Happy Thursday everyone. While I’d like to write anther “Reading Between the Lines” post about Pat Narduzzi’s press conference, I just don’t have the time or energy. Instead I’ll put up a prediction post.

As far as I’m concerned this game has Trap written all over it. A big Vegas line. Pitt coming off a big win. An ostensibly less talented squad coming to town, and yet one that relies on a power running game. Pitt has lost these kinds of games before. Boston College anyone?

I don’t know if NC State is quite good enough to beat Pitt on the road, but they were good enough to edge Wake Forest at home, and well, that should count for something. They also have their quarterback of the future Devin Leary ready to go. Leary has thrown all of 16 passes this season, but he’s connected on 12 of them and sports a gaudy 182 passer rating. I can’t tell you if he did that was against Virginia Tech’s second team defense or not, but I can tell you he looked crisp doing it, at least from what I saw.

The game, as usual will come down to Pitt defensive dominance and (hopefully) the team’s ability to limit mental errors. They did a good job of that last week. Do they have the chops to do it two weeks in a row? History suggests they do not. But…I’ve heard this team is different.

At the end of the day, I think Pitt will find a way to win, as they often do in these early season games against slightly less talented teams, but I think it’s going to be frustratingly close. Here’s to hoping they prove me wrong.

Pitt 24, NC State 21.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone