Hmmm, Adam Rittenberg of ESPN thinks Duke is the favorite to win the Coastal

[PittPoker]

Here's what he wrote tonight:

So Duke, Pitt and North Carolina are all 6-1 and unbeaten in ACC play. All three teams have warts but all three have bounced back nicely from early setbacks. Duke is still the Coastal favorite in my mind but UNC-Pitt game on Thursday will be revealing. North Carolina has the best offense of the three, while Duke's defense had been excellent until today.

I think Pitt is the favorite based on the fact that we only have 1 more road game left(though it's at Duke) and Narduzzi in a short amount of time has taught Pitt how to win and win the close ones.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think both Duke and UNC are slightly more talented than Pitt but that doesn't mean they will beat us.

 

[JJR2013]

UNC has to be the favorite at this point. They have the most talent of the 3 rosters and their defense (which has been a problem for them in recent year) is significantly improved. If Pitt beats UNC Thursday they definitely deserve to win the coastal. Pitt 3rd downs will need to improve and the offense will need to generate a downfield passing game.

 

[pbrad]

I agree with him, but Thurs will be the telltale for PITT. The Duzz will have the kids ready, and I'm ready to root this team on Thurs night.

 

[Jeffburgh]

Yeah, NC is super talented, and Duke is more proven.

 

[VAPITTALUM]

Can't wait to head up to PITTsburgh for the game on Thursday! I'm also making the trip to Durham in November. Both games will be huge for the program.

 

[crharris8892]

Can't disagree, but hope the team proves them wrong.

 

[ChazzMo]

with the problems we had tackling SU's Dungey, and after watching Duke's Sirk yesterday, I think for the Duke game that we'd be well advised to have a game tackling as well as we did in 13-9 (where we didn't miss a tackle).

 

[OriginalEther]

While I don't think it's part of this guy's analysis, here is the rest of each team's conference schedule:

Pitt:
North Carolina
@duke
Louisville
Miami

North Carolina:
@ Pitt
Duke
Miami
@ Virginia Tech
@ NC State

Duke:
Miami
@ North Carolina
Pitt
@ Virginia
@ Wake Forest

I would say Duke has the easiest one remaining.
Pitt probably has the toughest, thanks to Louisville.

 

[Motor_Street]

Here's what he wrote tonight:

So Duke, Pitt and North Carolina are all 6-1 and unbeaten in ACC play. All three teams have warts but all three have bounced back nicely from early setbacks. Duke is still the Coastal favorite in my mind but UNC-Pitt game on Thursday will be revealing. North Carolina has the best offense of the three, while Duke's defense had been excellent until today.

I think Pitt is the favorite based on the fact that we only have 1 more road game left(though it's at Duke) and Narduzzi in a short amount of time has taught Pitt how to win and win the close ones.

Given Pitt's lack of a convincing win vs a quality opponent and narrow wins vs mediocre opponents, I agree that Duke should be favored. With NC and ND coming up we will learn a lot about this team.

 

[Atlanta Panther]

Yeah, but NC and Duke have 5 more ACC games where they could trip up. Don't underestimate that we have an extra win in the standings already. If we have leaned anything its that anyone can beat anyone...Any Given Saturday...or Thursday...or...

 

[ChazzMo]

I haven't watched NC play. What kind of an offense do they run?

 

[razzaba]

I haven't watched NC play. What kind of an offense do they run?

Really fast, up tempo, lots of no huddle. Basically a spread offense, talented receivers and they throw lots of screens, and have a serviceable running back corps. They put up a TON of points.

Marquise Williams is a very athletic and mobile quarterback, but when he is pressured, he can get rattled and throws untimely picks. Think it comes down to how much pressure Pitt can get on him, and if they can keep contain on him and not let him do too much damage with his legs.

 

[Pittx9]

I'd say Pitt has a slight advantage with the extra win. UNC has a slight advantage because of their athleticism on offense. Duke has a slight advantage because of coaching and being in this position the last couple years. Can't argue with Duke, but I think this will be an interesting stretch run.

 

[fivetoolprospect]

I think both Duke and UNC are slightly more talented than Pitt but that doesn't mean they will beat us.

