Definitely should not take Syracuse for granted and I'm expecting a close game
- Thread starter PittPoker
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Agreed. Mentioned in a previous post that Syracuse/Pitt games have been physical, low scoring, close battles. Syracuse needs this game badly, playing at home, and Pitt is coming off a big road win, so this is a dangerous situation for Pitt. Syracuse has been in some tough games, so I hope the Panthers are ready to go. The two coaches know each other, too, so there shouldn't be any surprises, especially defensively. Pitt cannot afford to lose this game with the momentum they have built, both on the field and the recruiting trail. A win makes the matchup with NC big, and the excitement for the Thursday night game should make for a big crowd.
We can't take anyone lightly. We have gotten better each game, but are no where near a point where we can expect the team to just show up and win; especially a road conference game.
Syracuse is not good, Don't worry about this staff overlooking anyone, Narduzzi is too good a coach for that. As for fans, we should expect a win and if we lose, it would be very disappointing and an upset.. Not Balboa over Creed at the Spectrum upset, but still an upset..
Syracuse is better than you think---and the one thing they can do that scares me is throw the deep ball--this game will be a dog fight---it's Homecoming and they are up against it---they need to perform
Well south florida disagrees.. No one is saying it can't happen, just think as our program elevates, these games against very mediocre competition, need to be won.. Cuse is by far, the worst team left on our schedule, we lose this well it wouldn't be great.. Narduzzi has avoided that typical pitt head-scratcher that has been an annual occurrence, let's hope we don't see it on Saturday..
We haven't played a game this year that wasn't close...
I agree, this will be another close game!
I agree, this will be another close game!
Not sure what SU's recent record is in the Dome lately, but they're usually pretty tough there. They're 3-3 after starting 3-0 and just embarrassed themselves against USF, so you can guarantee they're going to bring it against a ranked team in front of their fans. I don't even think this would be a sure win w/ James Conner, much less without him. Then there's Pitt's injury problems at safety. This may be the game where Pitt wins a game w/ a 4th quarter comeback. Not a huge game b/c SU isn't in the Coastal, but important for perception reasons nonetheless.
While not a huge game, it's still pretty damn important since a loss still counts as a conference loss.
And with UNC, Duke, Miami and Louisville coming up, those are no slouches in conference, so every conference game is pretty big here.
And on top of that ND.
Also agree with you on the whole perception thing. Can't crack the top 25 and then lose a game you are favored to win.
100% agree with everything. Syracuse is going to be a tough game. The LSU game was very close all the way. I see a 10-14 point win as well, but only because Pitt pulls away late. I think most of the game we'll be hanging on to a one possession lead. I don't think the Carrier Dome has some rabid atmosphere for football, but a dome is probably a bit tougher to play in. Always been a tough game up there.
H2P!
i'm not cavalier about it but unless matt house kidnaps narduzzi and the entire defensive staff and tino kidnaps peterman and voytik both and they take over all those people's respective duties, pitt wins this game by 2 TDs minimum. the talent and coaching disparities are too wide unless pitt comes out really really flat.
X9---you obviously never attended a game at the Dome---it gets noisy and rabid even with 20k people
If anyone is scared of Syracuse, well then you should be downright frightened by the remaining schedule since this is by far, the worst team left on it.. Im talking clown from poltergeist hiding under your bed scared, jumping out a 2 story window because the devil that possessed the girls body in Exorcist went into your body, that type of scared..
No that's why I said things like I don't think. I was hoping someone would share what it's like there, as all week I've been hearing how loud they should expect it to be (which domes are always usually louder.) But every game I watch there it looks like there's very few people and they don't look like they're really into the game. Thanks for the input though. Obviously will be a tough game.
I never been to cuse either but when I think of loud, intimidating venues, Syracuse isn't one, for football anyways.. Add in the fact that it is a noon game, they aren't exactly taking the state of NY by storm with their success and i'll go ahead and safely assume that this venue won't be anything our team can't handle..
Every team experiences emotional let downs during a season. I can't say we've had one yet. One hopes that one's team is still good enough to win in spite of the let down. I expect Saturday's game to be close. We're not so talented a team that we can at our "B" game and sail by an opponent.
The timing of games impacts a team's psyche and oftentimes the quality of their play-think of the OSU game a few weeks ago against Indiana.Pitt's coming off a big win with a big Thursday night affair with NC next week. If there were ever a game on the schedule which I would expect Pitt might not be at an emotional peak it's this game. This is another test that goes beyond the playing field and has a lot to do with team culture. Will be interesting to see how hyped up Pitt is for this game and ultimately how well they play. I expect s tough, tight game.If anyone is scared of Syracuse, well then you should be downright frightened by the remaining schedule since this is by far, the worst team left on it.. Im talking clown from poltergeist hiding under your bed scared, jumping out a 2 story window because the devil that possessed the girls body in Exorcist went into your body, that type of scared..
I think what you guys are alluding to, is the ever popular term, "Trap game." I agree, we can lose this game, no doubt in my mind. We are not at the level of just showing up and winning.. We need to be focused, limit our mistakes and capitalize on theirs, no doubt.. I just don't get the "fear" of this game or the hyperbole of their talent level, that's all. They are not a good team, extremely mediocre and by far, the least talented team left on our schedule. But like I said, I agree we can absolutely lose this game if we don't play well.
Here's an interesting piece:
This weekend's game will make Pitt the most played opponent in Syracuse history: 71 times.
That ties Pitt with Penn State, and its more than we have played BC (47), West Virginia (60), Rutgers (40), Maryland (36)... even Colgate (54). SU and Pitt have played annually since 1955 -- 60 consecutive seasons. We were eastern independents together, played in the Big East together, and joined the ACC together.
Historically and statistically speaking, Pitt is our biggest football rival. And yet, realistically, they are not. At least it sure doesn't feel that way. There is no name for this series, no trophy to play for, no fevered "Pitt Week" build up. Before the season starts no one opines that going 1-11 is OK if only that one win is against Pitt. In short, there is no heat.
It's a fascinating undertaking to examine why. The cities involved are culturally similar: eastern, blue collar towns with a Midwestern sensibility. Both programs have tremendous football history with alumni that are among the best in college history. But the series has infrequently been competitive and has been marked by one side dominating the other for long stretches. Consider...
- 1957 to 1968 - SU was 9-3 against Pitt
- 1973 to 1983 - Pitt beat SU 11 straight times
- 1984 to 2001 - SU was 16-1-1 vs. Pitt, including 11 straight wins from 1991-2001
- 2002 thru today - Pitt has been 11-2 vs SU
Aside from a few years in the early 70s this "rivalry" has been nothing but long stretches where one team dominates the other. And it's hard to remember many games when both teams had something significant on the line. No October clashes of two ranked teams, no November meetings with conference championship ramifications.
A friend of mine used to say about SU football that we had a lot of history but very little tradition. I think the Pitt series perfectly symbolizes that.
Kind of disappointing honestly.
Maybe we beat 'em Saturday and get something started.
Cuse had some damn good teams in my youth (mid - late 80s) and carried that well into the 90's. Loved their qbs in 80s, remember a dude named McPherson (not the coach) and forget who was after that but he was good.. Of course McNabb was real good too. They had some exciting offensive teams, really utilized their athletic qbs, sort of an option offense if I recall but not like an OU or Nebraska, since they threw a lot too. Regardless, they have quite a historic program..
Any Pitt fan who is not expecting a close game is either new to the Pitt experience or is a complete moron.
