Pittsburgh vs. Georgia Tech
Time/TV: 7 p.m./ESPNU
Records: Pittsburgh (4-3, 2-2 ACC), Georgia Tech (5-3, 4-2 ACC)
Series record: Pittburgh leads the all-time series 5-2.
1. Have an answer for Aaron Donald.
Whether it’s running away from him or double teaming him or using him as the read key in the option, Georgia Tech needs to find a way to limit the damage that the likely All-America defensive tackle can cause. Tough to move off his point in the run and tough to slow down in pass protection, Donald might be as tough an assignment as the Tech offensive line has had this season.
2. Clean the mess
After beating Virginia last Saturday despite being minus-four in turnover margin and committing nine penalties, Tech will almost certainly fall to defeat with a repeat performance against Pittsburgh. Tech has to take better care of the ball, starting with quarterback Vad Lee, both to maximize opportunities and to win the field-position game.
Pittsburgh has been relatively careful with the ball this season (10 giveaways) and has only had one turnover in the past three games.
3. Get after Tom Savage
Pittsburgh has had pass-protection issues for its quarterback, which is encouraging for Tech. The Jackets need to do something to upset the rhythm of Pittsburgh’s passing game, lest they get picked apart by Savage and his superb pair of receivers, Devin Street and Tyler Boyd. The trio is definitely a step up from Virginia quarterback David Watford and receivers Tim Smith and Darius Jennings, who were the main cogs in the Cavaliers’ 43-completion, 376-yard passing day last week. That responsibility will start with Tech’s front four, which had a pretty good day against Virginia but may need to be even better against Pitt.
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