It’s that time of year again – a couple of days before the season opener and our favorite team has broken camp and are in game week preparation. That means it’s time for The Pitt POV , its readers and its commenters to put their thoughts about the 2018 version of the team, players and coaching staff out in public for all to read. First off here is the “Predictions Card” I passed out at the 2nd Annual POV Gold Tournament.
As you can see it hits a lot of issues and I put it in this format so you can copy and past into your comment if you wish.
GOOD LUCK AND HAIL TO PITT!!!
☻What will be Pitt’s season record?
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many?
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many?
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
☻How Many times Will He Do It?
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game?
So with that here are some of the tallied results of the prediction cards I got back from the golfers – pretty interest stuff actually and you will be able to see the difference between how our fans felt in April as opposed to now after fall camp is over – they will be much more optimistic in their comments on this thread then earlier I think.
I filled the table out not with every actual answer but to give readers a flavor of what the combined answers were (the “Semi-Totals” on last row of each table). For instance under “Season Record” 9-4 got 1 vote and 6-6 got 7 votes as the votes are in parentheses.
The answers in red are what Reed thinks will happen.
Hope you all can read that. Let us all know what you think about the upcoming season and we’ll look back at this in January to see how well we knew, or thought we knew, the 2018 version of the Panthers.
So for my season W/L total I feel we will win five games and possible six. I don’t see us winning more than that or less than that. I base that on the Offensive Line being poor (maybe terrible) and the defensive front seven getting the same or less pressure on the QB which will keep our opponent’s passing yardage high like it was last season.
Two things of note happened since spring ball that I think helps the team. WR Taysir Mack being eligible and us getting QB Jeff George, JR on roster. I am firmly convinced George will be pushed up to the QB2 spot as soon as possible and that makes me feel a whole lot better than Town going in if Pickett gets injured.
So 5-7 on the season feels right to me – 6-6 at the best. Let’s hope I’m off base with this but I called for five wins last year at this time and that came true.
As far as the opening match against Albany I’m calling it: Pitt 28 – Albany 21. I am absolutely not overlooking this game. I stated last season that YSU was going to give us problems and I won’t be surprised if we have score points late in the game to win this Albany match also.
HTP!!
Reed’s Picks
☻What will be Pitt’s season record?
5-7
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
4-4
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
No
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
Yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
Ollison, 900, 10 TDs
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
Araujo-Lopes, 55, 550 yds
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many?
Idowu, 93
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many?
Idowu, 6
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
Ford 3
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
26.5
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
28.6
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
135
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
245
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
Idowu
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
Yes
☻How Many times Will He Do It?
Lots
pittpov.com 
With the exception of a few (big) SOP lapses, Narduzzi’s Panthers have played with more speed and enthusiasm than I’ve seen in recent years. And even if Pickett isn’t a 1 percenter, his leadership should be good unexpected positives.
Also, given how bad the o line is, I’m feeling we’ll overcompensate with offensive finesse, not like ‘16, but surprising. And the D will be better, not just because of statistical regression, but because they have been trending that direction strongly in the last half of 2017. So Pickett = + 2 wins, D= + 1 win, and surprising O = + 1.
Of course there will be one game where the Pickett effect and the O or D effect both contribute leaving a “bad timing of good things effect of -1. That’s Reed’s 5 plus 4= 9 minus 1 bad timing or 8. I really don’t see fewer than 7 wins and 10 would be really draining the lake of good luck, which we want to save for 19 and 20.
Pitt regular season record 8-4,
bowl win Yes (karma owes us)
OPGA 29.2
DPGA 26.7
Pitt 44 (missed xtra pt), Albany 13.
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Haha Reed you are clearly in ‘show me’ mode after last season’s debacle. I am slightly more optimistic that the players have developed during the offseason and that the 19 seniors on this team will bring the physical ans mental maturity to make a difference.
Season – 8-4
Acc 6-2
Bowl – Yes (but we’ll get screwed out of a good one)
QB2 – No but somebody else will
Rusher – Hall – 1100, and Ollie will go for – 900. 10 and 8 td’s respectively
Receiver – Matthews – 50 – 900
Tackler – Wirginis – 93
Sacks – Weaver – 8
Int’s – Dane Jackson – 3
Opp – 28
Dpp- 22
Offensive MVP – Pickett
Defensive MVP – Dennis Briggs!
Narduzzi scream – heck yes he will
How much – a lot but only a few times on national tv
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Way too many prediction catagories for me to speculate on all of them.
But here goes on some. Against Albany we win going away, by at least two TDs. Final score 24-14 (couldn’t get Reed to put his $ where is mouth is on the opener unfortunately, too bad, I missed out on some easy money💵).
Regular season record will be 7-5, ACC record 5-3. We will beat UNC this year. (All bets are off if Pickett gets hurt & misses multiple games though)
The game we win this year that we shouldn’t, my heart says penn state but more likely it will be later in the season due to needing a few games for this patchworked OL to gel working together, so my head says we beat ND. But one of those two go down to the Panthers this year.
The Offensive MVP- Pickett.
The Defensive MVP- Wirginis, who very well could get the most tackles this season as well. Another rising star showing up for this season, Paris Ford. He becomes a player this season. By season’s end: He is one of our starting CBs. He accumulates 4 INTs or more & sees time on our offense. He will also develop into a solid kick returner. He’ll score at least one TD somehow.
Our defense continues to improve with multiple guys getting into the backfield for sacks this year. No “Price is Righ” type numbers for any individual but our sack total will increase to at least 18 on the season, averaging 1 1/2 per game.
I have no ida abou this WR crew, this will be another position played by commitee. I hope that Mack shows up, we need the help.
We’ll get to go to another crappy bowl and this year we’ll win it to finish another season at 8-5.
Hail to Pitt! Let the games begin.
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Reed – I really hope you’re wrong!
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Too many categories for me so here is what matters:
7-5 regular season with a non con split (2-2) ACC losses at Miami, at Wake, and pick your third
Bowl win to finish 8-5 for the third time under Duzz
Offensive MVP will be Hall
Defensive MVP Wirginis
This week Pitt 35 Albany 14
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Reed, I also agree with you on the 5 and 7 record and I blame the construction of the non-conference schedule. When you are a marginal Power 5 team like a Pitt, Indiana, Purdue, South Carolina, ect. you need to schedule powder puff non-con opponents. Even though the coastal may be the easiest Power 5 division, it is more than enough of a challenge for us. If we played Albany, Akron, North Texas, and PSU in the non-con, we would start the year three and one, people would be positive about the direction of the program, and we would most likely be bowl bound. UCF, ND, and PSU will be three early losses that will cause there to be more yellow in the seats late in the season.
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Way to many categories.
My prediction on regular season wins. 6 wins.
It woudln’t surprise me if its 5 or 7 wins, that is one off from my prediction. Playing in a weak Coastal division helps the cause. OOC games, looks tough on paper but preseason polls often don’t end up that way.
Kenny will be average to good this year. Next year he will see more of a break-out if Narduzzi can find him some OL to protect next year. He will have his ups and downs this year.
Line play is crucial in college football. The OL will struggle. The DL will not be as bad as the OL but it won’t be as good as needed
WR’s are hard to predict this year. Need some unknown guys to step up and make plays. If the coaches are trotting out Mathews every week, the WR’s are in trouble.
The running game will struggle against average to good ACC defenses. TE’s going to be below the line for the second year in a row.
Its year 4 for Narduzzi and his defense. For opposing OC’s, the blueprint is there, they spread Narduzzi out, put those corners on a island and beat them time after time. Converting 3rd downs time after time. Narduzzi himself said in the past his defense should have make tweaks earlier and they didn’t do it. This isn’t the ground and pound Big 10 with little to no good QB’s. Narduzzi needs to adjust and find a way to get stops. We have a new man in Bates but don’t kid yourself, its Narduzzi’s defense.
DB’s should be better. I’m more worried about the safeties.
Special teams this year. Kessman is shaky, just my opinion. We have a brand new punter playing American football for the first time, his punting could be interesting this year.
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I filled out a form at the golf outing and should have made a copy of it. 😊
I do remember going with a 7-5 record and likely 5-3 in ACC.
I’m a big Wirginis fan so I see him leading in tackles and being the defensive MVP.
Offensive MVP has to be KP.
Leading rusher and receiver are iffy and tough and so I don’t remember what I put down. But at this point I’ll go with Hall and Matthews…
What time is it? Time to Win.
Go Pitt.
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The analysis on the POV has caused me to temper my enthusiasm some but I’m looking for Pitt to get back to bowl eligibility in 2018 with 2019 being the best year since the Wanny era.
Regular Season 6-6
ACC: 5-3
Bowl: Yes, a minor one with a Pitt win for 7-6 overall record
QB 2 TD pass: yes
Leading Rusher: Hall 1150, Ollison 875 yards
Leading Receiver: Lopes 55 receptions, Mathews 15 yards per reception
Tackles: Idowo 98
Sacks: Wirginis 7
INTs: Ford 4
Offensive PPG: 27.5
Defensive points against: 25
Offensive MVP: Pickett
Defensive MVP: Ford
Wildcard prediction: Shane Roy emerges as a solid presence on the DLine.
H2P!
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Wow – that would be 2025 combined yards by two RBs…Even Graham and Lewis when they were together got only 1983.
I looked back and the last time Pitt beat 2025 yards by two rushers was in 2014 when Conner and and Chris James had 2202.
Aside from tat we have to go back many, many years. You are very confident in our OL.
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Actually my FB knowledge is just a bit weak, truth be told, Reed, lol.
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I think I was thinking in terms of NFL rushing yards but forgot about the 4 fewer games. Oh well, hope I’m right!
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And opening day…Pitt wins 42-24 with a lot of Pitt players getting in the game.
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What will be Pitt’s season record?
