Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi rants about being home underdog to Tennessee: 'We're in the Pee Wee league'

Pitt won an instant classic on Saturday, besting “Backyard Brawl” rivals West Virginia.

Despite a strong showing on both sides of the ball and a win over the Mountaineers in Week 1, a win over the Volunteers and an ACC championship last season, the Panthers were still  underdogs to Week 2 opponent Tennessee.

During his weekly press conference on Monday, head coach Pat Narduzzi took a shot at Tennessee’s apparently-elevated status as an SEC team.

“It is what it is,” Narduzzi said, referencing Pitt’s underdog status. “You heard all summer … there’s only two power five conferences in the country, the SEC and the Big Ten. We are in the Pee Wee League. We will line up and see if we can play.”

Pat Narduzzi on Pitt being an underdog at home against Tennessee, a team they beat last year, and after winning the ACC:

“We are in the Pee Wee league, we will line up and see if we can play.” pic.twitter.com/KiG7oY0UFK

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 5, 2022

Pitt is 0-1 against the spread this season. The Panthers defeated Tennessee 41-34 in Knoxville in 2021.

We’ll see if being an underdog helps Pitt to another win this Saturday, as they take on the Vols in Pittsburgh.

Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium.