No. 22 Pitt Panthers welcome Cal in ACC home opener

The nationally ranked Panthers are riding the high life after their win over UNC that put them at 5-0 — their best start since 1991. On Saturday, Pitt will make like popstar Chappell Roan and take Cal “Ott to go.” 

In their sixth test of the year, the Panthers host the Golden Bears and star junior running back Jaydn Ott while they try to stay undefeated and climb up the AP poll.

This is Pitt’s first matchup against one of the three new members of the recently expanded ACC. The last time the Golden Bears came to Pittsburgh was in 1963. JFK was president, mankind had yet to walk on the moon and the Litchfield Towers had just opened. Pitt leads the overall series 3-2. 

Cal comes into the Steel City slightly damaged after two heartbreaking losses to Florida State and Miami. In the latter contest, the Bears squandered a 25-point lead in a marquee matchup that was the site of ESPN’s College Gameday. 

Despite this, the Bears were just a few unlucky breaks away from having a 5-0 record, and the Panthers — who may need to come back down to earth a bit to overcome the Bears — should not take them lightly. 

There are a few important pieces of the game that Pitt will have to adhere to in order to keep their undefeated record rolling. 

Protect the Ball

It is in Pitt’s best interest to lean heavily on ball control and safe plays in this contest. Cal enters the contest leading the country in interceptions and is the third-best in turnover margin. Overall, the Bears quietly have one of the best defenses in college football and should provide a great challenge for the Panthers. 

Holstein has done well in protecting the ball this season, with only three interceptions to his name. With a ball-hawking secondary preparing for his affinity for deep shots, however, it is a bit risky. One name in particular to watch for is Nohl Williams, who currently leads the country in picks with five on the year. 

To avoid this, expect Pitt to lean on the running game, now featuring a returning Rodney Hammond Jr. That said, in the last two “Power-5” matchups against UNC and West Virginia, the Panthers are averaging a meek 3.2 yards per carry. Whether that is a problem with scheming, the offensive line or perhaps a personnel issue with the backs themselves, it is an issue that Pitt needs to resolve quickly. 

The Panthers do have plenty of talent to carry the rock. Hammond is flanked by Desmond Reid, who is second in the nation in all-purpose yards per game. Daniel Carter chipped in an impressive performance against YSU, and Holstein is plenty capable of running effectively himself. So while there are some kinks to work out, Pitt does have an arsenal of weapons in its backfield. 

Defensive Momentum

In my opinion, Pitt’s defense chipped in their best performance against UNC this past Saturday and should do the same this weekend against Cal. Last weekend, the Panthers held the Tar Heel air attack to only six yards per attempt and avoided most of the big plates that have plagued them this season. 

Cal comes into the game with a fairly average offense at 24.8 points and 396 yards per game. The running game in particular has been a sore spot for the Bears, averaging 138 yards per game, which is 79th in the country. 

Fernando Mendoza spearheads Cal’s passing attack coming into the game with a modest 1,177 passing yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions on the year. By no means is Mendoza a “bad” quarterback, but Cal’s offense isn’t quite predicated through the air.

So, while the Bears still have plenty of talent at their disposal, the defense should handle Cal, especially if the offense can keep churning along as usual. 

A big name to look out for on the Pitt defense is Kyle Louis, who has had arguably the most productive season out of any Pitt defender this year. Louis enters the game with 42 total tackles ,along with two interceptions and two sacks, and is Pitt’s go-to player when in need of a crucial stop, recording a game-winning interception and sack in the WVU and UNC games respectively.

If Louis and company can improve on their solid performance from last week, the Panthers will leave feeling golden. 

Verdict

Cal is certainly a threat and far better than their record indicates. The difference in play styles between the two schools should make for an interesting matchup. The Panthers need to avoid critical mistakes, especially on offense. This match might see a slight deviation from how Pitt usually plays, but with the talent in their arsenal, fans should expect another win. 

Final Score: Pitt 28-Cal 17