PITTSBURGH, Pa. — It does not get any bigger than this.

Win on Saturday at Pittsburgh and No. 20 Clemson keeps its, though slim, ACC Championship hopes alive. Lose and it’s a harsh reality that the Tigers failed to earn a trip to the College Football Playoff for a fourth consecutive season.

With a win, the Tigers can move to 7-1 in the ACC, while perhaps putting pressure on SMU and Miami to get to that mark. SMU, the only undefeated team in conference play at the moment, is 5-0 in the ACC, while the Hurricanes are 5-1.

Saturday’s game at Pitt is Clemson’s last ACC game of the football season.

“The best we can finish is 7-1 at this point,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “So, that is what we control. Again, last year were 4-4… We put ourselves in position. We weren’t in position last year. So, we are still in the thick of it. A lot of things can happen, but we do not control any of that and we do not worry about it.

“We just want to focus on what we can handle and what we can control, and that is how we will play this week.”

No. 20 Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ACC) at Pitt (7-2, 3-2 ACC)

Kickoff: Saturday, noon

Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.

TV: ESPN

Spread: Clemson -10.5

Over/Under: 53.5

Series: Pitt leads 3-2

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

It does not get much bigger than this. If the Tigers want to have any chance of winning the ACC and getting that automatic berth into the College Football Playoff, they know they have to beat Pittsburgh on Saturday and then hope for the best. With a win, Clemson needs Miami to lose once in its remaining two games or SMU lose twice in its final three games. There is a scenario that involves Virginia winning out and Louisville losing its remaining two conference games, which would allow the Tigers to sneak in, However, none of that matters if the Tigers do not take care of business and beat Pitt.

KEY MATCHUP

Can the Tigers’ offense handle the Panthers’ heavy pressure defense. Pitt currently ranks third in the ACC in sacks (30) and second in tackles for loss (73). The reason? The Panthers bring pressure… lots of pressure. It is not that Clemson has not seen pressure defenses this year, but what Pitt does is unique compared to other teams the Tigers have faced. Because Pitt pressures the quarterback a lot, there will be one-on-one opportunities down the field for Cade Klubnik and his receivers to make. If the Tigers want to win, they have to make these plays.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Antonio Williams is having a good season. The junior has 40 receptions for 468 yards and six touchdowns, all team bests. However, Williams has not been as productive the last two games (12-75, TD), while dropping two passes, one that was a sure touchdown and another that would have gone for a long gain. He is one of Klubnik’s big play targets and it will be imperative that he catches the football when his opportunity arises this week. If so, he can have a record day in Pittsburgh.

Earlier this week, Swinney spoke about how critical it is for the Tigers to slow down Pitt running back Desmond Reid. The Western Carolina transfer is second in the ACC in All-Purpose yards with 155.6 per game. He has 670 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns and is averaging 5.68 yards per carry. In the passing game, he has 33 catches for 428 yards and four more touchdowns. “He is a problem in every area,” Swinney said.

THIS AND THAT

Clemson is attempting to reach eight wins in a season for the 42nd time in school history and for the 15th time in Swinney’s 16 full seasons as head coach.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Pittsburgh starting quarterback Eli Holstein (concussion) will be a game-time decision. Holstein has suffered a concussion in two of the last three games for the Panthers and has not practiced this week. If Pitt’s quarterback cannot go, it could be a big blow to the Panthers’ offense, which operates much better with Holstein at the helm. However, they still have Reid at running back and he is one of the more explosive players in the country. On the flip side, Pitt’s defense likes to cause chaos, while rushing quarterbacks into bad plays. Klubnik has to stay alert and make quick and decisive throws to keep the Tigers head of the chains, while neutralizing the Panthers’ exotic blitzes.

PREDICTION

Clemson 24, Pitt 14