This week Pitt heads to the Carrier Dome for a no questions asked, must-win game. Pitt cannot rely upon a win over Miami next Friday to get to bowl eligibility. While Miami isn’t a top 10 team like they were a few weeks ago, they’re still a better team than Pitt across the board. Syracuse, however, is a flawed team still in transition after Doug Marrone left to coach the Buffalo Bills. The ACC set the ARCHRIVAL ORANGE up as Pitt’s cross-division rival, meaning the two teams will play annually even though they’re in different ACC divisions.
A few quick stats on Syracuse. Their offense is rather bad. They’re 99th in points per game (22.4) and 107th in passing (174.9 yards per game). Most offensive production comes on the ground, where they’re averaging 196.7 ypg. Their defense is statistically comparable to Pitt. Both teams allow around 26 points per game. The ARCHRIVAL ORANGE are a bit better in run defense but not quite as good against the pass. Overall, the numbers are quite close.
There is one area Syracuse jumps off of the charts: sacks. They’re tied for 9th in the nation with three sacks per game. This is obviously a big worry given Pitt’s OL struggles and Savage’s inability to get rid of the ball quickly. Thankfully the pass rush doesn’t turn into a ton of turnovers; the ARCHRIVAL ORANGE are forcing fewer than two turnovers per game and most of those are interceptions (13).
The ARCHRIVAL ORANGE are worse offensively than their stats would lead you to believe, which says a lot. It starts with a dreadful passing game. Sophomore Terrel Hunt is the man behind center and after an insanely good start (33/43 468 yards 7 TDs) he has dropped off the face of the Earth the past six games. Since their victory over Tulane, Hunt has gone 68/130 (52%) for 553 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) 0 TDs and 7 interceptions. That’s 92 yards per game.
Hunt’s only way to move the ball is with his feet. Including sacks, he has had 232 yards and two touchdowns on the ground during that same stretch of six games. The one dimensional aspect of Syracuse’s offense will make life a lot easier.
The downside to that one dimensional aspect is that the ARCHRIVAL ORANGE are pretty good on the ground. Jerome Smith and Prince Tyson-Gulley are a solid 1-2 punch. They’ve combined for 1,146 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. Smith was on a very good run until he hit a brick wall against FSU (5 carries, 1 yard), but I won’t judge him harshly for that. In their two biggest wins of the season (NC State and Maryland), Smith was great. In those games he had 258 yards and 3 TDs.
The key to stopping Cuse’s offense will be containing Hunt and Smith on the ground. Tyson-Gulley is injured and his status for the game is up in the air. A lot of Hunt’s passes will be bubble screens. The ARCHVRIVAL ORANGE will try to pound the ball with Smith and Tyson-Gulley then pass off of that. When Syracuse tries to pass the ball several times in a row, the results aren’t pretty. They’ll try a trick play or two as well. Hunt is not very accurate deep, so the safeties can play up and gamble that Hunt will miss if someone is open over the top.
Plain and simple, stop Cuse on the ground and I don’t see how this offense will do anything. They’ve topped 20 points ONCE in the past six games and that was due to 362 rushing yards. If the defense can avoid huge mistakes and stop the rushing attack, I doubt Cuse will score 20.
On defense, Syracuse’s 4-3 has been a lot more impressive. However, they have two key injuries in the secondary, which will cause a lot of issues. The ARCHRIVAL ORANGE will be missing two of their top four CBs, Keon Lyn and Julian Whighman. Syracuse’s secondary is still chasing Devin Street from last season, where he torched them for 10 catches and 130 yards.
The main man to fear is DT Jay Bromley. Bromley’s has 9 sacks on the season, only one behind Aaron Donald. A DT that can penetrate is the best way to stop any offense (as anyone who has watched Aaron Donald nearly win games on his own can attest) and Bromley is obviously one of the best. After Bromley, it’s MLB Marquis Spruill and Robert Walsh with 3.5 and 3.0 sacks respectively. LB Dyshawn Davis has a sack in back to back games as well. Syracuse doesn’t have one guy who steps up when Bromley can’t get there, they have a variety of players, which is bad news for Tom Savage because the pressure will come from all angles.
The player to fear in the secondary (thanks to injuries) becomes safety Durell Eskridge and his four interceptions, two of which have come the past two weeks. His interception against Maryland was a huge play that halted Maryland on one of their better offensive drives of the day.
Syracuse’s defense will rely on pressure and turnovers. If the ARCHRIVAL ORANGE are going to win this game, the defense has to keep Pitt out of the end zone and force turnovers. If Pitt’s offense keeps the ball and scores a few touchdowns, Cuse has a very small chance of winning. They won’t be able to keep up in a shootout.
The key will be to get good yards on first and second down to avoid third and long scenarios, which Pitt has not been too great at. Take advantage of Cuse’s depleted secondary on quick passes like bubble screens and slants. Don’t be afraid to run the ball even if it’s going nowhere. When you’re up against a struggling offense, play the field position game. 3rd and 12 on your own 40? Don’t try a deep pass and open up the chance for a sack. Play small ball, keep Savage upright, and don’t get risky. Even Cuse fans admit they’re going to have to win this one ugly with turnovers, sacks, and the running game.
I’m hoping I’m right and the ineptitude of Syracuse’s offense along with a conservative game plan is good enough. I think ARCHRIVAL ORANGE QB Terrel Hunt makes a mistake or two that prove to be critical and the offense avoids huge mistakes. Pitt wins 24-13 and avenges last year’s loss to the ARCHRIVAL ORANGE.
Pitt-Cuse makes the most sense. Louisville is out of place given their conference hopping the past decade has prevented them from establishing non-Kentucky rivals.
Last game of the year with them Friday après Thanksgiving fine with me.
Having a tough time getting interested in the game this week.
I hope I can come on here Sat. nite or Sunday a.m. and talk about what an exciting game it was, a big win, and hopefully beating Miami will give us win #7 and a better bowl.
I said, I’m hoping.
I consider BB much more of a rivalry with them than FB.
The numbers would appear to indicate a rivalry … but again, I would have to think that we have to start playing a few high stakes games for it to escalate.
Don’t think the BBE (Battle to be Bowl Eligible) has the the same ring as the Backyard Brawl
maryland was supposed to be out basketball cross over rival. they weren’t impressed. will louisville replace them here?
h2p
BBE: Battle to be Bowl Eligible (or Battle for Bowl Eligibility). I think I like the latter.
Them and us have almost the exact alltime winning percentage at .585 for them and .584 for us.
What the problem has mainly been is; rarley have both teams been good at the same time, as I documented the other day.
This is a very important game for PITT other than just getting eligible for a sh*t bowl.
We can’t let them start a new trend. We had a 7 game winning steak against them until the choke job last year by Tiny. Nope we got to win this game and start a new streak or I fear if they win, they might start one of their own, which would be 2 in a row.
A loss almost certainly means a losing season, first one since 2007, break our bowl streak at 5 years and could ultimately spin us into another futile losing period, which PITT is historically known for.
THIS IS A HUGE GAME, WE NEED TO GET FIRED UP !
And Chryst & staff need to have the team ready to play 60 minutes from the get go !!!
More like the Battle to Stay Somewhat Relative
BSSR
And one of the wins was over the worst ACC team.
Cuse is a respectable rival. My belief
is our game with them should be the final
game of the season. Why? We have been
beaten by ND two out of every three games
played. Miami you must be kidding as someone
mentioned in a rivalry both teams win
some games.
Worried about the game Saturday. Cuse
D line is fast and aggressive. Lots of blitzing
Savage is in for a beating.
I had the misfortune a few years ago of being in the same large sports bar with a large group of them the nite we were playing them in hoops at the Carrier dump and had we won, we would have been #1 in the country. First time EVER.
That was the game they disallowed Brandin Knight’s half court shot which would have won the game and made us #1. What a way to become #1 it would have been.
The Cusers there were jerks and really tried rubbing it in. Didn’t like that little puke Hurley who played QB for them back in the day, nor McNabb.
So I’m feeling it. Kill the Orangemen !!
That’s enough right there, to earn your hatred. lol
Shady McCoy is the 1rst NFL RB to exceed 1000 yards rushing, which makes him #1.
Got to use him & his accomplishments more as a recruiting tool.
Cudos Shady !
#2 in the NFL in Net Punting !
I’m sure the Steelers are regretting not drafting Andy with all of their punting problems.
They are on their 4rth punter of the year, lol
So I propose a question, what do you do if we go 6-6 or worse again next year? We need a back up plan cause it may happen! I hope not but it may!
Coaches have not showed any propensity to develop an effective O-line at this point as well.
If you can’t control the line of scrimmage, you will never have a consistent offense, which is what we’ve seen both years.
Remember that PSU QB about a decade ago who started as a freshman and got worse every year?
The walk-on, McGloin had one year under a real QB coach, O’Brien, and now is in NFL
Can’t judge all fans by one, but when I need to generate some hate for the Orange, I think of that jag off.
I hear you man, had I had some backup that nite, I would have waded in. Obnoxious ppl.
Ran into another one, this time a female Cuser at a 5 star restaurant bar, she couldn’t contain herself as well. Had to remind her we’ve pretty much ‘owned’ them the last decade in both bball & fball.
So with your info and mine, this could be a common condition for these creatures.
Asshole-itis.
Kill the Orangemen !
Syracuse at 8-2 had the best record of all the teams Pitt defeated in 1963 going 9-1. That game was close, Pitt won 35-27, with Syracuse in charge most of the first half.
Saturday’s game should be a big f’ing deal. Perhaps the basketball rivalry has overshadowed football. Pitt hates Syracuse much more in hoops; the Orange hate us more in football.
You can add female ones too, that crew I encountered at the sports bar that nite was half female. And they were among the most obnoxious.
Also remembered another twosome I encountered locally, who the time before the one guy was alright. We talked awhile, guy even bought me a beer and me him, thought we were kinda friends. But the next time I see this tool with his fellow Orangeman, he acted like he didn’t even know me.
What a putz ! NY’ers what can I say.
I hate them equally in both sports. Hope the f*ckers lose in lacross too against whoever they’re plyaing. lol Figures the f8cks play that.
As far as the game, the Orangef*cks aren’t good against the run, to avoid the sacks, go to 3 TE’s, put Boyd in the backfield and run the ball down their freakin throats !
Same thing he has done all season….absolutely nothing !
Maybe put Ibrahim in the backfield to get run over in pass blocking! haha
A – get rid of the ball quicker
B – use his legs; roll out – or run
if defense is going to send LBs – he should have room to run
unless QB is Peyton Manning or Tom Brady – QB with legs can be great asset
.
I see that Street is questionable. No Street is trouble for the offense. Either way, I suspect this will be a lower scoring game, similar to last year. What’s the over/under on Savage sacks? How about 6?
Has Pitt played 2 good halfs on both sides of the ball yet this year? (let’s exclude special teams) I guess the ND game is the closest they’ve come, but they were still down at halftime.
If there is any stamp you can put on the Chryst era through 23 games, it is that Pitt has been consistently inconsistent – by quarter, half, and game. Is Pitt mediocre because they are inconsistent, or inconsistent because they are mediocre?
Then again, if Pitt loses the next 2, are they even mediocre?
Syracuse could become a worthy rival if we both get better at the same time. At least there is some history, both teams with storied running backs and champions.
Although my guess is there won’t be a real rival for many years. It will be the team we beat for a championship in the ACC.
You would think they would have develop some consistency by now.
I think that we’ll continue to see Savage improving on his short passing game, in order to take advantage of the Orange secondary that has been depleted by injuries. Regarding that sack total, he’ll still get beat up simply because the Syracuse rush is awesome, but not more than 4 sacks on Savage is my prediction.
Our defensive front has to eliminate their running game and keep Hunt from becoming a game changer with his legs. This Syracuse team is one demensional with him in there, so stop the Orange run game and Pitt should be able to control the game.
The key IMO, is to come out fast and strong with a couple TDs early and force Syracuse to play from behind. Their last three loses have been by an accumulated total of 112 points!!!! That tells me that when the game gets out of hand that the Orange defense simply evaporates and might as well “turn out the lighta the party’s over”!
If Pitt plays smart and can simply keep the Syracuse offense in front of them, we should be able to keep them under 24 points. If Pitt gets an early lead, I see us putting up a lot more than that if their defense withers like they have in the previous contests when trying to come back from a deficit.
The first quarter will determine if my prediction has merit or not. If Pitt puts up 14 without a scoring response from the Organge by the end of the 1st quarter, I predict that we will win this game going away.
Come on Pitt, we’re still waiting to see that complete game from the Panthers, time’s running out! This is the one to bring it! No excuses!