6 – 7 (The 7th loss is some bowl game north of Mason Dixon Line)
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
4 – 4
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
No
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
Yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
Ollison 950 Yards and 8 TDs
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
Shocky Louis 55rec 920yards7tds
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many?
Idowu with 100
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many?
Weaver 8 sacks
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
Ford 5
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
24
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
28
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
85
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
300
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
Paris Ford (500 yards receiving 500 yards rushing with 11 total TDs)
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
Weaver
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
Yes
☻How Many times Will He Do It?
Often
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game?
Pitt 45 Albany 21
Albany W
PSU W
GT L
@UNC W
@UCF L
SU W
@ND L
DUKE L
@Va W
Va TECH L
@WF W
@Miami L
Bowl L
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You be lovin yoself sum Paris Ford!
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Season – 8-4 wins (Albany, GT, UNC, UCF, Syracuse, Virginia, Wake, Miami or VT)
Acc 6-2
Win a Bowl – Yes
QB2 – Yes, against Albany
Rusher, Yards, TDs – Ollison, 980 yards, 7 TDs
Receiver, Catches, yards, TDs – Araujo-Lopes, 50, 600 yards, 5 TDs
Tackler, How many? – Idowu, 85 (only because he is an every down LB)
Sacks, How many? – Weaver, 7
Int’s, How many? – Dane Jackson, 4
Off ppg – 27.2
Def ppg – 26.2
Opp Rush pg – 137
Opp Pass pg – 250
Offensive MVP – Pickett
Defensive MVP – Weaver
Narduzzi scream – scream, as in I want to kill you? zero
How much – none, he hasn’t done it much since Chaney in that manner
Albany score – Pitt 24 -17 because PN hide the offense/defense again
The reason for my optimism.
Defense improves against the pass. Bates schemed against the spread everyday in practice at NW. Both new DB coaches are from the MAC where pass happy team are abundant. There will be better D packages.
Better QB play. As Gattuso said in his interview, if you don’t have the QB position nailed down you are screwed. Pitt has that and it will be Watson’s offense. I think the OL will get better as the season progresses. Playing ND and PSU early will make Pitt a better team when it comes time for VT and Miami.
Quite frankly, I’d rather drink the kool aid than think negatively about the team all off season. Sometimes you get slapped back into reality, sometimes you are correct.
Hail to Pitt!
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On the Pitt POV you get slapped around while being told what reality is. Fake news? We’ll see over the next three months. But with Reed’s ability to be correct in his prognostications, the Panthers will probably suck again this season. Shucks, & I had such high hopes for Pitt this year too.
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I was off by one game in PN’s first two years…so there’s that
We could easily be better than 5 wins – but that is my gut feeling. I’m not as sold on the offense as others are because I firmly believe our OL is going to play poorly all year – the only above average player on it is Bookser – everyone else but Center is a journeyman or FCS transfer. Our Center played OK but again – about average if even.
BTW – please point out some “Fake News” I’ve posted on here.I’ve strong opinions but every time I flat out said something had happened I was well informed.
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Albany W
PSU L
GT L
UNC W
UCF L
SU W
ND L
DUKE W
Va L
Va TECH L
WF L
Miami L
4-8
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Thank You for that UHoopie or is it UPedo 🙂
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Utruth more like it.
Have to be a hoopie or PSU fan to not have blind loyalty to a a terrible recruiter?
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I never saw a reply Upitt to my offer to wager you on your prediction that Pitt won’t get six wins or more. Not taking the bet I assume. You got two more days to shake on it. You pick the wager amount. Text message me with details if you’re on the hook.
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Text me… I will take that.
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I think the time period you attended Pitt, made you anti-Pitt. Majors2/Willard. Plus I think you said your parents went to WVCC and Pedo State.
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PSU – Yes Williard and Majors 2.0 It was terrible then.
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Nobody that actually went to Pitt, cause we have many on here that were there during Dave Hart (3 wins in 3 seasons & the bball team sucked too), without some other factors involved, can be that negative on all things Pitt.
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Believe what you want to believe.
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You would have found fault with Jackie Sherrill. That I am most certainly assured.
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Jackie didn’t talk Yinzer. Loser.😂
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Pitt will go 7-5, and actually win a Bowl Game without a QB named Voytik. Imagine that.
I’m not going to get into all those other side bets.
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One thing I’ve never hear upitt opine on. Is anything negative or derogatory about the Hillbilly’s or the Pedo’s.
Kinda strange. Isn’t it ?
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Upitt you going to take that accusation laying down? Fake news! No Collusion!
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Emel had plenty of opportunities to meet me in Charlotte. He never wanted to meet so he can shoot his mouth off all he wants I don’t care. I like PSU, never had a reason to dislike people there. WVU have some friends that played there as well but loved beating them. Most people that played high level sports son’t hate competition. That is reserved for the non athletic fans.
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Here we go with the insults and name calling.
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Didn’t insult anyone or call them a name although you warrant both.
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7-5
5-3 in ACC
win a bowl game against a crappy team in a crappy location
Pitt 31 Albany 14
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Tx— that’s amazingly upbeat for you, no?
Go Pitt.
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somethings got to give this year so I’ve willed myself to believe in unicorns for the time being
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☻What will be Pitt’s season record? 7-5
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record? 5-3
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game? yes
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass? yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs? 725 7
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs? 500 5
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many? 75
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many? 8
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many? 4
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average? 35
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average? 35
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game? 200
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game? 200
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP? KP
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP? Wirginis
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline? of course
☻How Many times Will He Do It? 3
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game? 35-21
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I see where Teddy Bridgewater is now on his 3rd NFL team and has played only one regular season game since 2015.
And he’s only 25 years old.
I blame Watson! 😊
Go Pitt!
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Forgot about the Albany game wild guess.
I’ll go with:
Panthers 34
Great Danes 20
Go Pitt!
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John – remember that for the Game Day thread also. We’ll put game predictions up there also.
BTW – Your Golf Outing card was this:
☻What will be Pitt’s season record?
7-5
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
5-3
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
yes
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
Hall – 800 yds
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
Mathews 42 / 7 TDs
and so on…
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Good predictions. Funny though that the only media who feel like Pitt will end up over .500 ball are the local media who were completely shut out of practices. Every major national outlet has called for 5 or less wins (of course they were shut out of practices also). But we saw how the local media did with their crystal ball last season:
https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/08/31/pitt-football-2017-predictions-local-media/
Note: I wondered how the national media made their season predictions so I called and asked a guy from Street & Smiths how they come up with theirs and he said their staff calls up opposing coaching staffs to ask about the school they are writing about… and they send staffers out to places like the ACC Conferences and ask questions about the subjects there also. Interesting…
Here’s one reason I’m wary of the team this season – when was the last time we didn’t get even one bit of information on the two big scrimmages they held in fall camp? Not ever in my memory, certainly not since Ive been writing about the team.
Nothing but crickets. I believe that’s because the offense played poorly both times and PN didn’t want anyone to know that. And folks – it wasn’t as if the O was going against some great brick wall defense either. The front seven is exactly the same guys but MLB. We’ll be better on D but not a shut-down defense by any means.
We’ll score some points against Albany – although I don’t think we’ll score as much as most fans do – the latest line is Pitt (-) 24 and I’ll take that bet on the Albany side.
But after Albany we are going to have some rough outings for sure.
Then again, after 7+ years of doing this maybe I’m due to be completely wrong on my season’s predictions and about the 2018 version of the Panthers. If so good for them because I want to see us up around 8 or 9 wins. I just don’t think that will happen with the overall talent (or lack of it) on offense especially.
But this season I’m less sure of my 5 win prediction than 2017 mainly because I knew back then that Max Browne was going to suck at QB for us. Not so this season for our new QB.
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Here’s that Pitt-Albany line I mentioned above:
https://www.streakingthelawn.com/2018/8/29/17790946/college-football-ncaa-vegas-odds-gambling-lines-spread-picks-acc-advice
“Lopsided FBS-FCS Matchups:
Furman @ #2 Clemson (Saturday, 12:20 PM)
Spread: Clemson -48.5
Alcorn State @ Georgia Tech (Saturday, 12:30 PM)
Spread: Georgia Tech -43.5
Albany @ Pittsburgh (Saturday, 3:30 PM)
Spread: Pittsburgh -24
UMass @ Boston College (Saturday, 1PM)
Spread: Boston College -18.5
Three ACC teams start their year with especially lopsided matchups against FCS foes. Clemson, an almost unanimous pick to win the ACC Coastal, almost covered a spread this large in the National Championship game last season and should coast, even against a relatively serviceable Furman squad.
Georgia Tech won’t put up video game points as easily; it’s been 3 years, since the start of the 2015 season, since they scored over 43 points. Bill Connelly forecasts a 36 point win; easy, but not enough to cover this large spread.
Pitt started last year by playing overtime against Youngstown State. We won’t be giving them the benefit of the doubt again.
BC returns a promising roster coming off two consecutive seasons with six or more wins, led by ACC Rookie of the Year AJ Dillon. They should start off the year strong against UMass, who will actually be playing their second game of they year; they crushed Duquesne 63-15 at home on Saturday.
PICKS:
Clemson -48.5
Alcorn State +43.5
Albany +24
Boston College -18.5”
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Tonight.
Purdue -1
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Reed
Your comment regarding the scrimmage stats, ” I believe that’s because the offense played poorly both times and PN didn’t want anyone to know that.”
That may be true, but I actually think it is the PN paranoia that is the reason. If you have changed your offense from the previous year and release stats that show who and what position is productive, the coaches for the opponent could have an idea what you are running. For instance, lots of RB or TE receiving yards.
Now, I think this strategy is ridiculous if you run the same offense every year. Pitt has not and will not this year. So being able to surprise an opponent even a couple times per game could lead to big plays. He gets a pass this year. If Watson is still here next year, no need to hide anything.
