in Pitt Football 507 Words

Because this might be the only College Football game you See all Season Open Thread (Austin Peay at Central Arkansas)

And also because Pitt is scheduled to play Austin Peay in two weeks.

Austin Peay Governors (0-0, FCS OVC) vs Central Arkansas Bears (0-0, FCS Southland)

Date/Time: Saturday, August 29th, 9:00 PM

TV: ESPN (Play-By-Play: Matt Barrie/Analyst: Mike Golic Jr./Sidelines: Lauren Sisler)

Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL

Betting Line: O/U 42.5 Central Arkansas -3

From https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2020/8/29/21406373/austin-peay-governors-vs-central-arkansas-bears-preview-prediction-will-healy-college-football

Austin Peay has enjoyed a football renaissance over the past half-decade. After going winless in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Governors have a 24-14 record over the past three, including a shared conference championship last season.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has made for a tumultuous offseason throughout college football, Austin Peay’s included a sudden coaching change when Mark Hudspeth resigned in early July.

Interim head coach Marquase Lovings will depend on the return of quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall to make the coaching transition easier.

The 6-1, 210-pound signal-caller is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks among the FCS ranks. He entered last season as the OVC’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year but suffered a season-ending injury in the Governors’ second game of 2019.

His number one target will be 2020’s Preseason Player of the Year selection in wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson.

Central Arkansas began last year with an emphatic statement.

An 11-point underdog in the season-opener at FBS Western Kentucky, the Bears rallied from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit to upset the Hilltoppers and earn a $350,000 check in the process.

That win spurred second-year head coach Nathan Brown and the Bears to a nine-win season and a share of the Southland Conference championship.

UCA is led on offense by one of the top FCS quarterbacks in Breylin Smith. The 6-3, 215-pound junior threw for a program-record 3,704 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2019. The contest against Austin Peay allows Smith to have a nationally-televised contest to showcase his talents as a potential NFL prospect in 2021.

Smith’s go-to guy on offense is receiver Lejuan Winningham.

Central Arkansas v Hawaii
Lejuan Winningham is the number one receiver for the Bears. 

The first-team all-Southland Conference selection played a massive role in last year’s upset of Western Kentucky, with an eight-catch, 222-yard performance and went over the century mark against Austin Peay in last year’s victory over the Governors.

On the other side of Winningham is FCS freshman All-American Tyler Hudson, who hauled in 55 catches and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman.

Defensively, look for cornerback Robert Rochell to be matched up with Austin Peay’s Wilson. The 6-2, 190-pound Rochell was an FCS All-American, who has ten interceptions in his three seasons at UCA.

Prediction

With two of the top offenses in FCS football, expect a high-scoring affair between both teams, despite each having talent in their respective secondaries.

Look for Austin Peay to come out swinging, as they’re limited to a three-game season due to the OVC moving to a conference-only schedule in the spring. That aside, the trio of Smith, Winningham and Hudson on offense may be too much firepower for the Governors to keep up with.

85 thoughts on “Because this might be the only College Football game you See all Season Open Thread (Austin Peay at Central Arkansas)”

  2. Central Ark doing their best Pitt impression with two sideways passes on their first series.

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  4. Easy PEEzy, BigB. Although sloppy, early on, this team has some athletes including that OSU RB transfer. And it seems to have some speed as well. The QB isn’t very accurate so far, so maybe Pitt can get some turnovers early and win going away.

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  5. Like the throwback double wing T formation that P is occasionally using… that’s 1960’s FB….!!!

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  7. Washington Township ( part of the Kiski Area merger) played single wing- Larry Cignetti was their QB- part of the local Cignetti clan… We played Albert Gallatin my Sr season and they ran the single wing…. I was on the field when Mars “ drop kicked” an EP against us in ‘67

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  8. JeanieB watching game with sez “ look at Austin P’s line – you don’t see bi fat blubby guys!” Blubby doesn’t win games… hear me Carter Warren

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  12. Don’t know what to think of this game other than they are fairly evenly matched. Looks like Peay may be the better team but they really have only made one play to start the game.

    The reason why the players don’t look to blubbery is because they aren’t that big as far as frame goes. # 90 for AP is a big dude though.

    Ap’s QB looks a little shaky, PITT will rattle him bigtime.

    C Arkansas could be winning the game if their QB would run when there is daylight ahead of him. That would draw in the linebackers and safeties opening up the middle of the field.

    So far…. not impressed at all.

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  13. I’m back down to 181 from 215…….. So I guess I can make all the blubby jokes I want… 🙂 One problem. I wasn’t trying to lose weight.

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  15. Both teams were just awful. Even without punting miscues, if Austin Peay is within 17 points at any point in the 2nd half against Pitt, it will be disappointing.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. I agree DKF, Narduzzi can’t be pissing around holding anything back and blow AP out… and yes I think he’s done just that in the past. Throw the book at them and give the ACC a lot to think and plan for. Everyone already knows what Whipple will do and same goes for Coach Bates. Call it the kitchen sink game-plan.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Didn’t AP have a lot of players miss this game because of Covid? Their star receiver with 89 catches and 1800 plus yards receiving didn’t make the game yesterday.

