Notre Dame vs. Pitt: Preview, Prediction, TV info and more

Keys for Pitt:

Nov 2, 2013; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback

(11) yells to his offensive line in the first quarter against the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 38-34. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

1. Where’s the O? The Panthers have to get the offense going and more importantly score some points.  Since putting up 58 points against Duke, Pitt has just scored 54 combined points against their last four FBS opponents. Not being able to get the ball in the end zone consistently will kill any hopes of a Pitt upset.

2. Slow down Rees: After seeing the triple option two weeks in a row, the Pitt defense will have to stare down a red hot Tommy Rees. The Notre Dame offense has been very balanced as they also ran for 264 yards against Navy. But Rees has thrown seven touchdown passes in his last two games. The Panthers must make the Fighting Irish offense one dimensional and can’t let Rees pick them apart.

3. Run the football: If Tom Savage has to throw it too much, the Pitt offensive line will get him killed. That being said, the Panthers need a big game on the ground from both Isaac Bennett and James Connor. If Pitt can’t run the football, they can’t win.