On paper the records aren't that different. Florida State is 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the ACC, and Pitt is 6-3 and 3-3 in the league. Both teams are 2-3 in their last 5, and both won their most recent game. The two common opponents tell you a bit more. Each team lost at Miami, Florida State by 8 and Pitt by 29. Florida State won at Boston College, where Pitt lost 27-21 in October. The Seminoles have been the better team against the same competition. They just haven't turned that into wins.
The Florida State losses in October have something in common: the defense gave up a lot. Louisville scored 44, Miami 43 and Clemson 36. The offense has generally shown up, with 35 at Miami and 31 at BC. The defense is what has dragged the season down. Pitt has been streakier. The Panthers lost 3 straight to North Carolina, Boston College and Miami, then beat a Georgia Tech team by 23. Pitt also won last year's meeting 34-31 in Tallahassee, so the Panthers know they can beat this program. The all-time series sits at 7-5 Pitt.
Then there's the weather. Right now the forecast for Acrisure Stadium on Friday, November 13, is 37 degrees, light snow and 10 mph wind. That's a forecast from 6 days out, so it could change. If it holds, that's a tough night for a Florida State team that has had to score in the 30s to stay in games. It's also a tough night for a freshman center snapping in the cold. Bowl eligibility is the stakes here. Florida State needs wins to get to 6, and Pitt is 6-3 with 3 games left to improve its bowl spot. A Friday night ACC game between 2 unranked teams won't decide the conference, but it is the only college game on that night, so a lot of people will be watching.
