Image source: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
This weekend’s game between No. 22 Pittsburgh and No. 7 Notre Dame was already one of the biggest matchups of the season. The stadium is sold out, and ESPN’s College GameDay even chose this game over Alabama vs. Georgia. Fans were excited to see if Pitt could keep its playoff dreams alive. But just one day before kickoff, Pitt got hit with bad news that could change everything.
College football reporter Matt Zenitz shared on November 14 that Pitt’s star freshman kicker, Trey Butkowski, is expected to miss the game because he’s sick. This is a huge problem for the Panthers. Butkowski has been one of the most dependable players on the team. He made 19 of his 21 field goal attempts and 40 of 41 extra points this season. He even set a new school record with 16 field goals in a row and has the best field-goal percentage in the entire country.
For a first-year player, he has been incredibly reliable. He hit long kicks, including a 47-yarder, and gave Pitt confidence in tight moments. Now Pitt will likely turn to redshirt sophomore Sam Carpenter, who has never attempted a college field goal. Putting him in such a big game adds a lot of pressure.
This matchup already looked like it could come down to the final minutes. Notre Dame has struggled with its own kicker this season, missing both field goals and extra points. With Butkowski, Pitt had the clear advantage. Without him, the Panthers lose one of the safest parts of their game plan. They may have to score touchdowns instead of settling for field goals if they want to keep up.
Right now, oddsmakers have Notre Dame favored by 12.5 points. Many think the final score could be something like 34–21. Both teams are 7–2 and both are playing well. Notre Dame crushed Navy 49–10 last week, while Pitt beat Stanford 35–20. When it comes to betting lines, Pitt has covered the spread in seven of nine games, while Notre Dame has only done it four times.
Still, losing Butkowski makes things much tougher for Pitt. The Panthers can compete, but they’ll have to be sharp on every drive if they want their dream season to continue.
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