Hail to Pitt!
I feel the heat for the hoops games.
The football, not so much.
Nothing strikes fear into my heart more than the phrase “Tied for 9th in the nation with 3 sacks per game”
What’s our Achilles’ heel? Pass Protection.
Hopefully our OL steps up in a big way.
Including several overtime games, and even Brent Musburger saying on national tv the Pitt-ND games the past years have always been some of the best games around, always very tight.
Do any ND fans have anger towards us as a rival, no, of course not, USC and Michigan are their two top rivals, and they’ve dropped Michigan.
We are the 5th most played team Notre Dame has faced starting in 1909 I believe.
So, do I think we are one of ND’s hated rivals, no, but I wouldn’t just fluff off the rivalry and history either.
All in all though, I expect this to be a pretty low scoring and ugly affair. I think it’s likely the first team to 24 wins. Though, I think there’s a decent chance we win by 2 touchdowns. I look for Conner to have another 100 yd day.
If Street doesn’t play we could be in trouble.
Street had his first big game in the Carrier Dump back in 2010, he caught a short pass and went like 65-70 yards for a TD, I believe.
Allows them to also possibly take away Boyd by doubling him.
And somewhat negates their DB injury problem if they just have to deal with Tyler. Spoon is going to have to step up and make up for the boneheaded punt return plays from last week.
I don’t have a real good feeling about this game, haven’t since the schedule was released and it another home game for them, 2 years in a row, which seemed odd and still does. Plus I didn’t like the placement of this game on the schedule.
We had been playing them much earlier in the season, like the first or 2nd conf. game of the year.
Also as Justin noted, their strength(sacks) is our huge weakness(protection).
If Street can’t play I’d almost we rather just come out in a 2 TE power set, with Boyd split way wide and ram the ball down their Orangemen throats. After a steady diet of that, maybe catch them napping with a bomb to Tyler at some point after we see their coverage package.
Need to come out like last week and control the line of scrimmage but instead of scoring FG’s and fumbling, need to put 7’s on the board.
H2P !
VeV !
Crush the Orange !
link to syracuse.com
I’m also cheering that my feeling for this game is waaaayyyyy offfff!!!
Would love to be wrong about this one, and happy to talk about how I was wrong tmrw night and Sunday.
H2P!!!
They’re having to beg for their fans to show up to their last 2 games.
“The reason that people complain is that they want the team to win,” Joe Giansante, one of Syracuse’s senior associate athletic directors, said Wednesday afternoon. “Well, this is their chance. This is their chance to understand the moment, to understand the significance of the moment. If the community wants this program to win, this is their chance to do something about it.”
haha they’re having to package the football game tickets with a Cuse/Indiana basketball game ticket. too funny.
But there is no lack of fretting. SU has drawn more than 39,000 only once in four home contests to date, and it needed Clemson, then unbeaten and ranked No. 3, across the way to do it. And, uh oh, the Syracuse student body will disperse for the Thanksgiving holiday on Friday, which will leave its section wide open for the Pitt and BC tilts.
Thus, Giansante’s pitch to the public . . . and, yes, it does include an impressive offer wherein a three-pack of tickets to the Pittsburgh football game, the Boston College football game and the Indiana basketball game (on Dec. 3) can be had for a total of $79.
That’s in keeping with mine and other bloggers experiences with their a-hole NY’er fans.
Until you slap them upside the head with some facts,like, “we’ve kicked you around 7 of the last 8 years in football”. Only Tiny saved them from it being 8 for 8.
“We’re at that critical moment,” Joe Giansante declared. “Everybody wants a winning program. Our fans want it. Our players want it. Our coaches want it. We’ve got, essentially the lowest ticket prices in the ACC. So now we’re saying to the community: Help us. We can build this thing, but only if we do it together. It’s not a one-or-the-other deal. If you sit home, you’re not helping what you profess to love.”
The ticket windows are open. It’s time to belly up to them. Or not.
Your choice.
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Voting is below the end of the predictions, more than halfway down the page.
FINAL SCORE — Syracuse (2014): 7 – Pittsburgh (2014): 13
I’ll take it, Kill the Orangemen !!!
link to news.google.com
Also, no doubt that Pitt is the better team. IMO, the 2 keys are:
– win the turnover battle
– protect our QB