As bad as Pittsburgh’s loss was last week to Notre Dame, this week they are back in conference play against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets looked vulnerable in back to back weeks losing to NC State, and nearly losing to a Boston College team that is winless against division one teams. Look for a response from Pittsburgh as they look to jump into a first place tie with Virginia and SMU in the ACC.

My father-in-law is a Georgia Tech architectural legend (92, amazingly), and he has never been this excited about a GT game as long as I've known him. He usually only gets fired up about tennis. So I promised him a bet to make him happy. Only if I liked it. And I do. And he'd be there, if he could, to see what I think will be the Wreck clinching its first ACC title game appearance since 2014. The Jackets entered this week leading the FBS in YPG (496.7) and yds/play (7.5). Pitt is solid but a freshman QB on the road short of Dan Marino generally does not end well. Panthers RB Desmond Reid (60-278-2; also big part of passing game) is out.

Crucial contest here and all to play for as Georgia Tech guarantees a spot in the ACC title game with a win, and Pitt keeps hopes alive. Not easy for Brent Key, however, as the Jackets defense has sprung leaks lately, and Tech was required to make a last-second escape last week at Boston College. The Jackets, however, are built for those sorts of finishes with heroic Haynes King at QB and making a late push for Heisman consideration that would be well-deserved. Losing to Notre Dame is no shame but we wonder if the confidence of Panthers frosh QB Mason Heinstschel, who had impressed until last week, might be a bit shaken after his first really difficult game as a collegian. Play Georgia Tech

Plenty of scoring is projected, and Pitt might not be able to keep up with the machine-like Georgia Tech offense with versatile RB Desmond Reid injured. Reid catches and rushes with equal efficiency. The spread is small in part because of the public's perception, based on coach Pat Marduzzi's comments before last week's game, that the Panthers might not have treated non-league foe Notre Dame seriously. Partly as a result, the host that boasts FBS' top-ranked offense and has outright won nine of the last 10 home dates is yielding less than a field goal. Hard to resist.