ACC predictions...
- Thread starter Ditka1960
- Start date
I like the record and the predictions, but a 9-3 regular season record (then 9-4) gets us a trip to NYC? Seems like 9 wins could get us a better destination?
Playing Florida State for an ACC Championship game is 1 year ahead of my (best case scenario) year 1 prediction. 3 things are working in Pitt's favor that I didn't see coming.
1) Louisville - Roster turnover. I forgot they had something like 11 players drafted and 19 seniors gone from last year's team. Transition year.
2) Al Golden seems to be Miami's version of Paul Chryst. Not bad, but program energy non-existent and on-field results, 2-3 wins below expectations, not to mention haven't beaten Florida State for 5 years. Miami has lots of equity, but if they continue to play around they'll begin to lose it like Pitt in about 10 years where an entire generation will hear about how good they used to be from there dad's and uncles. Easier to maintain than to rebuild.
3) I keep thinking VA Tech is going to-emerge and become the 8-4 or 9-3 VA Tech, but they're in a program slump, reasons unknown.
Pitt
1) Louisville - Roster turnover. I forgot they had something like 11 players drafted and 19 seniors gone from last year's team. Transition year.
2) Al Golden seems to be Miami's version of Paul Chryst. Not bad, but program energy non-existent and on-field results, 2-3 wins below expectations, not to mention haven't beaten Florida State for 5 years. Miami has lots of equity, but if they continue to play around they'll begin to lose it like Pitt in about 10 years where an entire generation will hear about how good they used to be from there dad's and uncles. Easier to maintain than to rebuild.
3) I keep thinking VA Tech is going to-emerge and become the 8-4 or 9-3 VA Tech, but they're in a program slump, reasons unknown.
Pitt
I'll be honest - Miami scares me more than any other team left. They have always seemed to have our number and they have caused us fits with their team speed. However, the way Narduzzi has changed the culture in a short amount of time and the 180 on the defensive end, Pitt could also roll right through them.
I hope if Pitt plays FSU or Clemson in the ACC Championship game - at the very least we get a pretty nice bowl for a change.
I hope if Pitt plays FSU or Clemson in the ACC Championship game - at the very least we get a pretty nice bowl for a change.
They are prob the best team left to play but that game is not as meaningful as the ACC games.
I'm rooting for Clemson at this point because they're the only team in the ACC that will make the playoff and I don't want to see the conference get shut out.
I honestly think UNC is the scariest opponent you have left, and how they play this weekend against UVA should be tell-tale, but I think they win by a lot more than 7. They obliterated an Illinois team that Iowa struggled with, beat the dog doo out of a WF that FSU struggled with, and outscored GT 38-10 after giving up 3 quick scores. Aside from Pitt, they are playing by far the best in the Coastal after that mental hiccup against South Carolina.
ND has very good offensive and defensive lines. They have had, however, some season-ending injuries on them too.
Syracuse will make Pitt's offense work for every point we score on Saturday; Carolina is super athletic.
Miami always has the athletes but we'll have to see whether they're "interested" in playing.
Duke is superbly coached and will be ready.
Syracuse will make Pitt's offense work for every point we score on Saturday; Carolina is super athletic.
Miami always has the athletes but we'll have to see whether they're "interested" in playing.
Duke is superbly coached and will be ready.
Meh - we watch Illinois all the time (my husband is a grad) - honestly, they're better than should be expected, but they are just okay. Iowa is not built to blow out teams. They are very sound and disciplined. I do believe UNC is very good, but NOT better than ND or even Duke. JMO.
UNC beat the brakes off of Duke last season at Duke, and UNC is 10x better than they were last year, on both sides of the ball, so I'll kindly disagree with you. As for being built to blowout teams, there is no 'build' to blowout teams. You either play sound D and are efficient on offense, or your not. Iowa blew out Northwestern, who beat Duke BTW, 40-10. So again, I'll kindly disagree. Illinois just lined up and gave Iowa fits in Kinnick Stadium.
As for being able to compare UNC to ND and Duke, we'll find out in a couple weeks. We'll get to make a more direct assumption this week when UVA and UNC line up.
Well, for the record transitive property generally does not apply to sports, but I understand it's the only way to compare. I guess we'll see just how good UNC really is in less than 2 weeks. Based on your posts sounds like they should be ranked, not Pitt or Duke?
