Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 2nd 2024

Preview and Prediction

The condition of both starting quarterbacks is the main focus heading into Saturday's highly-anticipated Top 25 showdown between No. 18 Pitt and No. 20 SMU in Dallas.

According to Coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers (7-0, 3-0 ACC) are taking a "wait-and-see" approach with Eli Holstein. Similarly, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee stated that Kevin Jennings is questionable for the Mustangs (7-1, 4-0).

Holstein sustained an unspecified injury in the fourth quarter of Pitt's 41-13 victory over Syracuse last week.

Narduzzi reiterated that he does not publicly discuss injuries during his news conference.

In the event that Holstein is unable to play, Pitt's backup is Nate Yarnell. Yarnell has appeared in three games this season, completing 17 of 26 passes for 171 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. In comparison, Holstein has thrown for 1,808 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games.

Whoever takes the field as quarterback will face a tough challenge against SMU's defense, which ranks tied for 33rd in the nation in total defense (327 yards per game) and tied for seventh in interceptions (12).

"Defensively, they run a four-down scheme and mix up their coverage a bit, but in my opinion, they are very similar to us defensively because they keep it simple," Narduzzi said. "I don't think they do too much. They just play solid and with a lot of intensity. That's why they have been so successful."

For SMU, if Jennings is unable to play, backup Preston Stone will likely take the field. Jennings was injured in last week's 28-27 overtime victory against Duke, but did not miss a drive.

"Our player's availability is uncertain," Lashlee said. "We have a number of players who are banged up, and most of them were able to practice today, but even Kevin, we're not sure if he's fully cleared yet."

However, signs seem to indicate that Jennings will be available as he spoke with the media this week. So far this season, Jennings has thrown for 1,594 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.

"I'm feeling great, just trying to get my body back to full strength," Jennings told reporters. "As of right now, I feel really good. I'm just staying in the treatment room and working on getting myself back to 100%. It was a tough hit, and I was down for a bit, but thank God I was able to bounce back and return to the game."

SMU wide receiver Jake Bailey, who is currently listed as day-to-day, has caught 19 passes for 275 yards with one touchdown this season.

Aside from the injury concerns, this is a must-see ACC matchup between two teams that were not expected to compete for a conference championship.

In the ACC preseason rankings, SMU was predicted to finish seventh while Pitt was projected to finish 13th.

This will be Pitt's first trip to SMU, who has won the last three matchups between the two teams, including a 28-6 victory in the Compass Bowl on January 7, 2012 in their most recent meeting. The teams have faced each other six times, with four games taking place at Pitt and two in a bowl game.

PREDICTION

Pittsburgh Panthers

25

32

Southern Methodist Mustangs

Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs Recap NOV 2TH 2024