Closer look at Pitt's 2021 football schedule

Predicting the outcome of football games is difficult enough in August when the roster is finalized and there’s been time to accept or reject the coach’s optimism.

Attempting the same exercise in January — two months before spring ball — can be a waste of time.

It also can be fun.

Does Pitt have what it takes in Pat Narduzzi’s seventh season to win nine or 10 games for the first time since 2009? By the way, he’s the longest-tenured Pitt coach since Walt Harris (1997-2004), third-longest since Jock Sutherland (1924-1938).

The schedule looks easy early, challenging in the middle.

Prediction: With Kenny Pickett’s return and what looks like a sound defense, it’s reasonable to assume eight victories (at minimum).

A texter wrote, “Wow, if Duzz does not get 9-10 wins outta that sked, pack it up.”

Opponent’s most recent record in parenthesis.

1. UMass (0-4), Sept. 4, Heinz Field

The Minutemen, an FBS independent, played only four games in 2020 because of the pandemic and scored one touchdown and 12 points — total.

Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was the UMass coach twice, winning an FCS national championship in 1998 and compiling a 16-44 record from 2014-18 after the school stepped up in class.

2. Tennessee (3-7), Sept. 11, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.

ACC Network labeled the game “The Johnny Majors Bowl.” It matches the two schools most closely associated with the legendary coach, who died last June.

Pitt hasn’t played an SEC team in its home stadium since defeating Majors’ Vols, 13-3, in the 1983 opener. Jackie Sherrill also beat Majors, 30-6, in 1980.

Josh Heuple, ex of Central Florida, was hired to clean up Jeremy Pruitt’s NCAA mess, becoming the fifth Tennessee coach since Phillip Fulmer’s last season (2008).

3. Western Michigan (4-2), Sept. 18, Heinz Field

P.J. Fleck turned a 13-1 record and the school’s only MAC championship in 2016 to a Big Ten job in Minnesota.

The Broncos are 24-20 in the ensuing four seasons.

4. New Hampshire (6-5, 2019), Sept. 25, Heinz Field

Football was canceled last year for the FCS Wildcats, but the Colonial Athletic Association has plans for a six-game spring season.

In 2019, UNH was 6-5, but lost to Albany, Delaware and FIU — teams Pitt has defeated in the past. Also that year, New Hampshire beat Duquesne, 23-6, raising the question: Why can’t the Dukes and Panthers get together sometime?

5. Georgia Tech (3-7), Oct. 2, Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta

This makes three games in a row Pitt has played the Ramblin’ Wreck in Georgia. Maybe this time Narduzzi gets a hearty handshake from Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins. At the end of Pitt’s 34-20 victory last season, Collins dismissively greeted Narduzzi after some “chippy” activity and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Pitt.

The Panthers could be 5-0 after this game, but that hasn’t happened at Pitt since 1991 when Paul Hackett’s team went from 5-0 to 6-5.

6. Virginia Tech (5-6), Oct. 16, Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.

Hard one to figure, but don’t ignore the venue.

Pitt scored 99 points in the past two games against VPI at Heinz Field, 14 in its most recent two trips to Blacksburg.

7. Clemson (10-2), Oct. 23, Heinz Field

Clemson, the six-time defending ACC champion, has outscored Pitt, 94-27, since the Panthers’ upset victory in Death Valley in 2016.

Will actual people fill up Heinz Field for this one, Dabo Swinney’s first game in Pittsburgh?

8. Miami (8-3), Oct. 30, Heinz Field

The U has finished somewhat short of its fans’ expectations in recent seasons, but it’s 6-2 against Pitt since 2013. The Panthers have fallen short of 20 points (3, 12, 19) in the past three games.

9. Duke (2-9), Nov. 6, Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

Pitt enjoys a 6-1 edge against the Blue Devils since they became conference partners. The winning team has reached the 50s four times, the loser once in 2013 (and Aaron Donald wasn’t happy about it, even though his team won).

10. North Carolina (8-4), Nov. 11, Heinz Field

There’s a reason ESPN likes to show this game on a Thursday night. This one makes four in a row in Pittsburgh.

North Carolina leads the ACC series, 1-6, but all seven have been decided by seven points or fewer.

It’s a short week for Pitt, but the Panthers were off the Saturday before the past two games.

The storyline might be Pitt’s defense against Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell, who threw for 7,227 yards and 68 touchdowns in two seasons. He could be the 2022 version of Trevor Lawrence, as far as the NFL is concerned.

11. Virginia (5-5), Nov. 20, Heinz Field

The Wahoos won on their most recent trip to Pittsburgh, 30-14, in Pitt’s 2019 opener. But the Panthers are 5-2 against Virginia as an ACC member.

12. Syracuse (1-10), Nov. 27, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.

Pitt and the Orange have met every year since 1955. Pitt has won seven of the past eight and 16 of 19.

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