In regards to blowout teams, I will kindly disagree. For example, Baylor is a team built with an explosive offense. Iowa offensively is not anything like them. Grind it out teams vs. teams who can and do score quickly generally do not "blow-out" teams if only because the numbers don't support it, regardless of the stoutness of their defense.
They have Pitt losing to ND and and another ACC team giving us a 7 - 1 ACC record and then losing to Fla St in ACC championship game game
Transitive property is not an absolute, but it shouldn't be disregarded either.
As for being built to blowout teams, there is no such thing. Playing in a fast offense can be a downfall just as much as it is a blessing. Need an example, just look at UNC last season. They had so many quick 3 & outs against ECU that it gave ECU 10 more minutes of possession that they used to put up 70 points on a tired defense. You are not helping your defense when you go 3 & out in 45 seconds. No matter how fast you play, you have to be sound. Teams like Iowa can blowout Northwestern just as easily as Washington State in Mike Leach's offense, can lose to an FCS. Being built to blowout teams just means you play disciplined. Georgia Tech did last year beating Pitt by 28, NCSU by 30, Clemson by 22, etc. If they can do it in a triple option that passes 2 times a game, anyone can.
I think UNC is our 2nd-toughest remaining game.... just barely harder than Duke.
Duke being a road game is scary, but Duke isn't as good as its record.
UNC is as good as its record, but will be playing a road game on a Thursday night after a short week. That hurts them a great deal.
ND is clearly the toughest game remaining.
Duke being a road game is scary, but Duke isn't as good as its record.
UNC is as good as its record, but will be playing a road game on a Thursday night after a short week. That hurts them a great deal.
ND is clearly the toughest game remaining.
I think the Pitt-Duke game will look like two teams that are very close to mirror images of each other. Almost like Steelers-Ravens. Probably similar talent level, but also coached up to their very highest potential, like Narduzzi seems to be doing. UNC is no slouch either, that will be a tough game.
Traveling, especially within the conference, is usually no problem, especially when it's a place like Pitt (don't take this personal) where the venue, crowd, etc, is not very intimidating. Pitt and UNC will both be on short weeks. Where UNC has to travel, Pitt will be coming off a tough road game in Syracuse. UNC gets a reeling Virginia team.
I don't think either team will really be at a disadvantage coming into this game. It'll come down to preparation and execution.
Travelling mid week over 400 miles away will definitely be a disavantage for UNC.
And Heinz will be pretty full for that game, especially if Pitt beats Syracuse this week. It's only the third home game of the year for Pitt and the buzz in this town rght now is very high. A win over Syracuse puts pitt solidly in the top 25 and maybe UNC is there as well by then. It will be a lively, loud crowd.
And Heinz will be pretty full for that game, especially if Pitt beats Syracuse this week. It's only the third home game of the year for Pitt and the buzz in this town rght now is very high. A win over Syracuse puts pitt solidly in the top 25 and maybe UNC is there as well by then. It will be a lively, loud crowd.
400 miles is an hour and a half flight to the same time zone. Pitt will still have a short week, but they will have to come back from Syracuse where UNC gets a home game against UVA.
Like I said, I don't think either will be at a noticeable disadvantage.
Hmmmm - not sure I would use Baylor as an example of disciplined. In fact their defense is not a strength yet they can easily run up 60-70 points on an opponent.
None of us would take a critique of Heinz Field personally as we generally do not draw well. However, when we do, it can be very loud and I suspect that next Thursday will draw a very good crowd (even though it's tough for traveling fans who have to work) and most definitely the students will be packed in. (The UVA safety when we played is a direct result of the student noise and the stadium was about 65% occupied at the time, if that.) It will be MUCH louder next week.
You must be very confident if you think Pitt will not have at least a small advantage playing at home. If UNC goes out to an early and commanding lead that should take a lot of energy out of the crowd, but any team wants to play at home. That's just common sense. I'm assuming you're a UNC fan? What's up with the really uncomfortable seat backs on your bleachers? It was helpful sitting but people getting in and out was almost impossible. My husband tried to stand and turn around to talk to a friend during the game and he literally had to execute a three point turn to get there. Other than that, great campus, nice people.
Similar threads
