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Tennessee football vs. Pitt: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 20, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Fans outside Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Fans outside Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 29, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights head coach Josh Heupel (left) and Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi shake hands after the game at Spectrum Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights head coach Josh Heupel (left) and Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi shake hands after the game at Spectrum Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Familiarity between Pat Narduzzi and Josh Heupel

This isn’t the first time Josh Heupel and Pat Narduzzi have faced each other. Heupel’s UCF Knights beat Pitt under Narduzzi in a 45-14 blowout back in 2018 at home. A year later, UCF lost to Pitt 35-34 on the road. Obviously, Heupel’s teams looked better in the overall conglomerate, but Narduzzi was clearly able to adjust a year later.

What does that mean for Tennessee football in this game? Right now, it looks like Narduzzi picked up more going against Heupel than the other way around. If he stays at that pace, Pitt could blow out the Vols Saturday in an ugly affair.

However, it’s also possible Heupel picked up some things from that loss. In fact, he adjusted in that game. Pitt jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and Heupel’s team then scored 31 unanswered before the Panthers had a strong, late finish to win.

Whichever coach has a better understanding of the other coach’s tendencies after that game will have a huge advantage on Saturday. It’s even more interesting because of the pace factor we mentioned. Both are obviously familiar with the tempo the other guy wants to run, so they’ll have to use what they know to make sure their team dictates the flow of the game.

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