Matching up UNC and Pitt
When UNC has the ball
The Tar Heels (6-1) are the only ACC team that ranks in the top 25 in the country in scoring offense (No. 16, 38.4 points per game) and total offense (No. 24, 473.6 yards per game).
Since a shaky start in the season-opening loss to South Carolina, fifth-year senior quarterback Marquise Williams has found his groove, especially as a runner. During UNC’s six-game winning streak, Williams has averaged 77.8 rushing yards per game, with five rushing touchdowns and eight more passing.
Sophomore Elijah Hood has been UNC’s go-to running back with 6.5 yards per carry and eight touchdowns, while Williams has spread the ball around to four different receivers, led by senior Quinshad Davis (30 catches, 328 yards).
But this is a case of strength vs. strength because Pitt’s defense ranks 16th in yardage (308.3 per game) and 33rd in scoring (21.6 per game).
Freshman safety Jordan Whitehead leads the team with 52 tackles and junior linebacker Matt Galambos leads the team with four sacks. As a team, the Panthers rank No. 14 in the country with 22 sacks.
Edge: UNC
When Pitt has the ball
The Panthers have been able to overcome the loss of ACC player of the year James Conner at running back by turning to freshman Qadree Ollison. A big (6-2, 230 pounds) bruising back, Ollison leads the Panthers with 662 yards yards (5.6 per carry) and seven touchdowns.
Junior receiver Tyler Boyd, despite being suspended for the first game, leads the ACC in catches (53) and ranks second in receiving yards (489). Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has also been using the wiry Boyd, who projects as a first-round draft pick, at running back and to throw some passes.
Junior Nate Peterman, a transfer from Tennessee, supplanted Chad Voytik as the starter at quarterback after the second game of the season.
Peterman’s unspectacular (1,111 passing yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs) but he takes care of the ball and keeps the offense out of trouble.
UNC has improved by leaps and bounds under first-year defensive coordinator Gene Chizik but the Heels still have had some trouble against the run. The Panthers will try to pound the ball with Ollison and then take some shots with Boyd down field.
Edge: Pitt
Special teams
Junior kicker Nick Weiler has been a pleasant surprise for the Heels with 10 made field goals (out of 12 attempts) already through seven games. He made only five field goals in 2014 and, as a team, UNC didn’t make any kicks longer than 40 yards. Weiler is 4 of 5 from 40-plus yards this season.
Pitt kicker Chris Blewitt has been even better for the Panthers making a 56-yarder with 71 seconds left to beat Georgia Tech on Oct. 17 and a 25-yarder as time expired to beat Syracuse last week.
One potential weak spot for Pitt: UNC junior Ryan Switzer torched them for two punt return touchdowns (65 and 61 yards) in 2013 in a 34-27 UNC win at Heinz Field.
Edge: UNC
Intangibles
UNC has won six in a row and is feeling confident and is clearly closer than last year’s group, which stumbled out of the gate and again at the finish.
The Panthers, who are a 57-yard field goal by Iowa away from being unbeaten, are also feeling good, especially after two close ACC wins (Georgia Tech, Syracuse).
But this is where the lack of a real home-field advantage hurts Pitt, which plays in an NFL stadium that’s not exactly close to campus.
Plus, UNC has won three of its last four division road games.
Edge: UNC
Joe Giglio
This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Matching up UNC and Pitt."