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    1. Only one player missed the game and it was reported as an unknown reason, not specified as related to COVID-19.

      That missing player was the AP stud receiver.

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      1. They were missing their long snapper too. Heard the announcers say that’s why the QB pooch-kicked instead of punted. I think the backup long snapper was a LB, and apparently did not do well when put in there. I only watched a short time in the 2nd half.

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  19. remember Pitt opened 2014 with a 62-0 romp over Delaware,… but then lost by double digits in late October to Akron at home. But in 2008, it lost the opener at home to Bowling Green … then went on to win 9 games.

    But what I find most ironic is that what was most likely the 2 worst Pitt teams of the past decade (2014 and 2017) were the 2 teams that beat Miami. (As I have been saying, Miami easily outPitts Pitt)

    Liked by 1 person

  21. The 2014 team should have gone 8-4. Inexcusable losses to Akron and Dukes at home. Those losses showed Chryst wasn’t going to get it done here. Too many dark clouds over the program that he wasn’t capable of clearing.

    That said, the 2011 season with Graham was worse than 2014, IMO.

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    1. quite possibly but they didn’t play Miami that year. I should have written the 2 worse Pitt teams since joining the ACC beat Miami

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    2. I agree. And if the team hadn’t fooled around in the second half of the Armed Forces Bowl they would have beaten Houston and finished 7-6 giving Pitt two things is always needs: a winning season and a winning bowl game.

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  22. Here’s a paraphrased story on Pickett.

    Narduzzi was announcing that a player (think Tipton) had been granted an extra year along with Hamlin.. I think. All the while KP was sitting next to Narduzzi, Pickett looked at Pat and asked, can you get my freshman year back? Don’t be surprised if Kenny stays another year.

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    1. He’ll leave if he gets a good draft grade. Right now I don’t see him being drafted. A good year and he becomes a 5th round pick.

      Tex

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    2. Please ike, no. If Kenny has a great year he will go to the draft. If he is still here next year that would mean he did not have a great year. He has had plenty of time at QB1. If he starts again next year it will set back QB recruiting at Pitt even further. I think it is time to move on at QB after this year.

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      1. Or Mark pt what if there wasn’t a full season? I’m just relaying info here and not expressing my opinion.

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          1. PITT will lose many pieces of the puzzle next year so it may be time to start out fresh with a new QB. Especially if it keeps Beville.

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  23. When Pitt beats good teams, it’s because of their offense. If the offense stalls this year, pitt will struggle to win 4 games regardless of how good the D is. Offense wins you games. The key as always is Kenny and the line.

    Pitt really needs to put up 50 against Pea. Otherwise, this will be a long year with plenty of vinegar to go around.

    Tex

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    1. while there is merit to what you’re saying here, Pitt did win 8 games last year while only averaging slightly over 20 points last year.

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      1. Defense won’t save this team. Pitt won’t ever sniff ten wins without a QB and line. It’s D only has to be average to slightly above. D does not win games in college. The D only reacts. The offense is always the one that dictates.

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  24. Remember what you keep saying Tex, that there won’t be a full season. imo, KP would be drafted right now although not real high but Kenny likes playing at PITT. Believe it or not he likes his head coach.

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    1. I’d like my head coach as well if he showered me with praise, made my practices easy, didn’t challenge or demand much from me, etc, etc

      Narduzzi is too much a players coach. That to me is a problem. You almost want to be feared and respected as a coach. Always fair though. A coach should never get praised by players except when a player says the team was well prepared or ran a good scheme. I’m a firm believer in a wall between players and the head coach.

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  25. The extra year these players are getting changes more things and options that meet the eye. Beville lives in Clemson’s backyard and Trevor will be gone next year.

    Happy to see how the two teams last night handled the ongoing social situation. No kneeling but united. The kids deserve credit unlike the pro players who kneel and want a separate national anthem.

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    1. if Beville is good enough to start at Clemson, he wouldn’t be fighting for a 2nd team position right now. Now I do think he has skills as he showed in his 1st spring game having been in the program a few months. But I’m not sure he will eventually beat out Yellen.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. In the same year (2019) that Pitt picked up Beeville (Rivals 4-5.8), Clemson picked up a Rivals 4 – 4.9 & In the 2020 class a Rivals 5* – 6.1.

      Clemson has a QB commitment Rivals 3* – 5.6 for 2021. Don’t know why since every other QB since 2016 has been a 4 or 5*. Maybe they see something in the 3* that Rivals doesn’t or a position change on the horizon or a career backup position.

      If he does leave, it could be anywhere he thinks he has a good chance of starting.

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      1. Agreed Richard, that was a wild guess only because his family lives a few miles from Clemson’s campus and they wanted him late in the recruiting process. Maybe there could be a plain brown paper poke at his backdoor. Again, that’s just me talking.

