As it looks right now, that GT loss comes with a " what if" to it. The Jackets knocked off a 4-1 Duke yesterday.
If the Panthers hadn't stumbled there, they would be 5-1 and ranked in the mid teens with an only loss in OT to a top 10 Tennessee that just routed a ranked LSU at home. There are very few really dominant teams in the country. Many have struggled at times against weaker opponents, and take on a loss they shouldn't have or at best, a mediocre showing.
The Panthers certainly have some warts on both sides of the ball right now, but their remaining schedule looks workable towards a perhaps 8-9 win regular season. If they can get healthier, solve some of those warts and take care of business against beatable teams, the season will come out being where their reasonable expectations should be.
There is also the possibility that this team will ride the rails between a win or a loss every game moving forward with a few more frustrating losses.
Should be a real interesting second half.
If the Panthers hadn't stumbled there, they would be 5-1 and ranked in the mid teens with an only loss in OT to a top 10 Tennessee that just routed a ranked LSU at home. There are very few really dominant teams in the country. Many have struggled at times against weaker opponents, and take on a loss they shouldn't have or at best, a mediocre showing.
The Panthers certainly have some warts on both sides of the ball right now, but their remaining schedule looks workable towards a perhaps 8-9 win regular season. If they can get healthier, solve some of those warts and take care of business against beatable teams, the season will come out being where their reasonable expectations should be.
There is also the possibility that this team will ride the rails between a win or a loss every game moving forward with a few more frustrating losses.
Should be a real interesting second half.