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Predict 7 wins plus a bowl win
offensive mvp, George Aston
defensive mvp, Paris Ford
most rb yardage gained by Hall
most wr yardage gained by Mack
PITT 42, DANES 10
HAIL TO PITT, kick some ass boys
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What will be Pitt’s season record? 6-6 regular season. Pitt wins the bowl game (to go 7-6) against my other school the CU Buffs. A Buffalo is no match for a Panther.
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record? 4-4
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game? Yes
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass? No
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs? Hall, 1050, 5 (Aston will get the short yardage, goal line carries.)
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs? Lopes, 36, 400, 3; 2nd Tipton 26, 390; 3rd Aston 25, 300, 3
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many? Wirginis, 95
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many? Idowu with 8 (2nd Pine with 7)
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many? Motley with 4
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average? 30
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average? 28 points allowed/game
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game? 125 (GT hurts this stat as they run for 300 yards against us)
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game? 230 (GT helps this stat as they throw twice for 100 yards)
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP? Aston (combination of yards, TDs, short pass catches, blocking and team leadership earn him the MVP)
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP? Idowu (90 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, one for a TD, minutes of playing time etc.)
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline? Yes, both ours and the opponents. He challenges Franklin to an MMA style cage match after game 2…
☻How Many times Will He Do It? Three times, then Coach Borbs decks him and he stops…
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game? Pitt 28 Albany 10. Narduzzi has no recent history of blowing out opening day opponents, plus the O will be working out the kinks.
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OK, here goes. As I’ve said previously I’m more optimistic on this years team than lasts. That does not mean I think we will be very good. I look at not only our team, but who and where we play. Some of the so called sure fire wins are playing on the road, and that should be cause for a little concern!
The key game for our season which, in my opinion will determine our overall record is Georgia Tech. Not only are they traditionally difficult to prepare for, their offense seems to play well up here. Most importantly, the Duzz seems to put all his eggs in the PSWho basket. Fear we will be emotionally spent the following week! I do think we wack Albany, and actually give the Nitters a game.
My heart says 6-6 if we can beat GT. My head sees another 5-6. This year I’ll go with…….. my head. I just can’t come up with 6 wins. Man, I hate saying that, but that’s the way I see it.
As for all those other things, heck I can’t remember anything I wrote at the golf outing. The only thing I could fill out was a scorecard! I will say this will be the first year the Duzz does not have a big win. I really thought we’d have a big bounce back year, but then the ugliness of the OL surfaces. Pray for Pickett’s health.
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Football is really a simple game – played, coached and commented on by simpletons. And predicting Pitt’s season is equally as simple. Narduzzi’s 4th year. If the defensive guru can field a defense that can keep opponents from throwing for 350+ yds w/o playing 5 DB’s and getting gashed by the run – they will win more games than lose. Pretty f’n simple.
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Fair enough BM. Then give us your predictions. It’s simple after all.
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If it wasn’t for bad luck you know the rest. I’m out for Saturday. Super Duper bummed out but I simply can’t walk as the knee hurts like heck and is still swollen up like sack of potatoes. I can’t even sit in a straight back chair. Sorry
Reed, you really do make me laugh though. thanks. The Narduzzi question is a real duzzi
☻What will be Pitt’s season record?
7-5
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
5-3
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
YES
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
Yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
Hall 850 6 TD’s but he won’t lead the rB’s
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
Lopes 50 4 TD’s
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many?
Wirginis 88
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many?
Hendrix, Weaver and Wirgnis tied with 8 a piece
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
Ford 8
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
33
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
24
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
75 ypg
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
210ypg
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
Hall
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
Wirginis
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
No
☻How Many times Will He Do It?
None
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game?
45-7 PITT
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Oops,I obviously meant 5-7. Sorry, on both fronts!
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Oh, also, I have never seen Ike and Upitt at the same time. Curious. Just sayin.
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If you watched the round-tables you did. ahhh
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I can not begin to realistically feel I can call all the details listed here without more prep so I will only comment on what I think I can appropriately comment on. Reed your most important stat is O/D PPG and the negative margin. That has been telling for Pitt with last year telling the whole story. That could also make ?/consistency of kicking game important. On full season, I am influenced by all those national media periodicals and all their computers and research. I end up with a 4/4 ACC and 5/7 total season however I feel there is a chance for a 6/2 ACC 7/5 total season. New players fitting in and ability to get smacked and still comeback swinging is critical so as they say,sew your wild oats and hope for a crop failure. I hope I am wrong in a good way.H2P
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Are we bringing back the roundtables? They were fun to watch.
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Albany W
PSU L
GT W
UNC W
UCF L
SU L
ND L
Duke W
Va W
VT W
WF L
Miami L
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Trick photography. Paid actors. Aliens.
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Smoke and mirrors were used JoeK, The trick photography Reed used to make himself look so handsome.
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I’d like to. If so they will be on Thursday evenings again. But after my Oct 4 surgery I may not be able to do it for awhile… We’ll see.
What time does Fran’s POV tailgate start on Saturday. 3:30 game time, right?
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Fran will most likely be in Red 5-A at 10:30 sharp to get his favorite parking spot with JoeL right behind.
BTW JoeL, Nick (pitt ticket office) tried to and did help me out on how and what help there is available and I mentioned your name. Asked me to tell you hello.
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Nick Cigalia in the ticket office is just great and represents Pitt well. Told ADHL that too.
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I said 5 wins but can see 6 maybe. Don’t think we’ll get to 7 with the talent we have on hand.
I’m just not impressed with PN’s transfers or recruiting to date.
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Interesting Tweet by Dokish –
Hoopie and psux trolls should look the other way…
H2P!
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Franklin and Kelly are overrated. Holgy is just stupid.
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Speaking of smoke & mirrors, I was reading on a different message board about a WSJ article talking about such tactics used in NCAA attendance figures. I don’t have a subscription so I can’t read the article (https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-footballs-growing-problem-empty-seats-1535634001), but I heard that the most egregious example is Coastal Carolina, with an announced average attendance of about 15,000, but actual attendance of about 2,500.
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Maybe they were using Arthur Anderson to count, Wall street should know all about that.
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l PITTMAN4EVER’S PREDICTIONS:
Pitt’s season record?
6-6
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
5-3
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
No
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
Yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
Ollison/875/9TDs
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
A-Lopes/53/570
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many?
Wiriginis/89
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many?
Idowu/8
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
Ford/5
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
27
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
27
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
128
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
260
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
Kenny Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
Wiriginis
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
Yes
☻How Many times Will He Do It?
18
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game?
21-17 Pitt
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☻What will be Pitt’s season record? 9-4
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record? 6-2
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game? Yes
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass? Yes (Albany)
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs? Hall, 1250, 12 TD’s
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs? Raf, 65 rec, 780, 4 TD’s
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many? Idowu, 110
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many? Hendrix, 8
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many? Ford, 4
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average? 31 ppg
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average? 19
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game? 121
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game? 190
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP? Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP? Hamlin
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game? 42-6
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Erie..what I make out of the Dokish Tweet..We don’t play asmany games against top 10 competition as the others.
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True, but we win just as many in fewer years
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I’m not going to bother trying to predict specific stats, but overall I’m going with Reed, 6-6. If we do significantly better than that, with that schedule, then hats off especially to Pickett, Watson & Borbely.
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Reed’s pick was 5 wins.
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Oh, I must’ve misread somewhere along the way, thanks for pointing that out, so we have a slight difference there. I’m at 6-6.
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Pitt 28..Albany..13..I see Duzz playing it very vanilla and close to the cuff
Does QB2 get any PT ???
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I’d keep Pickett in all game for the reps unless he’s being chased all over the field and we are ahead…then I’d throw Town out there.
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Have no idea on some of the categories. But the major ones I said 8-4 Pitt will win a bowl game. the will go 2-2 in the OCC and 6-2 in the ACC. Pitt beats GT in a close one and other wins NC, Va, Duke, Syracuse, V Tech. Lose WF and Miami. I do think Pitt can pull an upset vs one of the OCC teams. My bet is UCF due to they go to NC before PItt and I just can’t see that program losing the coaching staff and losses on D being nearly as good this year.
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Here’s a thought, if Town comes in with a medium sized lead and then he gets hurt?? If that happens then everyone will be on their CPU’s trying to figure out if the new QB with two first names is eligible this year. Always a catch 22 with PITT. I would hope that Patti doesn’t lose his red-shirt.
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So it appears the Freshman RB is not a happy camper based on his tweet….
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What tweet?
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Ike,
With our new “Vinny” on the scene our “Burger Patti” should be safe from the flames! :>)
…….Your good buddy Pittman4ever Jim
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Too many questions to answer. Pitt 8 and 4( possibly 9) if Pickett is in charge for the entire season.ACC record 6 and 2. If he goes out early in the season we’ll have a tough time winning 5 with Town at QB. Most valuable on the O Pickett hands down and on the D Wirginis. —OT Video interview with Pickett yesterday he expects Pitt to have an explosive offense. That will surprise the hell out of many posting here if that ends up being the case.
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jrn.. this ole fart and there are many on here would love a pleasant surprise… ittza bout
time…
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In case if anyone missed it, Pickett literally guaranteed PITT to win more than 5 games this year.
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If ^^^that gives you confidence, well….I may unfortunately have to adjust my hopes downward.
I love TT above, but am getting closer to a Dx of “crazy” for him.
Ike, I love you, but thinking you were a little tougher than letting a little leg issue keep you away. I am pretty sure I have a broken rib or two and damaged rotator cuff or broken shoulder from laying out to catch a frisbee playing ultimate on Sunday…might even have a lung half collapsed but I’m making it out Saturday. :)) Plan to drink to kill the pain and more if it is close. Will bring my 4 season tickets to burn if we lose.
Prediction based on knowing nothing other than what I read here is 4-7 and the only salvation is if we get one big one which this year NEEDS TO BE THE SECOND GAME!!!
