North Carolina at Pittsburgh Week 4 College Football Matchup North Carolina at Pittsburgh Matchup - Week 4
Sun, Sep 24 2023 · Week 4 · 🏟 Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, PA · Turf · 68,400 cap
North Carolina✈ 318 miSame TZ
41 24
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
North Carolina
32
UNC -7
Pittsburgh
20
P&R Line North Carolina -11.5
P&R Total O/U 52
Confidence 86 High
Vegas North Carolina -7 · O/U 49.5
Matchup Prediction
North Carolina has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor North Carolina entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
North Carolina wins
Lean
Game Control
58.3%
North Carolina wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
North Carolina -7
O/U 49.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → North Carolina · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
North Carolina 2023 Schedule
North Carolina's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2North Carolina vs South Carolina+2.5W31–1763.5W31–17UY
Sat 9/9North Carolina vs App State-18.0W40–3458.0W40–34ON
Sat 9/16North Carolina vs Minnesota-7.0W31–1351.0W31–13UY
Sat 9/23North Carolina at Pittsburgh-7.0W41–2449.5W41–24OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/7North Carolina vs Syracuse-9.5W40–759.0W40–7UY
Sat 10/14North Carolina vs Miami-2.5W41–3157.5W41–31OY
Sat 10/21North Carolina vs Virginia-24.0L27–3158.0L27–31UN
Sat 10/28North Carolina at Georgia Tech-12.0L42–4665.5L42–46ON
Sat 11/4North Carolina vs Campbell-45.5W59–768.5W59–7UY
Sat 11/11North Carolina vs Duke-9.5W47–4552.5W47–45ON
Sat 11/18North Carolina at Clemson+7.5L20–3158.0L20–31UN
Sat 11/25North Carolina at NC State-2.0L20–3955.0L20–39ON
Wed 12/27North Carolina vs West Virginia+4.5L10–3062.0L10–30UN
Pittsburgh 2023 Schedule
Pittsburgh's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Pittsburgh vs Wofford-37.5W45–749.5W45–7OY
Sat 9/9Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati-6.5L21–2744.5L21–27ON
Sat 9/16Pittsburgh at West Virginia+2.5L6–1748.0L6–17UN
Sat 9/23Pittsburgh vs North Carolina+7.0L24–4149.5L24–41ON
Sat 9/30Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech-3.0L21–3840.0L21–38ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/14Pittsburgh vs Louisville+7.5W38–2144.5W38–21OY
Sat 10/21Pittsburgh at Wake Forest-3.0L17–2145.0L17–21UN
Sat 10/28Pittsburgh at Notre Dame+21.0L7–5845.5L7–58ON
Sat 11/4Pittsburgh vs Florida State+21.5L7–2450.0L7–24UY
Sat 11/11Pittsburgh vs Syracuse-4.5L13–2837.5L13–28ON
Thu 11/16Pittsburgh vs Boston College-1.0W24–1647.0W24–16UY
Sat 11/25Pittsburgh at Duke+4.5L19–3040.5L19–30ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
North Carolina PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ North Carolina
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
North Carolina #17
+0.408
Pittsburgh #119
+0.293
North Carolina Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
North Carolina #47
+0.604
Pittsburgh #109
+0.446
North Carolina Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
North Carolina #92
0.151
Pittsburgh #36
0.178
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Pittsburgh Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
North Carolina #45
+7.536
Pittsburgh #98
+6.873
North Carolina Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
North Carolina #19
+0.862
Pittsburgh #113
+0.799
North Carolina Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
North Carolina #17
68.7
Pittsburgh #121
73.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
North Carolina Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Pittsburgh Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
North Carolina
-0.2
Pittsburgh
9.1
Offense Rating
North Carolina
15.8
Pittsburgh
19.3
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
North Carolina
16.0
Pittsburgh
10.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? North Carolina Edge
Avg sequences created per game
North Carolina #19
0.67
Pittsburgh #108
0.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
North Carolina #52
0.33
Pittsburgh #54
1.50
North Carolina +0.17
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? North Carolina Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
North Carolina #1
42.0
Pittsburgh #1
36.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
North Carolina #49
33.9
Pittsburgh #102
47.7
North Carolina +5.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.3% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on North Carolina. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
North Carolina
Mack Brown #1
33–22 (60%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Chip Lindsey Yr 1 #1
DC Gene Chizik Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Pittsburgh
Pat Narduzzi #1
63–43 (59%) · Yr 9 at school
OC Frank Cignetti Jr. Yr 2 #1
DC Randy Bates Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself