12 pm

ESPN

The wife and daughter are on a camping excursion. My son has his own thing that has him away for the weekend. That left me with a Friday night free and clear. To which I nursed a single bourbon, watched a few innings of the World Series, and called it an early night.

The excuse being I had to get up early to drive into Pittsburgh today. The reality being I’m old and was just tired. The only wisdom that has been gleaned from age is not ignoring being tired, and forcing myself to go out and do something simply because I could have.

Anyways…

I don’t think any Pitt fan with a memory just assumes Pitt will or even should win. It isn’t some fatalism right now. It’s that it’s Miami. Even when they aren’t good, they have talent. And that is still true this year.

Miami HC Manny Diaz can try his hand at revisionist history by now claiming that Miami is rebuilding. Conveniently ignoring he was the DC there for the last few years before taking the top spot. And Miami’s top-25 recruiting classes. That seems more a reflection on the coaching, development and evaluation. Not necessarily the players.

They come into this game, 3-4. Six of the games were one possession final scores. The Canes are 2-4 in those games. Pitt has played five one possession games, but is 4-1. The positions of the two programs could easily be reversed.

Of course, where Pitt has largely jumped out to leads and then held on for their wins; Miami has taken a different tack. They have put themselves in sizable holes before furiously coming back late in the games — but not being able to finish.

That should make for a very interesting contrast in the game.

Not that Miami is coming into the game in good shape.

University of Miami redshirt sophomore quarterback N’Kosi Perry has a separated left, nonthrowing shoulder, but he nonetheless gives the Hurricanes “the best chance to win” in Saturday’s road game against the Pittsburgh Panthers, coach Manny Diaz announced Friday in a press release naming him the starter for this week.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, who started the first five games of the season but injured his throwing shoulder a few weeks ago, will be on the sideline, but Diaz said Wednesday he will be ready to go in if needed.

…

Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore transfer quarterback Tate Martell will miss Saturday’s game due to “a medical leave of absence,” according to UM

And their leading rusher DeeJay Dallas is out for the game with a knee injury.

In theory, Pitt’s defense should be salivating at this matchup. Miami’s O-line has been a disaster and Pitt blitzes like crazy.

In a lot of ways, these teams aren’t too different. They both have defenses that do a lot of the work. The special teams are suspect. And the offense is unpredictable.