1) recency bias - prior to last night, VT had won the last 5 meetings in a row...they are 6-3 vs Pitt this decade

2) a football-centric fan base - VT is 4-5 against Pitt in football this decade, and lost to them this season in football, which also speaks to #1

3) Pitt isnt a good enough program to remember the wins so you remember the losses - people remember the times VT beats Duke, UNC, Villanova, etc. but most would have made a blind guess the last time VT has beaten BC, Miami, Pitt, Wake, etc prior to this season. They arent big games, they arent "important". So when you lose those games they are more memorable.

For instance, everyone remembers losing to JMU...does anyone remember the last time VT beat JMU?