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Hey Upitt, have a question or two. My wife and I are thinking of a cruise middle of October to Cuba, leaving from Miami. Where should we stay? Probably only one night, but fun stuff to do? Any advice would be helpful, thanks. Sorry guys , would give him my email if I knew how.
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I would check and see if you can get off the ship without shore excursions. I believe Americans cannot enter Cuba without a special visa.
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Passport is all you need. It isn’t 1945 Bay of Pigs
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Joe – Lots of options but need to know what you guys like. There are 3 areas I think you will like but need to know your style? You may love the Argentinians and Brazilians but your wife may want to hurt me. haha. mehalovich@hotmail.com Email me.
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JoeKnew is that a one way cruise?
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Man, if I lose it after the Nitter game I might be asked to leave. Naw, it’s our anniversary and we just need to get away, somewhere we’ve never been. Father in law did 35+ in Navy and swore best port he was ever in was Havana. 15 cents for glass of rum and a coke. Rum was a nickel, the Coke was a dime, lol.
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I’d go there in a second, the art museums are supposed to have the best collection of modern art in the world but no one has seen it
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I like the collection of modern asses.
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Anyone needing extra tickets to Albany game, I will likely have 8 extra tickets in Sec 106. Let me know.
Iek: I too called the ticket office (actually, I emailed EJ who put me in touch with them) on your behalf and on behalf of all POVerts who want you in attendance at the tailgate and at the game. I do have a strategy developed that could work if you are still interested in attending the game. You have my email and I believe my phone number if you are interested.
My predictions will post later this evening.
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☻What will be Pitt’s season record? 7 – 5
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record? 6 – 2 (Battle for Coastal if Miami loses to FSU. Pitt loses)
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game? Yes
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass? Yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs? Ollison w/ 742 yds, 9 td’s
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs? Lopes w/ 62, 729 yds, 7 td;s
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Man Idowu 106
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many? Weaver 9
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many? Jackson 4
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average? 29.6
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average? 30.3
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game? 122
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game? 203
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP? Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP? Idowu
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline? yes
☻How Many times Will He Do It? As many as he feels necessary
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game? 31 – 13
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Here is Salahuddin’s tweet
https://mobile.twitter.com/mXs7/status/1029865884230275072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1029865884230275072&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpittsburgh.forums.rivals.com%2Fthreads%2Finteresting-tweet-from-our-freshman-rb.135777%2F
“A lot of lies and fake love in this game , God please show me the way…”
This isn’t news he tweeted something just like it during camp. Apparently he was told something by someone about something …or not.
But lookie there.
Is that the infamous mouth doctor of ours actually trying to give advice to an 18 year old player he’s never met … on TWITTER?
Please tell me you didn’t do that Doc…
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Missing Wlat, what a moving gesture on your part and thank you and why it really busts me up I won’t be there. Thanks good friend . check your email buddy. . . ike
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I will pick you up. You are 0-2 on Panther Events Dude. Text me your address, hell I will bring you home as well and get you a handicap spot you old gimp.
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I’ve been to tailgates, you are my unlucky charm. Check your email and I’ll send you what I sent Missing Wlat and your offer is also very moving despite the way you phrase it you big dumb hick….
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and a btw my good buddy Mark, I had a handi-capped parking placard before this crap happened. I don’t have a good leg to stand on… I’m in full out depression mode this evening……and in pain……. You like to spread your tough love to me don’t you? 🙂
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Haha
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Pitt wins against everyone except wake forest, notre dame, and either vt or miami.
9 wins, 3 losses.
No idea on the bowl game. Too many variables.
Also, fairly certain fsu ends up as our conferences best playoff contender, but doesn’t play in the acc championship game. Same as I predicted last year for alabama in the sec.
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http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/Fan-Happiness-Index/espn-college-football-fan-happiness-index
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While convalescing here at the house I’m contemplating breaking a few rules and could start to drink heavily this evening while scouting the UCF VS Uconn game. Details in the morning if I remember any. Why not, I’m already in the doghouse for being an idiot.
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For about 10 years straight, I have predicted 6-6 for this football team. This year, I’m deviating from that prediction. I say go to the Vegas window and take Pitt to go OVER the predicted 5.5 wins. This ACC schedule is as friendly as it will ever get, so time to take advantage. If the defense isn’t good this year, it may never be. I’m expecting a big year from Rashad Weaver and the entire group of LBs. If we are to believe the media, Pickett is not only a great QB, but a great team leader. Finally, there is evidence of position depth on this team. The major question mark is the O-line, and it is a big one which prevents me from getting excited about the season. My prediction is a 7-5 regular season with a bowl trip on the horizon.
Season Breakdown: Pitt over Albany 31-10. Remainder: 1-1 vs PSU and GT. 1-1 vs UNC and UCF. 1-1 vs SU and ND. Win vs Duke off bye. 1-1 vs UVA and VT. 1-1 vs WF and UM.
I can’t predict game by game, but I like to look at paired games based on this schedule. In typical Pitt fashion, they may upset PSU or VT at home, but they will surely drop a game or two unexpectedly. I see the Duke or UVA games as potential trap games. Wake Forest on the road will not be as easy as many think, especially if they upset VT and look ahead to Miami.
Abridged Predictions:
* ACC Record: 5-3
* Bowl Game: Pitt wins Gasparilla or Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
* Offensive PPG: 25.4
* Defensive PPG: 21.5
* Offensive MVP: Kenny Pickett
* Defensive MVP: Quintin Wirginis
Overall, many realistic predictions on the POV. However, it may be a sign of the apocalypse if Ike’s expectations are the same as mine.
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Mike as a parent to my kids friends I’m reporting you to Child Services b/c you are smoking illegal stuff again.
Season Breakdown: Pitt over Albany 31-10. Remainder: 1-1 vs PSU and GT. 1-1 vs UNC and UCF. 1-1 vs SU and ND. Win vs Duke off bye. 1-1 vs UVA and VT. 1-1 vs WF and UM.
Is this even in English?
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I laid out the schedule and all it means is that I think they will split most 2 game stretches. I did include punctuation, but maybe they didn’t teach that at Laurel Highlands or Albert Gallatin!!! If Pitt beats PSU, bet the house they will lose to GT. I think they split road games at UNC and UCF. I think they likely beat Syracuse and lose to ND. I think they split between UVA and VT, and split the final two.
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I’ll wager another dinner at Hibachi that Pitt goes over the Vegas 5.5 wins. Since you predicted 5-7, that looks like a bet.
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Done
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Take ear muffs to Cuba. Not sure if government ever figured out what was going on there.
It is easy to determine what happened at the scrimmages. Pitt Won!!!
My prediction is as follows. Pitt will be 1-0 after Saturday’s game. I am going to say 33-23.
The Albanites stay in the game because of much trickeration. Need to understand the coaching mentality of those dudes. They want to come up with any way to win the game and have nothing to lose. For that reason only. they become dangerous.
Conversely, if I am Pitt offensively, I use every trick play in the book against the Albanites which will make the Dairy College panic defensively and quickly practice to keep their skilled players disciplined for our game. At that point, Pitt can use a power running game to victory because the Dairy defenders were so paranoid to play recklessly fast! It also gives Pickett extra time because the Dairy will be concerned about trickeration and be less aggressive. C’mon fellers. You can use the first game for lots of reasons. I would use it to make others practice discipline and take out some of their aggressiveness.
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While I am hopeful that all the unknowns end being pleasant surprises in a good way I do think the schedule is just brutal and based on what we do know I am not sure we are more talented than any team on the schedule except Albany. One side of me is optimistic and thinks we can win 8+ while the other side is telling me we really struggle and end up 4-, so I split the difference and after a rough start we see steady improvement throughout which gets us to 6-6. I do think we will handle Albany easily but I recall very well beating Kent St 51-0 in the 93 opener en route to a 3-9 season, so outside of a straight up loss not sure we will learn anything from that game.
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UCF pace on offense is incredibly quick.
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See a player named Schneider on the OL for UCF… wonder if her is related to former ( never saw the field) Bo Schneider ?
https://247sports.com/Player/Bo-Schneider-39471/
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Why do our top running backs become disenchanted so quick? isn’t this the third one in three consecutive years? why can’t Pitt handle media better. Coaches show scheduled for 5:30 tonight followed by Duquesne coach. Tuned in and lo it’s the PS coaches show. Seems Pitt has been getting hind tit ever since it became AT&T Sportsnet. Where the hell is the ACC Network? I am tired of getting my football fix on the BIG 10 because that is all that is available.
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I chose to defer from guessing on how Pitt will do. On what solid data is everyone basing their predictions? Pitt’s entire camp was closed to the media as were all the scrimmages. Pitt has a new offensive line coach who I “hope” will improve things but based on past job performance may not. This points out the lack on information on only Pitt. Have all the avid readers of POV also pored over the data available on each of Pitt’s opponents as well to come to their conclusions? To use an ancient computer analogy: “GIGO”. I think we should do the predictions after seeing them actually, say, play a game. At least then you will be able to tell at least one thing, if Pitt can not open running lanes against Albany we are in for a long winter’s night of a season.
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Either UConn is really bad or UCF is still pretty much the same team. The routes they are running are the ones we haven’t been able to cover the past 3 yrs. Wake has a really good d also.
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Wake has a good coach in Clawson. Hard to believe he had Elko as his DC two years ago. Last year he was at ND. This year Jimbo swiped him from ND.
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UConn has recruited 2 stars. You are what you recruit. Listen up Narduzzi.
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Ummm … UCF recruits 2 stars.
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avg rank over last 4 years is 60 for UCF
UConn is 90
big difference in talent
avg star 2.6 vs 2.1
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I thought a 3 star is a 3 star. What does it matter with two stars? It was two, 2 star teams playing each other.
