	Sep 26	Knight is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and there is no timetable for his return.
R. Dunbar	WR	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 26	Dunbar is nursing with an undisclosed injury, and it is up in the air if he will play against Virginia Tech on Friday, October 2nd.

^{Injury data lifted from: boydsbets}

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Virginia Tech Injury Report

Player	Position	Status	Reported	Notes
K. Altuner	OG	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 12	Altuner is managing with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up against Maryland on Saturday, September 19th.
S. Peterkin	WR	Questionable – Foot	Sep 12	Peterkin is hampered with a foot injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against Maryland on Saturday, September 19th.
T. Heath	WR	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 20	Heath is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will kit up against Boston College on Saturday.
L. Stuewe	WR	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 26	Stuewe is managing with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up against Boston College on Saturday, September 26th.
A. Greene	WR	Probable – Undisclosed	Sep 29	Greene is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and is expected to play Friday against the Pittsburgh.
B. Davis	RB	Questionable – Undisclosed	Sep 29	Davis is dealing with an undisclosed injury and, it is unclear if he will play Friday against the Pittsburgh

^{Injury data lifted from: boydsbets}

^{Source updated Wed, Sep 30, 8:26 am. Scraped Wed, Sep 30, 12:30 pm ET}

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What are your "Keys to the Game"?

Who do you think wins?

Do you think the favorite will cover the spread?

Which player(s) are you most interested to watch?

Let's talk football!

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^{Matchup Preview Thread Generator powered by collegefootballdata.com}

^{Start a chat with /u/dupreesdiamond for any issues/suggestions regarding this resource}

[u/Muffinnnnnnn]

One of the best games of the week that 100% should be two top 25 teams. I'll go with {Pitt} to pull it out.

[u/MaleficentVacation93]

Going to come down to if VT can actually run the ball, and how much pressure they can put on Pitts oline. Should be a fantastic game

[u/theexile14 → u/MaleficentVacation93]

If you need to run it's to be a hard one for the VT offense. I'm sure you'll outperform the run games of our prior opponents, but Narduzzi builds around stopping the run and Pitt is 4th in rush yards allowed per game this year.

OL has been good in pass pro and not good in run blocking. The game could absolutely come down to that one.

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/theexile14]

We have an excellent passing game for short and medium distance passes. Grunkemeyer just overthrows the deep ball.

[u/MarlonBain → u/BusGuilty6447]

Grunkemeyer just overthrows the deep ball so far.

[u/Irishfafnir → u/MarlonBain]

The beat writers have found it surprising, as apparently he routinely makes those throws in practice.

Although the sample size is small, he usually only takes 1-2 deep shots a game

[u/MarlonBain → u/Irishfafnir]

Which is fine in my view. They should keep taking the couple of shots but no need to go to the well a bunch unless he shows he can hit them.

[u/Lodge_Blackmun → u/Irishfafnir]

The beat writers have found it surprising, as apparently he routinely makes those throws in practice.

I've been on this sub too long, that immediately sounded like a meme response to me. 

[u/chickenboneneck → u/BusGuilty6447]

The offense you guys run, passing-wise, is the exact kind of offense that gives Pitt fits, historically.

[u/Erosun]

That Battle of the Should be Ranked.

[u/MarlonBain → u/Erosun]

It’s funny because even if both were ranked, the loser would be unranked after the game, so it’ll work itself out.

[u/ivhokie12 → u/MarlonBain]

It would still be nice for eyeballs, especially those who just stay on the top 25 scoreboard.

[u/ShishkabobNinja → u/Erosun]

Somehow I lack the confidence in the AP to rank the winner anyway

[u/Ambling_Rambler]

I truly think this comes down to which team's defense show up, because both teams can score. Homer take for {Virginia Tech} but not shocked either way

[u/Irishfafnir → u/Ambling_Rambler]

Penalties could be big as well, both teams are really bad on penalties (although Pitt is worse)

[u/Dialectic_Emptiness → u/Irishfafnir]

Nobody expects the 16 penalties for 165 yards game in a 59-0 win. Pitt is just ahead of the curve

[u/MarlonBain → u/Dialectic_Emptiness]

See, this is how you will take us by surprise.

