Pittsburgh (4-3, 1-2 ACC) at No. 21 North Carolina (6-1, 3-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
Line: UNC by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: UNC leads 10-5.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Tar Heels are atop the ACC’s Coastal Division standings with at least a two-game lead in the loss column on the other six teams. A win would give UNC its 4-0 start in league play since going 8-0 in 2015, which was the only time it has claimed the Coastal Division’s spot in the ACC title game. The reigning league champion Panthers have lost two of three overall but have won the past two meetings against the Tar Heels.
KEY MATCHUP
Pitt’s offense vs. UNC’s defense. The Panthers rank in the middle third of the league in total offense (415.6) and scoring (31.4). The Tar Heels, meanwhile, have been just trying to turn bad defense into adequate to pair with their high-flying offense. UNC is 126th out of 131 Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense (476.3) and tied for 113th in scoring defense (32.4).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pittsburgh: RB Israel Abanikanda. He is fourth in the FBS ranks with 137 yards per game on the ground, including a 320-yard performance against Virginia Tech that ranks the most of any FBS player this year.
UNC: QB Drake Maye. Maye is fourth in FBS in passing yards (326.1) and second to Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud in passing touchdowns (24).
FACTS & FIGURES
North Carolina is 6-0 at home against Pittsburgh, including three wins since Pitt joined the ACC for the 2013 season. … Thirteen of the 15 meetings have been decided by 10 points or fewer. … UNC has converted 12 of 15 fourth downs this season. … Pittsburgh is 7-1 in its last eight road games. … Pitt has won the last two meetings, each by seven points, at home in overtime. … Abanikanda is tied for the FBS lead with 13 rushing touchdowns. … UNC receiver Antoine Green has cracked the 100-yard mark in two of his four games this year, including 112 yards and the game-winning catch at Duke on Oct. 15. … Since the league’s expansion to 14 teams in 2013, Pittsburgh is the only team to win the Coastal Division crown more than once (2018, 2021).
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