Alright, I said I wasn't going to do this again this year. But with the Taysir Mack news, I've officially surpassed 2016 levels of excitement. The only things keeping me from predicting a 12-0 national title run are the OLine, the history of DB's, and the brutal schedule.
But no matter what I tell myself, I can't help but feel like Pitt can win any game on that schedule.
Obviously I don't actually predict a 12-0 season (thinking more along the lines of 8-4/9-3 and a T25 finish) but here's my take on the schedule:
Albany: should be an easy win, but will more than likely be closer than anyone thinks since Pitt won't want to tip their hands against Penn State
Penn State: Trace McSorely is obviously a talented QB - but he's not the stud everytone thinks he is. Saquon Barkley in my opinion is one of the best players in CFB history not to win a Heisman. They lost two other top WR, and a monster TE that was a gigantic match-up problem. They're incredibly young on defense and had to bring a LB back from being kicked off the team because they didn't have a good enough backup. Also had a top pass rusher unfortunately have to retire because of health issues (and I mean that, I hate to see any kid have to quit the game they love due to something they couldn't control)
Georgia Tech: Always a wild card because the triple option is either running all over you, or you own it and they're in for a long day. But Pitt finally has a fast and smart enough LB core to combat them
UNC: the thorn in our sides. We should have beaten them every year but for some reason they always slip through our grasp. I expect that to be different this year because that program is in utter turmoil
UCF: as great as they were last year, how much was Scott Frost? I think he was the glue that team needed. Plus they lost a ton of NFL caliber talent on defense this could be a shootout becuase the QB really is that good.
Syracuse: Revenge game for Pitt. I expect a blowout
Notre Dame: I expect this game to be the most competitive of the season. ND is never as good as people say they are, but they certainly aren't bad. Brian Kely knows how to play Pitt - always has. This is gonna be one of those down to the wire 27-24 games that either team could win
Duke: Experts love them for whatever reason, I think they and Wake Forest will be good games but Pitt finally has a QB, now has young weapons, and a defense that should be meshed by this point - expect to win
Virginia - they stink, new QB, end of story - next!
Virginia Tech - we should have beaten these clowns the last two years and couldn't do it. This is the game that makes or breaks Pitt's chances at winning the Coastal. It's Miami-VT- everyone else - UVA. If Pitt wins then the Miami game will be must see national TV
Wake - a big time trap game between the two big names in the coastal. They are better than people think, but not as good as the experts say IMO. A real toss up game
Miami - by this point I expect Miami to have lost a game they shouldn't have because they are the best team on this schedule and I don't think it's all that close. They will be out for revenge against Pitt, definitely have the edge talent wise (sorry Panther Lair), and will be fighting for a CFP spot. This is the game I worry about the most.
All in all, there's not a game I can't see Pitt winning in some fashion. Feel free to join me or talk me off the ledge. I need a little of both - LOL
But no matter what I tell myself, I can't help but feel like Pitt can win any game on that schedule.
Obviously I don't actually predict a 12-0 season (thinking more along the lines of 8-4/9-3 and a T25 finish) but here's my take on the schedule:
Albany: should be an easy win, but will more than likely be closer than anyone thinks since Pitt won't want to tip their hands against Penn State
Penn State: Trace McSorely is obviously a talented QB - but he's not the stud everytone thinks he is. Saquon Barkley in my opinion is one of the best players in CFB history not to win a Heisman. They lost two other top WR, and a monster TE that was a gigantic match-up problem. They're incredibly young on defense and had to bring a LB back from being kicked off the team because they didn't have a good enough backup. Also had a top pass rusher unfortunately have to retire because of health issues (and I mean that, I hate to see any kid have to quit the game they love due to something they couldn't control)
Georgia Tech: Always a wild card because the triple option is either running all over you, or you own it and they're in for a long day. But Pitt finally has a fast and smart enough LB core to combat them
UNC: the thorn in our sides. We should have beaten them every year but for some reason they always slip through our grasp. I expect that to be different this year because that program is in utter turmoil
UCF: as great as they were last year, how much was Scott Frost? I think he was the glue that team needed. Plus they lost a ton of NFL caliber talent on defense this could be a shootout becuase the QB really is that good.
Syracuse: Revenge game for Pitt. I expect a blowout
Notre Dame: I expect this game to be the most competitive of the season. ND is never as good as people say they are, but they certainly aren't bad. Brian Kely knows how to play Pitt - always has. This is gonna be one of those down to the wire 27-24 games that either team could win
Duke: Experts love them for whatever reason, I think they and Wake Forest will be good games but Pitt finally has a QB, now has young weapons, and a defense that should be meshed by this point - expect to win
Virginia - they stink, new QB, end of story - next!
Virginia Tech - we should have beaten these clowns the last two years and couldn't do it. This is the game that makes or breaks Pitt's chances at winning the Coastal. It's Miami-VT- everyone else - UVA. If Pitt wins then the Miami game will be must see national TV
Wake - a big time trap game between the two big names in the coastal. They are better than people think, but not as good as the experts say IMO. A real toss up game
Miami - by this point I expect Miami to have lost a game they shouldn't have because they are the best team on this schedule and I don't think it's all that close. They will be out for revenge against Pitt, definitely have the edge talent wise (sorry Panther Lair), and will be fighting for a CFP spot. This is the game I worry about the most.
All in all, there's not a game I can't see Pitt winning in some fashion. Feel free to join me or talk me off the ledge. I need a little of both - LOL