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Before the predictions, I should say that I’ve never been wrong underestimating Pitt. They always seem to perform just below what I expect (which isn’t much). On the positive side, I think our QB play can’t help but to be improved from last year. Also on the positive, our LBer’s will be much better with Wirginis replacing Brightwell (who was terrible in the middle last year). Idowu and Zeise/Brightwell (on the outside) will be solid. Our DL should also be improved this year. On the downside, our OL might flat out stink. What a hodge-podge of leftovers we’re trotting out there. RB’s are pedestrian. WR’s might be a pleasant surprise but nothing proven yet. TE is ugly. If our defense is much improved we should at least be competitive in most games.
Now for the predictions:
What will be Pitt’s season record? 6-6
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record? 4-4
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game? No
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass? No
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs? Hall, 912 yards, 7 TD’s
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs? Taysir Mack 59, 725 yards, 6 TDs
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many? Wirginis, 89
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many? Weaver, 7
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many? Coleman, 3
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average? 24.5
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average? 25.7
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game? 143
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game? 189
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP? Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP? Wirginis
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline? why not?
☻How Many times Will He Do It? Once a quarter
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game? Pitt 24 Danes 17
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7 – 7
We start 2 – 5
Losses to PSU (ugh), GT, UNC, CF, ND (ugh)
Win Coastal 6-2
Lose ACC Title game and bowl
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Don’t tell me we lose to the Tarholes again 😦
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how the heck are we getting 14 games in? maybe we make the D2 playoffs? 😉
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dljv7DAVAAApIqG?format=jpg&name=small
They took the team picture in the ug uni’s. Even though every recruit wore the Royal Blue & Yellow,
in their commit to Pitt pics.
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Lots of many good predictions with different names popping up.
My off the wall thought? A name that will not have been mentioned in this thread or article will emerge a real difference maker for PITT by the years end, as an example, someone like Elias Reynolds and not necessarily saying he’s the one. Maybe someone like Dane Jackson did last year?
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Ok I’ll play. The running game is so unimpressive, Nard Dog is forced to play Houdini, who then goes on to avg over a 125 yards a game over the last 6 games of the season. And does 200 in the Bowl game and wins the Bowl Game MVP award.
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and a new legend is born. Like the sound of that.
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BTW Reed: I thought this would be an opportunity to list a few less conventional season predictions. Since it’s Pitt, we should include:
Player with most whiffed tackles?
OL with most whiffed blocks?
Most mind-numbing loss?
Number of times Watson will call a run up the middle from the 1 yard line and we fail to score?
First player to throw a student/fan through a door?
Number of times the average Pitt fan will throw something at their TV?
Number of times we’ll be told that Narduzzi is recruiting at a high level?
Number of times we’ll be told that “next year is our year”?
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since line is an issue:
number of negative yardage plays (75)
number of penalties (67)
number of sacks (34)
number of come from behind wins (1)
number of players to start on the line (9)
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Heard on the radio today that Psu announced a couple of games being scheduled with Temple.
Psu and Franklin know how to schedule. Someone said that Psu is 44 and 1 against Temple…
No exactly a rivalry game…
Go Pitt.
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So did JoePedo.
Temple got their first win just a couple years ago since 1941. Temple won the first 3 out of 4 years they played. But then lost the next 39 times straight until 2015. Series record is 4 wins Temple 40 wins Pedos
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8-4 regular season record. I can’t predict bowl without knowing opponent. Pitt will lose to PSU, ND, MIA and 1 other team. They will beat UCF and VT. ACC is 5-3, Darrin Hall 1000/7. Taysir Mack 65 receptions; RaRa gets 50 receptions. Sacks: Weaver and Camp 6 each. Int: Jackson with 5. PPG: 26 Defense: 22. OMVP: Mack. DMVP: Weaver. PITT 30 ALBANY 13.
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Alright Little Q…with a 1 handed TD catch for the Stillers !
Go Q !!!
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QH with a TD. Pitt Proud.
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Interesting Little Q’s 1st TD catch in the NFL…against the Panthers. Charlotte’s Panthers that is.
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Pompiani gotta be among the worst play by play announcers going. Another John Saunders…bending bending bending.
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I honestly believe Pitts schedule is much, much harder than anyone realizes. They will struggle every week except the first one. These teams are much better than people realize, and all the road games are going to be losses. Geez, I’m starting to wonder how they will even win 5! Guess they need to win one on the road, but anyone who sleeps on the UVA game is in for a surprise. Oh well, let the fun begin.
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I think we got a chance to win at Chapel Hell, as that team appears to be in chaos. And I think we could win in C-ville and at Wake. None of those teams are great or even good, Wake being the best of the lot.
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We tend to forget in our Pitt-induced blindness that other teams have good players and can improve also.
That’s why I tend to go with national predictions more than local ones…they look at all of college football while we stare only at Pitt.
I think last preseason was a good example of that, especially when it came to transfers. National writers aren’t swayed by the love and high hopes Pitt fans have.
If you go back and read some national articles last year talking about Max Browne and compare those to what local writer’s were writing about him you’ll notice a marked difference in the expectations of success they held.
That is what I try to do with transfer players also. Look at them individually and not as Panthers so to get a sense of what they actually are or have been at their old team.
So I’m not all that impressed with Gragg or Milin…yet.
If you go back and look at that table of transfers I posted a couple of weeks ago you’ll see that the majority didn’t do much at all when they played for us. And Narduzzi relies on transfers.
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I don’t believe that at all. Most here understand the difficulty of the OOC. Most also realize that most of the ACC schedule is toss-ups. I haven’t seen many mention gimme games. I see UVA occasionally, but I agree with you that it could be more difficult than some realize. That’s really the only game that may get overlooked.
Good coaches get their teams to win the toss-up games. We’ll find out if Duzz can do that soon enough.
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Tulane, which has had 1 winning season in the last 16 years, giving Wake all can handle atm.
Of course the Pitt game in Winston is not until November…so there is that.
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The line was 7 points
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My Comcast on demand says that I will be able to see the Pitt Albany game at 8 Saturday night on WTAED whatever that is.Does. anyone know if there just kidding me ?
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Pitt 11-1 have some faith all
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Ike, sorry you are in so much discomfort…will miss you and the rest of the Bobalila clan tomorrow.
Tailgate starts 10:30 am when the gates open…I now drive a silver 4Runner SUV. POV and Pitt script flags will be flying. Red lot 5A.
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Fran, it’s 5:45 AM and you are retired. Aren’t you supposed to be snoozing? Or is it an early tee time morning ?
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Injuries could knock a few guys out for the Albany game – per PSN –
There are some other Panthers that having been dealing with nagging injuries, including starting right tackle Alex Bookser (P.Ford and J.Pinnock), and Narduzzi said that anyone less than 100 percent is unlikely to play on Saturday and that fan’s shouldn’t panic.
“That’s my philosophy, always,” Narduzzi said. “If he’s a little bit banged up and you get him banged up any more, now you lose three games instead of one game. The health of these student-athletes is paramount. … We’re going to be careful with them.”
Game prediction: Pitt 41 Albany 14
Season Prediction: 6-7 (Bowel loss and refuse to renew season tickets)
Season Expectation: 10-3 (Bowel win and renew season tickets)
It’s got to be entertaining or I will be tempted to play more golf.
H2P!
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My guess is they play. You want them to play and not their first game be the PSU game.
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Save them for the pedos…
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PITTPT… after Fran gets done feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs he will start packing for the exhibition game tailgate… gotta a big one to rehearse for on the horizon…
Read the Trib this morning.. anyone get the impression Duzz is in a “ tizz “ or panic mode… no shutdown CB has emerged, injuries.. even Wanny lending him advice ?
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Also Pats comment on QB2… Patti is close to Town in ability… sounds like the kid right outta HS doing better than a well- traveled R Town..
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Boy George can’t get here soon enough… maybe Duzz has an on/ line QB class that Jr has been watching during the interim
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8-5 with a bowl win.
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Hoping RB Houdini gets some carries against Albany to keep the 4th string kid interested.
Maybe he can switch positions to DB or LB?
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EE.. he might be “ entitled. “
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Ike – Hope you woke up with swelling down & feeling chipper. Take it easy today & maybe tomorrow tailgate.
Not surprised that UCF won in a blowout. Was surprised that Tulane made it close with Wake.
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Tickets in the lower bowl going for $6 on stubhub. Even when the Pirates absolutely stunk they sold out Opening Day. Cheapest Pitt-PSU seat going for $90 in the 500 sections. We may see a white-out at Heinz.
Sign of no buzz whatsoever. Pitt needs to win big if they want a decent crowd for GT. Afraid that half of those season tickets went to PSU fans again. Should be plenty of cheap tickets available all year.
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Sad to hear that Ford is dinged up. Not a good omen. Same with Bookser. These are two guys that need to excel for Pitt to succeed.
I read where this is Albany’s first P-5 game ever. Why didn’t we play IUP or Edinboro, at least they would have sold some seats.
If Albany beats us, I change my vote to 3-7.
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That’s only 10 games – are you indicating that Pitt might cancel the season if they are 3-7, ending the misery and nashing of teeth?
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I’ll change mine to 2-10
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Tulane will be a much, much better team this year than previous years. They aren’t the patsys they have been. Point is, the games I would ordinarily target as wins this year ie.UVa, NC, Wake, are on the road. Wake is much better at home, NC for whatever reason gives us fits, and we play like crap at UVa. Oh well.
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Yea, but some years Pitt plays better on the road than at Ketchup Bottle and it’s non-college atmosphere.
Witness 2015….Pitt was 5-1 on the Road.
2018 PITT ROAD WARRIORS RETURNS !!!
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Emel — Good point. A hostile crowd can get the team fired up, as long as they have been coached to deal with the noise…
Go Pitt.