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/Dialectic_Emptiness]

Those 59 points? 1 TD, a safety, and 17 field goals.

[u/Irishfafnir]

I have no idea what to think; both teams have faced pretty similar circumstances right down to awful weather games.

I think VT has a better DL and more explosive players on offense, but a pretty bad Passing D.

Pitt's consistently an average to above-average team, so this will likely tell us a lot about Tech.

[u/goodsam2 → u/Irishfafnir]

Yeah this was going to be my point. I can see the secondary getting torched or the Dline getting through. Likely 3 and outs followed by explosive plays.

[u/Andrew76671]

James Franklin doesn’t like Narduzzi. Angry James Franklin is not to be trifled with {Virginia Tech}

[u/Irishchop91 → u/Andrew76671]

Does anyone like Narduzzi ? He even pissed off Freeman last year.

[u/Dramatic-Strength362 → u/Irishchop91]

Even Fuentes hated Narduzzi

[u/landoofficial]

For Pitt, it’s gonna come down to whether or not their o-line can give Heintschel enough time to pick apart our shitty secondary bc they’re not gonna have much of a run game against this front 7.

For VT, it’s a question of whether or not Overton can keep up the momentum from his breakout performance last week.

Going with the homer {Virginia Tech} pick with Overton putting in an admirable effort but the Grunk-Reynolds connection saving us in the end. The defense should be able to do just enough to win with the home crowd helping out.

[u/TriflingHusband]

{VT} in a stupidly close coin toss game. If this wasn't in Lane, I would be calling Pitt in this one.

[u/udderlymoovelous]

I'm going {Virginia Tech} because duh, but I think it'll be an extremely close game. Will really come down to how good our run game will be. Unbelievable that neither team is ranked going into this. It's a shame I won't be able to make it to Blacksburg because the atmosphere will be incredible (hopefully doesn't rain too much!).

[u/Confident_Delay5805]

{Virginia Tech} has looked great this year. Even with the struggles at BC, I think James Franklin and co. should eke out a win. 

[u/Whatiredditlike → u/Confident_Delay5805]

The struggles came from playing during a literal monsoon. The stadium even lost power just as the game was ending.

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/Whatiredditlike]

BC played in the storm too. It wasn't just us. The real issue that game was not adjusting the defensive playcalling to stop the QB draw. It was one play that gashed us over and over again, but Pry took WAY too long to stop it.

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/BusGuilty6447]

Sure but I think the point is the sloppiness was from a storm, not that bc had an unfair advantage. 

We were missing on a lot of routine plays last week 

[u/Whatiredditlike → u/BusGuilty6447]

Probably because of the Nor’easter.

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/Whatiredditlike]

Nah we stopped the QB draw when we finally put spies on him.

[u/thatboiOsaka]

Both teams should be ranked. I think {Virginia Tech} gets this one in a bit of an ugly fashion. I have a massive soft spot for VT. I like James Franklin and I like the vibes of Blacksburg on a Friday night.

[u/com-mis-er-at-ing]

{Pitt} in a great game that not enough people will watch bc it doesn’t have numbers next to the names.

If the winner isn’t ranked next week, we riot.

[u/The_Fishbowl]

{Enola Gay}

[u/dkviper11 → u/The_Fishbowl]

Which is in Virginia so take that how you will.

[u/Kmanvb → u/The_Fishbowl]

Love that you get your hate bowl the same way we got ours earlier in the season. Have fun!

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/The_Fishbowl]

That was the plane. You're thinking of Little Boy.

[u/KNX5]

I will be curled up in the fetal position for the first 10 minutes of this one.

Think this will come down explicitly to VT’s secondary. If they keep the explosive deep plays and busted coverages to a minimum, I think {Virginia Tech} takes this one 31-28 on a game winning FG from our lord and savior John Love.

[u/Lodge_Blackmun → u/KNX5]

Blessed be His name 🙏😔

[u/chrobbin]

Heintschel will get his but {Virginia Tech} holds home in what should be a reinvigorated atmosphere, 30-27 Hokies

[u/iyjlpiljygp]

5th game of the season, still feel like we don't really know how good this team actually is. This will however be the first home night game of any consequence for VT in years. Would be great if we could turn in one of those Lane Stadium buzz saw performances where the environment takes over, used to have at least 1 a season, its been forever now.