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        1. An interesting Titbit about Clemson QB’s – I think they only have 3 scholarship QB’s on the roster, Lawrence & the guys from 2019 & 2020. The QB’s from 2016 & 2017 have transferred.

          Just a year ago, who would have thought that Pitt would have 4 scholarship QB’s on the roster.

          Just found the movie “Krull” on my local Fox station. Looking forward to how our new TE is as an actor.

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            2. Not really sure. Supposedly, 2020 is a do over for everyone but I am not positive.

              Don’t worry about the name. I’ve been called that & worse. Actually, drop the RI, add back the H & add a O at the end & that was my nickname since my younger brother first learned to speak.

              As to Krull: I hope he is a heck of a lot better as a TE then as a movie. The movie is so much worse then last years TE’s & we know how bad thy were.

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  26. Pickett Drafted is Comical. Man this has become a comedy blog.

    He has a weak arm, throws a bad ball and runs as soon as he sees pressure. Plus he is small.

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  27. Why would anyone want Pickett another year. For God’s sake he has been here 5 years. Go get a job. Move on with life. You are a below avg qb

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  28. The Guvs now have relevant game film and two weeks to correct their miscues. We should expect Pitt to have their usual fits and starts in their first game of the season, especially on offense. Pitt should win handily but expect a bevy of penalties and head scratching misplays.First game of the season!

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  29. Well Mark the experts think differently from you. I’ve read projections that have him drafted next year but like I’m saying, I think he comes back regardless. BTW Mark, your math is off again. Last year was only his second year of starting for PITT. Never red-shirted.

    WWB, the point is, he wasn’t good enough to start over Lawrence but the extra year opens up lot of things. He may not go anywhere, I made it clear that I was just repeating what I heard.

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    1. Last year was his 3rd year. He played in 2017, 2018, 2019 and we haven’t done anything with him as QB. This is his True Senior Year

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    2. Ike – We used up the thread linkage from above conversation. My answer – I think that is true but wouldn’t bet my life on it.

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  30. I’m with UPitt on this one this has to be KP’s last year.

    I also agree that the offense has to improve if Pitt is to get better, defense only wins games when the offense scores enough points.

    No doubt you need both O & D, the best teams have both, but the rules favor the offense and if you can’t score a lot in today’s football you are going to have a pretty low ceiling for victories.

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  32. Pickett has more physical skills than both Steeler back up QBs. Most notable is arm strength.
    Arm strength alone doesn’t make you a good QB. It is vision, what is between the ears, OL, system.

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  33. Would love to see an opener where Pickett, Beville and Yellen all got some playing time — but we’ve had few dominant wins since the good old days.

    Go Pitt.

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  34. Pickett only started one game in 2017, PITT won that game. I haven’t stated how I feel about KP coming back, only that I think he will. If Narduzzi called me on the phone and asked for my opinion I would have plenty questions for him before I could decide what PITT should do.

    BTW Mark, you just contradicted yourself, you said this was his 5th year above, KP hasn’t been at PITT for 5 years.

    ike, who likes to fact check and makes many mistakes.

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    1. Also, interception by 14 Williams while covering Barden. Kamara forced a fumble…

      TD catch by backup TE Zilinskas, where it appeared Beville threw it off his back foot. (While you hate to see it, and it usually doesn’t go well, sometimes you just have to throw it off your back foot…😊)

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. You guys are telling me any of these other kids don’t deserve a shot to play over Pickett? The kid is probably 21 going on 22 and his time to prove himself on the field has passed. He is a 7 win qb.

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    2. It’s not us here on the POV telling you that Mark, it’s the coaches. Yeah I know, you know more than they do? 😉

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  36. Scrimmage video shows TD pass from KP to Krull (#7), nice to see. Also saw Shocky catch a TD pass, but don’t know who threw it.

    Beville intercepted by Brandon Hill (#30)…

    Go Pitt.

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  38. I just finished watching the movie “Krull”. It is bad. If I had a vote on rotten tomato’s I would give it a 1,

    Hopefully Pitt’s “Krull” is a minimum of 8.

    Liked by 3 people

  40. Maybe Tex will buy your seats, ike. Tex will want to be there in person to rag on Pickett at the first sign of imperfection. If he doesn’t throw 6 TD passes against AP then the season is over.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m a big Kenny fan. But Pitt has no line, mediocre receivers, no tight end and unproven and non elite backs. The kid is set up to fail. That’s not his fault.

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    1. I know what you’re saying UPitt, but no team has beaten AP by 50 in the previous 5 seasons, even though they were 0-11 in both 2016 and 2017.

      In 2018, they lost to Georgia 45-0. In 2017 they lost to Cincinnati 26-14 and UCF by 73-33. Lost to KY in 2016 by 49-13. In 2015, two of their 11 loses where Vandy 47-7 and So. Miss. 52-6.

      Hoping for a game where a ton of Pitt guys play, including a bunch of QBs…

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Going to be a scrimmage game Mark… PITT by 10 … take the Govs and the points….Been so damn long since we’ve blown somebody out… I can’t remember the last time! But I could have that disease

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