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I’ll be a mountaineer fan tomorrow – App State that is. I will look to burn a couch if they beat the pedos in creepy valley.
Muskets up – fire!
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A little shower lingo for the pedo trolls
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yea you don’t want to get them……..overly…..excited…..funny but gross at the same time.
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Aye aye EE,,,,the Boys from Boone could make the Pedo’s sweat a little. Muskets up !!!
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And it wouldn’t take much for Tulane to become better. Wake was starting a true Freshman QB last nite.
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☻What will be Pitt’s season record? 8-4
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record? 6-2
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
Yes
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
Yes
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDS
Quadree Ollison, 826 yds 4Tds
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDS?
Michael Smith 755 yds, 41 catches and 6 TDS
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many? Elijah Zeise with 88 tackles
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many? Dwayne Hendrix 7 sacks
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
Dane Jackson 4 picks
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
25
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
20
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
144
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
239
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
Idowu
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
Absolutely
☻How Many times Will He Do It? 5
Pie in the sky hopes as usual. I think the defense will save us in a few games, we will beat State Penn, and win one other we should lose, but we will win the ones we should win as long as we have no injuries at QB. I see an 8-4 season with a win in the Bowl game for 9-4 total. Everyone plays well, but no superstars, just gritty tough play that will give us high hopes for next year again.
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I had all the chickens fed by 4am Bernie. This gentleman farmer crap won’t last long. Haha.
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Ist prediction: 20 or less pass attempts this Saturday.
2nd prediction: Pitt wins 21+14. This 40+ point thing ain’t happening this week!
3rd prediction: if we beat PSU we win 8 games. If not we win 5.
Beat the friggin nitters! All else will fall into place.
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There was some speculation that George, jr was here as a favor to his dad. I didn’t believe that…as I have said before, Town sucks and they wanted George as a back up for Pickett some time ago.
Narduzzi comfims that with this quote:
Narduzzi said there was nothing to report on transfer quarterback Jeff George Jr.’s eligibility, but he’s pleased George chose Pitt over Michigan, a rival when he coached at Michigan State.
“I just feel like (he) got there (to Michigan) and felt like, you know, maybe he made a mistake and decided to come here,” he said.
That was Monday. On Wednesday, he doubled down and explained to ACC reporters how George Jr. arrived at Pitt.
“We were trying to get him here , and he ended up choosing the Michigan Wolverines, which you know I didn’t think was a very good decision. But you know what? Some guys, they’ve got to make decisions. They make decisions for whatever the reason. But the good thing is he saw the light, and we were able to get him back here.
“He’s a super kid. I really like the kid, and we’re happy to have him part of our program.”
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I don’t know Commander….Pitt has this thing taking NFL legacy kids. The RB Tony Collins kid, the Oderick Turner kid, and there were a few others. And now this Boy George kid.
But I’ll take him if he’s better than Town, (although he was dreadful for Illinois, which was the rump end of the BigJoke at 0-9 in the conference and 2-10 overall). And that is saying alot since Buttgers, Maryland and Indiana are in the BigJoke.
Truth be told, they both stink, as Town wasn’t even the starter for a Juco school. Although I doubt the Nooch could start there either.
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Dreadful? Not really – Illinois was a poor team all around especially on the OL, but at least he has some solid D1 P5 experience… and I think he’s more talented than Town.
Pitt wouldn’t have ‘tried to get him here’ if it was just a favor for a parent. They would have turned the page rather quickly when he chose UM. But obviously they wanted him.
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In the practice scramble passes on vid the other day…Boy George had a tough time hitting a stationary target with nobody in his face.
Probably Patti is the best option, regardless of whether we have to burn his redshirt. I don’t see some 2 star kid missing all of camp, being much of a factor this year.
Unless there is some high strangeness of the #22 against Duke going on.
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Its crucial to have a capable backup at the most important position on the field. I’m not holding out high hopes for George or Town.
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Here’s something I never knew. And I’ll share it with you. After leaving Pitt, Pitt’s legendary Jock Sutherland coached the Brooklyn Dodgers…of the NFL. He was 8-3 in 1940 and 7-4 in 1941. He would later coach the Pgh Steelers in 1946 and 1947. Going 5-5-1 and 8-4.
Before the Immaculate Reception in 1972, having a winning record as the Steelers HC was indeed legendary.
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If there is a one game injury, such as a concussion protocol, then my bet is that Patti gets the call if it happens in the first half of the year. If an injury to Pickett occurs in the second half it will be whoever can get them to a bowl game. Maybe by then George will be ready. BTW, I’m predicting a 7-5 year with a bowl loss. The other categories I have no clue on. I predicted that Browne would throw for 2900 yards last year, so you get my point.
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I disagree. Patti is not going to ready to play early in the season.
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Well, at least the season is finally here and we will soon have some answers. The first four games will probably tell us all we need to know. I think GT is the pivotal game. Will our defense finally be fast and strong enough to win a big game at home after the adrenaline is gone from the week before?
If we don’t at least split the first 4 it will be very difficult to have a winning season.
I also think the only shot we have of having a winning season is if KP stays healthy. The other guys won’t win a game against this schedule.
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That’s gonna be a tough one… brother gc. GT is always no picnic. It Pitt was smart, they would have scheduled a rent-a-win after Pedo State.
Just like what Pedo State is doing after playing Pitt. Not only a MAC team, is going to Creepy Valley after they play Pitt. But the 2nd worst MAC team of last year. Kent State.
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Not looking good for scheduling with WV and Tennessee coming on. Absolutely agree we need to lighten up, especially with getting ND, Clemson, Fl ST and Louisville every so often. No need for more than one tough OOC which should be PSU or WV for attendance and rivalry purposes. When and if they dictate all power 5 then it will be a level playing field. Until then victories all count the same for bowl eligibility and ranking.
We know that OK St did little for attendance or ticket sales last year so why put yourself in a hole?
UCF will be the same next year so why risk a bowl game in down years?
I think Pitt ought to dump PSU next year for IUP, since they won’t schedule us anymore. Same with BBall.
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Then we get two for one just like has been offered to us.
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Hardball!
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I only hope Heather is smarter than previous Pitt AD’s, when it comes to scheduling. We know Herman, knew he was only going to be at Pitt for a short while, being the ‘Hitman’ he was hired to be.
And after his hiring of Otis, we know he could have cared less about Pitt basketball, let alone Pitt football.
Dunno exactly if he was the culprit with these non-con schedules, but it seems most probable.
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Do they want butts in the seats or do they want wins. Pay close attention to what they are actually doing.
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Only PSU, WV and ND get butts in seats. In the long run only winning matters and will get more butts in seats.
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I know and I think it is stupid. They are not just scheduling two probable losses with a home and away for 5,000 more ticket sales, but football is a game of attrition. When you play bigger stronger Power 5 teams, you risk more injury and you don’t get your second and third string guys on the field.
When you are ranked in the 50’s why play the the toughest schedule in the land. You are shooting yourself in the foot for a couple of bucks. It makes no sense whatsoever.
We have not adjusted to being in a Power 5 conference, there is no need to make the schedule tougher.
What is needed is better marketing of in conference games. Encourage the ACC teams to come by offering great package deals and showing them a good time. Will pay many more dividends in the long run. Developing in conference rivalries is what is needed. We need to hate GT, UNC, VT and Miami the way we hate PSU and WV. That is what will make people show up.
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If Pitt schedules Tenn or they schedule Buffalo, which game gets more fans in the seats?
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Right but how many more? Is it worth losing a bowl game?
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Again, pay attention to what Pitt is actually doing. It doesn’t really matter what you or I think, it only matters what Pitt is doing. On paper, they are scheduling the tougher games over easy wins.
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gc
August 31, 2018 at 10:49 am
I know and I think it is stupid. They are not just scheduling two probable losses with a home and away for 5,000 more ticket sales, but football is a game of attrition. When you play bigger stronger Power 5 teams, you risk more injury and you don’t get your second and third string guys on the field.
When you are ranked in the 50’s why play the the toughest schedule in the land. You are shooting yourself in the foot for a couple of bucks. It makes no sense whatsoever.
We have not adjusted to being in a Power 5 conference, there is no need to make the schedule tougher.
What is needed is better marketing of in conference games. Encourage the ACC teams to come by offering great package deals and showing them a good time. Will pay many more dividends in the long run. Developing in conference rivalries is what is needed. We need to hate GT, UNC, VT and Miami the way we hate PSU and WV. That is what will make people show up.
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More Pitt peeps should live in NC….then they would hate the Tarholes like I do ! Thug U should be hated as well……just because.
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Villavermin…that’s a new one for me..thank for jumping in your Vermoptimism !
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What Buttgers did when Schiano was there is what Pitt should be doing. Schedule wins, build up the record. Over time, the built up record will put butts in the seats. Just like what happened at forlorn Buttgers.
And they didn’t have some 65,000 seat place to try and fill up. I think their place was like only 45,000. When they had those successive years of winning under Schiano, they filled up the 45,000 regularly, so they could then expand the place. To where it is now….52,000.
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And so another season starts. H2P
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My prediction is only based on comments here over the last few months. QB Pickett is certainly the wild card and has the “moxie” as had been stated.
That said I’m guessing a losing season at 5-7 with an outside shot at 12-1 and a NC game loss.
The truth is that it very likely will be another in a long line of mediocre seasons at best. The 7 to 8 win crowd is just looking for a little higher level of mediocrity.
If fortunate enough to get to a bowl game, winning that should be a must for PN to keep his job.
Hoping and rooting for the outside shot!
Thanks to Reed and everyone else for a great blog!
H2P!
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Me and a buddy are coming to the tailgate and will gladly kick in for the refreshments, and I will bring a
bottle of Gentleman Jack for the cause. Arriving about 1:30.
Also, need two tickets so if anybody can help with that great, although it won’t be a problem either way lol.
Looking forward to seeing yinz guys.
