How the national media is creating a problem for the Vols in their upcoming game against Pittsburgh
The national media — and Las Vegas oddsmakers — have created a major problem this week for the Tennessee Vols ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday. Despite the fact that Tennessee lost to Pittsburgh in Knoxville last season, the Vols are being viewed by the media/Vegas as a big favorite against […]
The national media — and Las Vegas oddsmakers — have created a major problem this week for the Tennessee Vols ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday.
Despite the fact that Tennessee lost to Pittsburgh in Knoxville last season, the Vols are being viewed by the media/Vegas as a big favorite against the Panthers this weekend.
(The current line from BetMGM has Tennessee at -6.5.)
Tennessee, of course, doesn't care who is favored. They're only focused on themselves.
Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi, however, is leaning into the underdog role. And based on his comments this week, it sounds like he's making sure the Panthers' locker room is aware of their status as underdogs.
"You know what, you'd like to be the underdog every week," said Narduzzi on Monday. "I don't even know what the point spread was last week. We were probably the underdog last week at home. I know our crowd was the underdog for sure going into that game."
"But you know, it is what it is," added Narduzzi. "It's a good football team coming here. You've heard all summer about the SEC, and there's only really two Power Five conferences in the country, the SEC and the Big Ten, so we're in the pee-wee league, and we're going to line up and see if we can play."
Narduzzi is trying to make this into a David vs Goliath scenario. And I don't blame him — it's always smart to try to use the underdog role as motivation. Especially considering Pittsburgh's struggles last year the game after a big win (the Panthers are coming off an emotional win over West Virginia last week).
Josh Heupel would be wise to use similar motivational tactics this week. I know this Tennessee team is focused, but they better go into Pittsburgh with a chip on their shoulders.
The Panthers are determined to prove that the ACC can hang with the SEC. It's up to the Vols to squash that narrative.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
