When the Pittsburgh Panthers take on the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, it will be Pat Narduzzi's squad that will be favored to win the game. Pitt is ranked No. 23 in the nation and is off to a 5-1 start. Clemson, a national title pick before the year for many, has looked miserable during their 4-2 march towards the middle of the season.

Clemson has long dominated the ACC and Narduzzi knows this. Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he isn't buying into any of the hype as it pertains to his Panthers being favored to knock off Clemson.

“This is an opportunity for our guys to play against the best, and they are the best. They are still the gauge in the ACC, period. They are the best,” Narduzzi said of the 4-2 Tigers, who average only 20.5 points per game — a far cry from their 94 combined points in wins over Pitt in 2018 and 2020. “… They are a really good football team, and we are going to have to play our best to have a chance to win.”

The reality is that Pittsburgh is favored for a reason against Clemson and it has a lot to do with the Panthers' potent attack on offense. Through six games this year, the Panthers are 8th in the country in points per game (48.3). It's a complete flip of what most Narduzzi teams are known for which is the defense.

If Clemson wins, this could very well be a preview of the ACC Championship to come in December. Pittsburgh has a two game lead in the Coastal while Clemson will have to climb the ladder in the Atlantic.