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gc, I have an extra ticket and I believe as of yesterday Wlat had 8 so we should be able to hook you guys up I think.
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Reed, with the amount of posts that are going to be on game day this season can you set up page breaks for the thread so it will make it easier for scrolling, especially on mobile devices.
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Saw the Port Authority buses downtown flashing, “Lets Go Pitt” yesterday. The City’s ready. Lets get some wins and the bandwagon will grow.
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I like Clemson though….classy HC.
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Think about this: there are predictions here from 3-7 (with 2 forfeits?) to 9-4. The determining factor seems to be the availability and play of Pickett. This is placing some severe pressure on the player, and implies that the entire season, including bowl game, is riding on his shoulders. If he gets hurt in the first game, is the entire season over before it begins?
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The thing that still scares me is our O Line. Why? The last time we saw them was at the Spring Game – and to call them terrible is way too kind. Now, I think Reed’s take on why Duzz didn’t release any scrimmage stats
is right – the O (and its O line) were sub-par! Unfortunately, It adds up for me also, Commander.
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But, fortunately or not, we did not see this Oline playing together at the spring game.
Though I agree that the individual performances in the spring game probably gave Kenny Pickett nightmares…
Go Pitt.
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alcofan… wonder what the PAT buses will flask next Saturday ?
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Prediction… Aaron Donald will sign a $135 Million 6 Year Contract Extension with $87 Million GUARANTEED!
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Thank goodness those of you calling for Pitt to schedule 3 of 4 non-con games as easy win, crap games every year will never get your wish…No one respects those types of wins, nothing is gained from them, and they are boring as can be to sit through as a fan. I’m not saying we should schedule 4 P5 schools (Although that is the all powerful Saban’s preference for all P5 schools non-con schedules). How about 2 and 2: Two games you should win and two games you could easily loose if you don’t play your best game. With the two games you should win being against progressively better teams.
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Looks like College gameday will be at the Tex A&M-Clemson game next weekend.
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Overall record: 9-4 (break tradition & win a bowl game)
ACC: 6-2 (lose at Miami / winner to Charlotte)
O MVP: Pickett
D MVP: Wirginis
Pitt 27 Albany 13
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Pitt has an ACC commitment in its’ ND schedule so that’s a lock .They should schedule 3 liteweight OOC’s until this team is built up then upgrade to 2/2 for all the reasons already stated. Injuries/depth, National perception , recruits perception etc. Perception is reality! At this stage it is lunacy to have a top 10 difficulty of schedule each year. Our schedule is not being evaluated by the championship committee yet. Thur,sday night note: Hurrah for Henderson. Another note: Observed ” Kam Carter” make two outstanding defensive plays for Mizzou State against OK State last night. Anyone notice with Disney/ESPN now owning Fox the Fox sports ESPN with no competition and Fox owning the Big channel coverage now has the BIG on every channel.H2P——I hope
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@HBG Frank- was that meant to be cynical? Saban is one of the main easy schedulers…2018 – The Citadel, UL Lafayette, Arkansauce St. and Louisville (neutral site..if that in orlando). That sounds like 4-0 easily, 3-1 at the worst.
2017 – Mercer, Fresno St and Colorado St, Florida St. (neutral site, if that, in Atlanta). That sounds like 3-1 at the worst and 4-0 pretty easily.
2016 – Western Kentucky, Kent St., Chattanooga College and USC (neutral site). Seems like 3-1 at the worst and 4-0 pretty easily.
The facts are strong to schedule easy. I did an analysis of the top20 teams over the past few years and they all schedule this way. WVU wants us on the schedule because they beat us often and the game at Steeler stadium is a neutral site, as is ND and Dairy. Did we put Tenn on the schedule? If we just did that, we are just dumb, and stupid! They are trending upward in the next few years, not this year, yet.
Only Pitt and our AD’s schedule with no strategic plan in mind to ever be top10 or top15. 2-2 OOC at best each year gets you nothing. Plus it gets your guys beat up before conference games and it doesn’t give them confidence. Plus, it hurts recruiting. Plus, they get to play their true freshman for experience, a preseason for all….except us!
There is a reason Dairy schedules Temple and Alabama schedules Mercer….good grief! This isn’t hard.
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I believe Heather as already shown her feeling on P5 / rent a win. For 2020, scheduled Miami (of Ohio) to fill out a non-com of ND, Richmond, Marshall & Miami (of Ohio). Could have scheduled a home/away with a P5 as only scheduled non-com is Tennessee.
https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/pitt/
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I like what Heather did there, but with our luck Miami of Ohio will have some Heisman candidate behind center that year…😊
Go Pitt.
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At the end of the day the only thing people remember about a season is the Win/Loss Record!
“Wow, Pitt was 9-3 last season. They must be really good.”
FACT: ONLY THE RECORD REMAINS IN THE MINDS OF THE NORMAL COLLEGE FAN.
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Thanks for the kind words Fran and Richard. Having trouble feeling chipper as my best laid plans went right out the window. Speaking of chipper pitt-cocks, hope you had a great summer, I don’t have to worry about smiling Fran who thinks he lives on the Green Acres show.
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IIke, what were you thinking getting dinged up this close to the season? That’s like Q. Wirginis getting hurt allegedly water skiing or for us old timers, Cliff Stoudt, breaking his hand punching añ arcade punching bag. We need you ready for next week at the latest!
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Richman, can Heather get you into the locker room to give the “Win one for the Ikester” speech?
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Heather is showing that, if not smart, she is surely receptive to making changes. I am coming to believe she’s smart also. Pitt has always played difficult schedules, and the Nitters have looked for cream puffs. Guess whose plan worked out better? Puff up your chests, say at least we play big time opponents. Thing is, nationally, NO ONE CARES. Wins and loses gentlemen. Look at it historically, in the 60’s we played a difficult national schedule as an independent. The Nitters, whoplayed in a 40k stadium in the middle of nowhere decided to play a somewhat less taxing schedule with more winnable games. Gradually, and I say gradually, they became successful with their philosophy. It came with a cost, a few undefeated seasons and no
NCs but eventually it developed their brand. Pitt does not have the will, desire, or patience to do this. It’s mush easier to go our route. No long term plan for the brand to succeed. Just a few brief periods of get good, and then demphisze. Yup, fear the football factory mentality.
Well, I think Heather is a smart cookie. How much power she has and who her rabbis are will tell how successful she will be. No power 5 school does what we do, it’s athletic suicide. We’ve tried the “ play big time opponents” route foe 60 years. It just hasn’t worked, either with record or putting butts in the seats. If I have time I might just research this whole mess and do a piece. ( but only if I have enough booze to get me past the late 60s, oh, and the JMll era, oh, and the coaching carousel. Aw, forget it)
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https://sports.yahoo.com/college-footballs-attendance-problem-secretly-huge-150819769.html
so when Pitt announces 45k in attendance, its really more like 32k…a stadium that is 40% of capacity
and winning 10-11 games consistently every year will only make real attendance go to around 52-55k. those were Pitt stadium numbers when Pitt was THE Alabama
Tarp!
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Drafting Albany game day article and predictions thread.
I’ll carry over Albany predictions front this article so we see what we all thought as the game progresses.
Looks like 87* and sunny so wear your hats… And don’t forget Fran’s POVers tailgate in Red 5A parking lot.bright next to the garage and where the Tee stop for Heinz lets out.
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6-6 regular season
4-4 in ACC
Loss in bowl game because we lose them 75% of the time.
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Pitt 38 Albany 14
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JoeKnew, I think the scheduling of national P5 teams harkens back to the good old days when Pitt routinely competed with these teams. Coming to Pitt in the late 60s, the wins were few, but I recall the pride in going to a “national” calibre university where USC, UCLA, ND and other powerhouses were routine visitors to Pitt stadium. Dave Hart sucked as a coach, but to this day I remember Dave Havern, Denny Ferris, Phil Exposito and of course Ralph Cindrich, the soul of the Pitt defense. Pedo was playing the Little Sisters of the Poor at that time. No one will remember playing in dog games against teams like Akron, Towson, and Middle Tennessee State. Who sits around discussing some great play made against Youngstown state a few years ago?? ADs like Heather have a vision of returning to those glory years. Do you want anything less?
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Fran – my wife baked special brownies for the tailgate tomorrow – c u all there.
H2P!
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“special”? How special?
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Stop by pre-game and sample one.
🤪
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Just had Carolina Gold wings sprinkled with Cajun – pre-game meal before watching my two nephews play HS FB tonight.
The oldest is less than 1,000 yards from breaking the Erie County rushing record – maybe he becomes the new Erie Express…
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Is Pitt recruiting him?
Tex
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Joeknew, 6-6 teams don’t have much in the way of glory days.
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Ike – (the former Mr. Dabolina). Had a good summer. Hopefully only one more month of heat & humidity. I always thought Green Acres was a funny show. I still watch reruns when I find them. As for Frans sleep habits, I still get up around 5:30 & I have been retired for 11 years. Mornings have always been my quiet time – Read, relax, plan my day, coffee tv on low for local news.
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Pittsburgh airport full of West Virginia fans. Saw one Pitt fan. Is there is zero buzz?? wake up Heather?
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Spiked Fantas for tomorrow’s game
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Rich… that’s right. Quiet time. Plus my 2 year old curly-coat retreiver wakes me up around 4:00 like he thinks I still work…and I don’t mind.
Looks like UPitt is may it.
Mark, if you need anything my cell is 724-309-4343.
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Making the game…sheese.
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Aaron Donald just signed a deal worth $135 million over six years, with a $40 million signing bonus and $87 million guaranteed.
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☻What will be Pitt’s season record?
6-6
☻ What will be Pitt’s ACC record?
5-3
☻Will Pitt win a Bowl Game?
NO
☻Will Pitt’s QB2 throw a TD pass?
