If a poll of 173 media members is to be believed, Pitt’s opener against Virginia on Aug. 31 at Heinz Field will be one of its most difficult games of the season.

Virginia received 82 votes to win the ACC Coastal in a poll conducted last week at the ACC Media Days in Charlotte, N.C. Pitt was the choice of eight voters, finishing fourth behind Virginia, Miami (55) and Virginia Tech (20).

Evey team in the Coastal received a first-place vote, including fifth-place Duke (six), followed by North Carolina and Georgia Tech, respectively, with one each.

Defending national and conference champion Clemson was the overwhelming choice to win the ACC and its Atlantic Division, receiving 170 votes to win the conference title and 171 to win the division. Syracuse received two first-place votes in both while Virginia was the pick of one voter to win the conference.

In Atlantic Division voting, Syracuse was second, followed by Florida State, N.C. State, Boston College, Wake Forest and Louisville.

Pitt will play each Coastal opponent, plus Syracuse and Boston College.

The Atlantic and Coastal winners will meet for the conference championship Dec. 7 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.

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