I agree w/ you. nc and duke has real good offenses. I think narduzzi will have us ready and hope a lot of people come and support the team so it can really be home field advantage. the weather conditions may come into play also. if it does, may be advantage to us actually. nc has a real good running back, hood. he has good size and runs hard. I trust our coaches to come up with good gameplans.

 

[WNYPanther]

We haven't seen an O anywhere near as potent as the one coming to Heinz Thursday night. UNC is 1st in the ACC in both ypg & ppg, they're also the only team in the conference that averages over 200 ypg both passing and rushing. Our D is going to have to be very disciplined to keep Williams from breaking off big runs on scrambles & missed tackle will need to be held to a minimum.

 

[fivetoolprospect]

We haven't seen an O anywhere near as potent as the one coming to Heinz Thursday night. UNC is 1st in the ACC in both ypg & ppg, they're also the only team in the conference that averages over 200 ypg both passing and rushing. Our D is going to have to be very disciplined to keep Williams from breaking off big runs on scrambles & missed tackle will need to be held to a minimum.

100%

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I like and I think this team likes and responds well to being the underdog.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Durham,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender

 

[vegasgreed]

any of these 3 teams could win it. it will come down to who executes the best when needed. a handful of plays will be the difference between a winning and losing.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I haven't watched NC play. What kind of an offense do they run?

Think the old Cincinnati Brian Kelly offenses we struggled with. That's what UNC's offense reminds me of.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Duke has the best and most established coach, so they get the benefit of the doubt

 

[wbrpanther]

Here's what he wrote tonight:

So Duke, Pitt and North Carolina are all 6-1 and unbeaten in ACC play. All three teams have warts but all three have bounced back nicely from early setbacks. Duke is still the Coastal favorite in my mind but UNC-Pitt game on Thursday will be revealing. North Carolina has the best offense of the three, while Duke's defense had been excellent until today.

I think Pitt is the favorite based on the fact that we only have 1 more road game left(though it's at Duke) and Narduzzi in a short amount of time has taught Pitt how to win and win the close ones.

The fact that our one road game is at Duke is the reason this guys thinks Duke is the favorite. Of course I disagree with him.

 

[WoadBlue]

While I don't think it's part of this guy's analysis, here is the rest of each team's conference schedule:

Pitt:
North Carolina
@duke
Louisville
Miami

North Carolina:
@ Pitt
Duke
Miami
@ Virginia Tech
@ NC State

Duke:
Miami
@ North Carolina
Pitt
@ Virginia
@ Wake Forest

I would say Duke has the easiest one remaining.
Pitt probably has the toughest, thanks to Louisville.

We have the toughest. Like Dook, we have 3 Road games left. VT with Brewer worked back into shape will be a better team than we have seen. And MooU would rather be 1-11 with a W over us than be 11-1 with a loss to us. It is their Super Bowl every year.

Pitt has 3 Home games and the only Road game at Dook, which cannot manage a meaningful Home Field advantage because it lacks a sufficient number of fans.

 

[WoadBlue]

We haven't seen an O anywhere near as potent as the one coming to Heinz Thursday night. UNC is 1st in the ACC in both ypg & ppg, they're also the only team in the conference that averages over 200 ypg both passing and rushing. Our D is going to have to be very disciplined to keep Williams from breaking off big runs on scrambles & missed tackle will need to be held to a minimum.

MW can be forced into many mistakes, if a D is well disciplined and plans to contain him. He can be baited into throwing into double coverage. Even though our WRs are great as a unit, MW will beat no quality D with his arm - he reads coverage too slowly and at times misreads even though going slow. Plus his mechanics are inconsistent. So, I would expect Narduzzi to focus on containing MW as a runner, slowing Hood, and baiting MW as a passer.

 

[deepelemblues]

MW can be forced into many mistakes, if a D is well disciplined and plans to contain him. He can be baited into throwing into double coverage. Even though our WRs are great as a unit, MW will beat no quality D with his arm - he reads coverage too slowly and at times misreads even though going slow. Plus his mechanics are inconsistent. So, I would expect Narduzzi to focus on containing MW as a runner, slowing Hood, and baiting MW as a passer.

I'm interested to see if MW comes out running more or tossing it quick more. I think if he can make quick completions over the middle and move the ball it will open up his personal running game to the outside.

I think that Pitt will struggle defensively in the first half then make adjustments and play much better the second half, that's the trend the last 2 games.