ACC Championship Game: #15 Pittsburgh (10-2) vs #16 Wake Forest (10-2) (ABC, 8PM ET)

[TrueOrange]

So who wants to see nothing but offense?

Heisman candidate Kenny Pickett leads 10-2 Pittsburgh - coached by Pat Narduzzi - into Charlotte for the program’s attempt at its first outright conference championship (Pitt only has 2 previous conference championships, both in the Big East from tiebreakers between 2-3 teams).

On the other end, Sam Hartman leads 10-2 Wake Forest into Charlotte for the first time since 2006 as Dave Clawson’s program looks to win its 2nd overall ACC Championship Game and its 3rd conference championship in program history.

If Wake Forest wins, Wake Forest’s 11-wins under Clawson would tie Jim Grobe’s 2006 11-3 season for the program’s most wins in a single season.

If Pitt wins, it would give the program its 4th 11-win season in program history.

The ACC Championship Game victor will also gain a New Year’s 6 Bowl berth, most likely going to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Pittsburgh is favored by 3.5 points, and the over/under on this one is 72 points between the two teams. We’ll see if it lives up to all the numbers.

 

[TrueOrange]

The official injury reports are fairly sparse for both teams.

Pittsburgh lists 2 WRs as questionable for tonight’s game.

Wake Forest, once again, has kept its injury report entirely close to the chest. So their roster could be anywhere between either at best no injuries at all…or at worst being down 3-4 CBs, 1-2 starting offensive lineman, 1-2 starting RBs, and a starting linebacker.

So, who knows?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Are we cheering for Pitt to make us feel better about them beating us?

 

[RDU VOL#14]

That fake slide by Pickett was pretty ninja.

 

[TrueOrange]

1st drive, Pickett runs on 3rd and long, stutters to fake a slide, and the defense bites as it turns into a 58-yard rushing TD for the QB.

 

[TrueOrange]

Someone needs to tell Pitt that face masks and suplexes are still illegal in football.

On what initially looks like a busted play, Hartman rolls out under pressure and finds AT Perry wide open in the endzone.

7-7 with 10:48 left in the 1st

 

[TrueOrange]

4 plays later, on a wide open pass to the RB, TD Pitt.

14-7 with 9:47 left in the 1st.

 

[TrueOrange]

Either Pitt’s defense is already getting beat up or they’ve adopted the Lane Kiffin school of defending the no huddle spread option.

Also, lots of penalties on Pitt’s defense so far.

 

[TrueOrange]

Impressive awareness on that reach by AT Perry across the first down line on 3rd and 10.

 

[TrueOrange]

Hartman runs it in himself on 2nd and goal with 6:31 left in the 1st.

14-14

 

[JCHateSteve]

Looking like a last team to get the ball wins type of game.

 

[TrueOrange]

Holy sh-t, a 4th down! 49 yard FG attempt by Pitt is wiiiiide left with 4:16 left in the 1st quarter.

 

[TrueOrange]

Following another Pitt pass interference, TD catch over the top of the defender by Wake Forest.

21-14 Wake Forest with 3:07 left in the 1st quarter.

 

[TrueOrange]

Wake Forest sacks Pickett on 3rd down (after a bad snap over his head that he had to fall on).

With 41 seconds left in the 1st, we’ll actually get to see a punt.

 

[TrueOrange]

End of the 1st. 21-14 Wake Forest.

 

[TrueOrange]

Interception Pitt. Picks off Sam Hartman at the Pitt 35 on a diving grab on 3rd and 12

 

[TrueOrange]

Sack Pickett on 3rd and 6? Nah, defensive holding on Wake Forest makes it first down Pitt again.

 

[TrueOrange]

Pitt stuffed on 3rd and 1 at the Wake Forest 26. Pitt goes for it

Pitt chooses to…throw it deep? And overthrows the WR by 5 yards.

 

[TrueOrange]

3 and out Wake Forest after a sack and a hold. On 4th and 20, Wake Forest punts and (along with a missed block in the back) Pitt returns the ball all the way to the Wake Forest 33.

 

[TrueOrange]

Wake Forest stopped Pitt twice, and came away with 0 points with the two extra drives.

As a result, it’s tied up again at 21 all with 8:21 left in the game after Pickett completes a pass on 3rd and goal.

 

[FïreBall]

Tied up

 

[TrueOrange]

That might be the worst/stupidest false start penalty ever committed by an offensive lineman.

 

[TrueOrange]

Wake’s starting RB leaves the game with an injury.

And that’s 4 straight drives all ending in 0 points by Wake Forest. Pitt’s defensive line has stepped it up.

 

[TrueOrange]

And Pickett picks apart that defense with less than a minute left.

Not enough time to make it to the endzone, but Pitt drills a 41-yard field goal to end the half 24-21 Pitt.

 

[TrueOrange]

Who had 10 points scored total in the 2nd quarter?