PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt is scheduled to play its final regular season football game Thursday night, a rescheduled game at Georgia Tech at 7 on 93.7 The Fan.
Will it be their final game of the season?
Bowls are interested in the 5-5 Panthers and with the usual bowl requirements this year suspended, so there are no minimum number of wins or having a to own a winning record to qualify for a post-season game.
CBS Sports and Watch Stadium dot com has Pitt in the Military Bowl on December 28, New Mexico Bowl on Christmas Eve by College Football News dot com. ESPN has Pitt in either the Gasparilla Bowl or the First Responder Bowl, each play the day after Christmas.
Pat Narduzzi says focus is on playing their 11th game in Atlanta Thursday night, but he does intends to accept an invitation to a bowl, not without consideration.
“I know our kids and kids across the country are itching to have a little family time,” Narduzzi said. “I know that, especially around the holidays. Bowl season is never easy on our kids ever, and it will be even harder when we say you can't go home for Thanksgiving; you can't go see your parents; what are you doing; stop that. It's not an easy time for anybody.”
Pitt has had mostly successful times against 3-6 Georgia Tech, winners of 4 of their last 5 in the series in close games.
Panthers had a two-game winning streak snapped against Clemson, while Tech has beaten Florida State, Louisville and Duke this season and held Notre Dame under 200 yards passing and without a one-hundred yard rusher.
“Georgia Tech plays hard,” Narduzzi said. “Obviously on offense run the ball really well. They really stop the run. I don't know where they're ranked, but you watch what they do, they stop the run on defense, and again, they run the ball on offense.”
Yellow Jackets are fourth in the ACC with 1,810 yards rushing with quarterback Jeff Sims leading all rushers with 478 (that includes 124 yards taken away due to sacks). Sims has also thrown for 1,643 with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
“They're going to throw in some deep shots,” Narduzzi said. “Jeff Sims is an outstanding quarterback for a freshman. I'm really impressed with him. Their run game helps them, and then his ability to scramble, make plays, people miss and make plays with his feet are what stand out to me about Jeff and that offense.”
“A tough, physical team,” Narduzzi said. “They pride themselves on playing with effort, but so do we. So this is going to be an effort-and-guts team versus an effort-and-guts team.”
Pregame starts with Larry Richert and Pat Bostick at 5 Thursday afternoon on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network.