YES
☻Pitt’s Leading Rusher, Yards Made and How Many TDs?
Ollison, 875, 8
☻Pitt’s Leading Receive, # of Catches, Yards & How Many TDs?
RaRa, 50, 950, 11
☻Pitt’s Leading Tackler? How Many?
Wirginis, 87
☻ Pitt’s Sacks Leader? How Many?
UPittBaseball, 7
☻Pitt’s Interceptions Leader? How Many?
Jackson, 8
☻Pitt’s Offensive Points Per Game Average?
24
☻Pitt’s Defensive Points Per Game Average?
28
☻Opponent’s Rushing Yards Per Game?
122
☻Opponent’s Passing Yards Per Game?
289
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Offensive MVP?
Pickett
☻Who Will Be Pitt’s Defensive MVP?
Idowu
☻Will Pat Narduzzi Scream at a Coach on the sideline?
Zen Narduzzi will only politely whisper “Namaste”
☻How Many times Will He Do It?
Immediately after “Sweet Caroline”
☻What will be the score of the Pitt Panthers vs Albany Great Danes game?
27-17 Pitt
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How many seats were in the stadium playing those powerhouses? Do you remember 11-1 or who you played?point is, playing a schedule like that is just plain stupid. No one, I repeat, no one schedules like that . Conference tie ins killed that long ago. Heck, even Notre Dame has dumbed down their schedule. I promise you, most people remember 1-9 more than the 10teams they played. And finally, playing that schedule put no more fans in the stands.
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I think you mean Tony Esposito, Spatz was one of my favorites, tried to tackle him as a 9th grader. I was roadkill.
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10-2 on the year, with a Cotton Bowl match up vs. Auburn or Oklahoma. We beat PSU and ND…same year!!! I think we lose either to GTech (always a pain) or UCF coming between the highs of the other games, and probably to Miami, but perhaps not. IF IF IF, Pickett stays healthy for most of the year and the DBs show up.
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Ooooh Matt…I hope the N stands for Nostradamus.
You the same Matt N that coined the Rush Power trio. Loved it.
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Yep, thanks! N not for Nostradamus but I got a good vibe from these reports we’ve been getting…luck is always key but they seem determined to make up for last year and have some marquee games to show what they have.
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Saban is in record as wanting the P5 schools to band together and only schedule each other:
https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-saban-suggests-power-five-schedule-big-schools-204858098.html
The 2020 noncon of Richmond, Miami of Ohio, Marshall, and ND is a good noncon.
As for this year, who would of thought UCF would be coming off a 13-0 top ten season and be ranked in the top 25 going into this game? As for ND and PSU in the same year, there will never be a good reason under the sun for Pitt to not schedule those programs whenever the chance arises (Check out the single game ticket price on your season tickets for the PSU game!)
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That would help him to get other big schools to get 1-3 losses for sure.
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When Pitt used to play a tough national schedule they only played 10 games in a season. Now with a 12 game season you need at least two breathers or ” pre season or warmup” unless you can reload with stockpiled talent like Alabama. At one time Pitt Stadium seated 60,000 and would be filled but the only other big sports team in town then was the Pirates and MLBB only competed from Memorial Day to Labor day and there was only Carnegie Tech in the local small college venue. The world changes and you have to change with it or pass into oblivion. For those of you at the game tomorrow remember alcohol dehydrates you in the heat. Saw it wipe out a friend at the first Pocono 500 in a hot July day.
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You are correct Pitt 60…that’s why I am now an aquaholic. 1 water for every alcoholic drink.
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Iek…I loved Green Acres. Had a cat named Mr. Kimble. It was a female. Haha.
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You’re right Joe, it was Tony Exposito. The memory grows faint… And Pitt 60 is correct as well. The 10 game schedules were different than today, and a couple of breathers are now needed. My point is that no one will remember those breather games (unless Pitt loses), but they will remember Clemson for a long time. And the image of Pickett carrying the ball against Miami will be remembered as well. That is how legends are made. And true fans won’t care about the number of fans in the seats.
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Voice, I agree, but those are conference games. Those are the games where you make your bones nowadays. You no longer need to play a brutal non con. Play a good team and 3 cupcakes. Get ready for the conference which, if I’m right, will be a meat grinder. Hopefully you’ll be good enough to beat the cupcakes and get fine tuned for what’s important. I understand this big time conference thing is new to us, but this is our future and our reality. Guess you can tell ?I’m really passionate on this issue, huh? lol
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Being a prediction thread I’ll break this down a little more as to how I feel:
Considering PITT will be starting a true sophomore at QB without considering what many feel are with high expectations I still feel he’s a young kid that’s new and hoping that he is improving. This is still a risky idea that KP and PITT will win with such a newbie under center.
Having said that and I won’t dwell on this, PITT does have many older players that are ready mentally and physically, not to guarantee they are good enough players at their positions. Nuff said on that
If PITT gets shut out of their big 3 OOC games and goes 1-3 and then wins 5 ACC games on the season, do we think that’s a good season? Cause I do. Going 5-3 with Miami and VT on schedule will be a small accomplishment.
Wait I’m not done, PITT will either win 5 ACC games which is the better idea here or upset one of the OOC games which I think will be state penn. That’s 6 wins and I feel more but I promised Reed to keep it real. I’m really feeling 7 wins though.
Got a positive report from the doc today but the MRI will tell the tale. Ice, elevation, rest and time are my friends. See you all at the psu game…… ike
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Ike – I guarantee you will be the only Pitt fan who will be anywhere near thinking that a 5 win season in PN’s 4th year is any sort of an accomplishment.
He needs to do better than that at this point in his tenure.
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Ike,
My D1 wrestling son use to say when healing from injuries: You need RICE
Rest/Ice/Compression/Elevation.
Praying for your situation Buddy!
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Even ND has eased up on their schedule. Ball State, Navy, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern. Not powderpuffs, but not top twenty either.
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Sorry Reed, I meant a 5 win ACC record. I’m predicting 6 wins AT LEAST! 6 wins won’t make me happy but it will depend on how all that plays out.
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Best wishes for a return to good health, ike. Get ready for the big one against the Nitters. I agree that after this one Pitt should cancel next year’s final game of the series in a protest against the scheduling of the Pedo/Temple series. Clearly, they are not interested in playing Pitt and next year would be the final year in at least our lifetimes anyway. BTW, Joe, you are right about the future being in conference games. I’m still getting used to this, and it will help when Pitt develops some natural conference rivalries to sink our teeth into.
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Lol Chuck.
I think he will only get 6 because they will subtract 1 when he throws the football into the stands and knocks the fanta vendor down.
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Better late than never… just got into town for tomorrow’s game. Here goes…
Season record: 8-4.
ACC Record: 6-2.
Leading receiver: Mack
Rusher: Ollison.
Backup Qb WILL throw a TD (tomorrow, I believe)
Tackler: Wirginis
Of course HCPN will yell at a coach on the sidelines. And he will not get his first bowl win.
Too late to sift through the rest. Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.
Wlat
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7-5 seems to be my most optimistic take on this team, I share the concerns with the offensive line and TE positions not being up to snuff but I also believe Narduzzi has something positive here. If I’m wrong I will admit it and reevaluate where we are as a program but if we can get through this murders row of a schedule at above .500 I will consider this season a success.
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I don’t know how anyone can be a Pitt fan and like Pedo as well. Maybe it’s because I live in ground zero for Pedo love but those fans are an insufferable
Pitt will be 6-6 ( I could easily see as little as 4wins and as much as 7 wins). Over scheduling is a problem. If any one thinks scheduling quality Non Con opponents (outside of ND & Pedo) puts fannies in the seats, I have the OK St game saved on my DVR. I’ll send you a copy. Great look for Pitt and it’s fane base).
ACC record 4-4
Back up QB will throw TD because Pickett gets hurt
Leading receiver RAL
Leading Rusher Hall (Duzz won’t stick with Ollison for some reason)
Leading Tackler Wirginis ( though I wouldn’t be surprised if he is kicked off the team before end of season)
Leader in Sacks Hendrix
Leader in Ints Hamlin
Pitt 31. Albany 17
Pitt will lose at least won game they should win (causing near board meltdown.) SOP is an indestructible force . Negativos will prance around with their pitchforks. Optimistos will go into hiding on this board.
Pitt will have one upset win which will be discounted by some of the Negativos. Optimistos will then have an “I told you so” week and will state the team is “turning a corner”.
Always hoping for the best but expecting SOP.
H2P!
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I’ve decided to change my prediction to Pitt going 1 and 11 this season. (BTW, I was at Pitt when we went 1-9…)
This way if I’m right, I clearly know my stuff. And if Pitt wins more than 1 game, it’s a big-fat-happy bonus for me.
This way, every game I can be happy. We lose, I’m smug because I was right; we win, I’m happy because we won.
It’s a win-win, I tell ya. 😊
Go Pitt.
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No more SOP then….I like it! lol
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Your grasping John and know one believes you anyways. We all know you are a true blue and gold PITT man.
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Season 6 – 6
ACC 4 – 4
Bowl Win YES
QB2 TD Pass YES
Leading Rusher Davis 750 – 7TDs
Leading Receiver Lopes 65 – 900 – 8TDs
Lead Tackler – Idowu 95
Sack Leader – Weaver 12
Int Leader – Jackson 8
Pts/Game Scored – 26
Pts/Game Allowed – 24
Opp Rush Yds/Game – 85
Opp Pass Yds/Game – 200 (its a passing game)
Off MVP – Pickett
Def MVP – Jackson
Narduzzi Questions – A cheap shot, Noll hollered alot too
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NCS puts in a true freshman running back and I’m thinking here goes more complaints about Narduzzi not playing young kids. Well, first play the kid fumbles. Case closed.
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Sorry, passing yds allowed was meant to be 250, not 200
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How many albanians are coming to the game today?
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