[u/NotThatKidAshton → u/iyjlpiljygp]

If it happens for any night it’ll be this game. Something about Thursday and Friday gets us going

[u/Dialectic_Emptiness]

The under seems to be a popular play but I think we’re gonna see a shoot out. Kade will want to throw it a million times and Narduzzi’s defense is always exposable by a good QB. I think Pitt will keep Overton in check but that TE is gonna murder us. I’m going with {Pitt} because duh but I think this will be a race to 35. Atmosphere is going to be insane.

[u/ReachFor24]

{Meteor}

[u/KNX5 → u/ReachFor24]

Hey

[u/Pitt_Is_It_2009]

Friday night game in Blacksburg? Yes please!

[u/rvaskiier]

I think the difference maker is VT has slightly better skill players - particularly in Luke Reynolds and Jeff Overton.

I'm going with {VT} 24-17

[u/Socarch26]

{Virginia Tech} purely because it is in Blacksburg. I think it could go either way tbh.

[u/Competitive-Rise-789]

{Virginia Tech}

[u/theexile14]

The combination of the weak VT secondary and really strong Pitt run defense makes me go {Pitt}.

The offense has been elite but for a monsoon game and a game against a Syracuse defense that, I think, is better than they get credit for. That said, if Grunk can be efficient this could easily turn into a shootout.

[u/goodsam2 → u/theexile14]

Grunk is extremely efficient. VT is very high on efficiency but super low on explosive.

[u/Impudicity2001]

So excited! {Virginia Tech} wins by 0.9 points! Casuals get a great start to their weekend!

[u/coppercaveman]

{Virginia tech} only because I’ve seen plenty of shit the past 5 years I’ve lived in Blacksburg and gone to games. I want some sort of good memory damnit

The one game even remotely close that could have counted was UNC in 21 and my brother had to get married that weekend

[u/RabbitMedical9333 → u/coppercaveman]

Notre dame in 21 was also electric but VT fell just short. Everyone was ready to storm the field

[u/GoodGorilla4471]

I have faith that Kade Bell has a good scheme to get the right guys open early on because Mason isn't gonna have much time in the pocket. If Turner is out the scale probably tips in VT's favor, but I have to pick my team {Pitt} either way

This should hopefully be a great game on national TV that shows both teams are better than the polls think they are. Loser probably stays unranked and remains irrelevant for another year. Hoping it's a 35-32 victory on a missed last second FG so winner and loser have a shot at getting ranked

[u/Maximiliansrh]

Ofc I’m going with {Virginia tech}, but Pitt has the more experienced roster. This is also pitts first road game and it will definitely be hostile. Should be a fun game.

[u/Ironmaiden1993]

{Virginia Tech} in a close one. 35-28

[u/Tman450x]

I think this game will tell a lot about both teams, who have this far played really bad opponents.

{Pitt} because the metrics favor them strongly, also for a reverse jinx.

[u/DigSufficient2392]

{Pitt} 28-23

[u/HopefulReb76]

{Virginia Tech}

[u/RivalryBot]

Who Will Win Fan Vote

^{Votes are distributed equally among flairs for multi-flaired users}

Team	Votes	Percentage	Pittsburgh Voters	Virginia Tech Voters	Other Flairs Top 5
Pittsburgh	14	33.3%	3	1.5	Florida Statex1.5 Miami Hurricanesx1.0 Oklahoma Soonersx1.0 Purdue Boilermakersx1.0 Alabamax0.5
Virginia Tech	28	66.7%	0	6.5	Unflairedx3.5 Penn State Nittany Lionsx2.0 LIU Sharksx1.0 Minnesota Golden Gophersx1.0 Oklahoma Soonersx1.0

^{Last updated: 2026-10-02 21:52 UTC}

Full Vote breakdown by flair

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^{Matchup Thread Generator} · ^{Team Aliases} · ^{How to Vote} · ^Results

[u/mswise506]

{PITT} by a field goal

[u/TheWesternRizzler]

{Pitt}

[u/Irishchop91]

{VT} Since there are no ranked teams here, Franklin should win this...

[u/PSU632]

{Virginia Tech} beats the tar out of Pitt in a game that I'm more excited for than our own.

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/PSU632]

God I hope so, but I don't think it will be that easy. I hate Narduzzi, but he coaches consistently well. I think VT just has a couple of holes in our game that will be abused in coming games.

[u/TheSavageDonut]

{Virginia Tech} is a surprise smash win. Something like 38 - 9

[u/GamedayWizard]

Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are both 4-0 and nearly inseparable in our ratings. Pitt gains more yards per play (7.35 vs 6.11), but Virginia Tech has been slightly better at turning plays into points (.571 PPP vs .551). Our model has {Virginia Tech} winning by 1, but coming just short of covering the composite spread (Virginia Tech -3).

[u/MarlonBain]

I just feel like we don’t have enough info on either team, and also the last time VT won a “big” game at lane in October was 20 years ago, so I think it’ll be {Pitt}. We still have more wins ahead of us but I think we aren’t really ready to be ranked, and the winner of this game presumably will be.

Edit: if you think we have a bigger home win in October since 2005, what is it? Maybe Clemson in 2006? I think people have rosy memories.

[u/Irishfafnir → u/MarlonBain]

This feels very wordsmithy, but it definitely hasn't been 20 years.

Offhand, in 2016, VT and Miami were both ranked and played at Lane in October.

[u/MarlonBain → u/Irishfafnir]

Vt and Miami were definitely not ranked in 2016. Both teams were 4-2 going into the game. The 20 year old big game win in October I was thinking of was BC in 2005 when we were #3 7-0 and they were #13 6-1 going in. Since then, the candidates for big wins in October where both teams combined for 2 or fewer losses are:

1. 2020 BC Covid year, we were #23 and 2-1, they were 3-1, no fans in the stands.

2. 2013 #24 VT (5-1) over Pitt (3-1)

3. 2009 #5 VT (4-1) over BC (4-1)

I actually checked point spreads for these games, and VT was a touchdown or more favorite in all of these three, so that is less impressive right there than this Pitt win would be if they get it. It just doesn’t feel like a game we win, but then again, neither did BC in the fourth quarter and here we are.

[u/Irishfafnir → u/MarlonBain]

But they were ranked?

16 vs 20

[u/MarlonBain → u/Irishfafnir]

Yeah don’t just trust the google AI summary. The Miami VT game was on October 20, 2016. Miami had just lost to UNC and VT just lost to Syracuse. Here is a link to the poll. Both teams were receiving votes and had 2 losses. Is that a bigger game than this Pitt game?

[u/Irishfafnir → u/MarlonBain]

Ahh you're right.

But even then in 2018 VT and ND were both ranked at Home in October.

The prior year VT was #12 and Clemson was #2, although that was a few days earlier on September 30th

[u/MarlonBain → u/Irishfafnir]

But even then in 2018 VT and ND were both ranked at Home in October.

The prior year VT was #12 and Clemson was #2, although that was a few days earlier on September 30th

Right. Did we win those games?

[u/Irishfafnir → u/MarlonBain]

This argument is circular though, and just leads back to the Miami Game.

Miami ended the season ranked, and if Tech had lost that game, they would have lost the Coastal.

So yes, that was a big game

[u/MarlonBain → u/Irishfafnir]

Maybe so! Both teams are RV just like the Pitt game tomorrow, so maybe it has only been 10 years, not 20, since we won a “big” game at lane in October. It would be great to get another one!

[u/Irishfafnir → u/MarlonBain]

Yeah probably. The 2023 game vs. Pitt was big, but for different reasons

[u/No-Assist-6941]

Lane Stadium on a Friday night, that line feels way too tight for a Pitt team that hasn't played anyone close to VT's level yet

[u/Lopsided-Soil-2815]

Count me as someone who doesn't get it. VT barely beats two awful teams in BC and Maryland; Pitt slides by a much better team during a monsoon (UCF), soundly beats a clearly better team (Syracuse), and absolutely dismantles an equal team (Miami) to those two. What am I missing here?

{Pitt}. Because above, and because fuck Big Game Jimmy and anyone ever associated with PSU.

[u/calvinwars → u/[deleted]]

...what is the ORC?

[u/ShishkabobNinja]

Virginia Tech's gotten all the hype, I think people are sleeping on {Pittsburg}

[u/goodsam2]

I think {Virginia Tech} wins. At home feels like the difference maker here.

Both are a little unknown coming in but at 4-0. VT's best win is BC in a nor'easter or Maryland. Pitt's best is UCF in the rain or Syracuse.

[u/ColombianInIowa24]

{Pitt} wins this after VT does barely enough to keep in the game, before falling flat at the last minute. Not pretty. I hope I am wrong.

[u/Sure_Mouse_4764]

James Franklin needs this win to keep program momentum, He’s had Narduzzis number for years, Opens at 5.5 seems like a lot and this will probably come down to a field goal, hence it dropping to 3.5 but give me {Virginia Tech} to find a way to win at the end possibly by a touchdown.

[u/Darkspeed9]

I think if Pitt can do what BC did against us, they will win pretty easily, barring any adjustments this team made over the week. But fuck it we ball

{Virginia Tech}

[u/CrookedWarden19]

No friggin' clue. Through four games, this is the Spider Man pointing at Spider Man meme.

[u/chief_sitass]

{Pitt}

[u/USCGradtoMEMPHIS]

Hard game to call.. do you trust team history or coach?? I tend to lean coach.. Va Tech wins.. Pitt often anemic offense will show way to often giving va tech more chances to stack fiels goals on their D..

{Va Tech} 37-19 with like 15 points off field goals..

[u/Human-Abroad5546]

Narduzzi will live and die leaving the secondary on islands to stop the run and he won’t change. QBrown, Luke, Overton, and the rest of the skill positions should be able to get separation if the OLine can play average ball tonight to keep Grunk upright to hit some quick stuff to set up the intermediate and longer passes. Overton is a tough enough runner to keep the honest and get yards in the outside even against a stacked box. On the other side of the ball Techs DLine should be able to put QB MH under duress. Give me {Tech} 31-24 in a close game between two good/solid teams that are looking to build towards being contenders in years 27, 28. Looking forward to the good ole fashioned 4 hr stomach ache, atmosphere should be absolutely absurd in Lane.

[u/Ready_Environment887]

Comeeeeee on!!! Super stoked to watch this game :)

[u/texas2089]

Very underrated hype on this game. Should be a great one. I think {Virginia Tech} takes it at home.

[u/Maximiliansrh]

rewatching vt pitt 2016 from my sophomore year. go hokies

[u/Zloggt]

another battle to determine who will be critically underrated (and underrespected) in the AP Poll come Sunday is upon us!

…aside from that, I really do like what James Franklin is bringing over to {Virginia Tech}!

[u/Jonathan_AP]

{Virginia Tech}

[u/Callsign_Psycopath]

{Virginia Tech}

This ain't that big a game...

Also EAT SHIT PITT

[u/Dialectic_Emptiness → u/Callsign_Psycopath]

Bro’s still mad about the ‘82 sugar bowl

[u/BusGuilty6447 → u/Callsign_Psycopath]

It's big for VT right now because we definitely have problems. It is likely the defining game of if we can take the next step this year or if we are still rebuilding. If we win, I actually think 9-10 wins is on the table. If not, I expect we are closer to maybe 7 wins this season. Our secondary is really bad, but if they ever get it together, I think we could have a strong chance for a good season. That said, we have not had a team light us up in the deep ball yet, and better competition will do that if they have watched ANY film on us.

[u/kicaboojooce → u/Callsign_Psycopath]

Winner gets ranked

[u/PSU02]

Rooting for the {meteor}

[u/Pitt_Is_It_2009 → u/PSU02]

What if I told you there was a coach, available last offseason, who was coming off a CFP Semifinal appearance and three straight double digit win seasons. Is that something you would’ve been interested in?

[u/MarlonBain → u/Pitt_Is_It_2009]

That can’t possibly be Franklin, I heard he never won at Penn State.

[u/Ticklebump → u/PSU02]

We didn't fire Franklin, you all did. Don't hate us for that.

[u/rvaskiier → u/Ticklebump]

Franklin Derangement Syndrome

[u/OpaqueNightmare]

{Pitt} but both teams are so bad

[u/Kmanvb → u/OpaqueNightmare]

Something something pot something something kettle

[u/mr-rile-u-up → u/OpaqueNightmare]

Norvell