PITT-Ulou Game Day Predictions!

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

PITT-Ulou Game Day Pick!
As I saw it in August until Pitt Coach Pat & Staff could show me they can beat ULou’s Coach Petrino & Staff then I cannot pick Pitt. After all, ULou has lost very close games to Auburn, Clemson, Houston and lost to FSU? Well, one lives to change his mind. Now my guess for this upcoming game will be if Pitt Defense can stop or confuse ULou’s young QBs Bolin and Jackson. Alternatively, if Pitt's Offense can play as well as they did against Duke they can win this game on its own. Coach Pat & Staff has earned the respect and advancement of upgrading Pitt Football with good game day plans and half time adjustments to take on Petrino’s superb coaching, in my view. The Cardinals are great on Defense with the kind of talent that can hurt Pitt’s Offensive Game Plan. ULou’s Offense is showing consistently too making it tougher for Pitt to win. Therefore, Pitt has to play its best game again with all 3 Units in all 4 Quarters just as they did against Duke! Both Pitt & ULou are complete Teams now, this is what Very Good and Great Coach's do, they coach up their Players by the 11th game. Consequently, I see it coming down to what QB rattles first into making mistakes. Again, Even-Steven for both outcomes there too, making it a tougher game to call depending on how players respond on execution? UVA that Pitt barely beat was able to score on ULou by passing in the last game! Pitt’s Peterman has woken up the offense with all weapons showing up in the Duke game. Special Teams will help decide this game due to the Even-Steven types of play both Teams are playing right now. As well as great coaching game plans and half time adjustments now Hallmarks at Pitt finally after 30 years. I have been waiting for some Pitt Punt and Kick-Off TDs Returns and maybe Pitt will get one on Saturday? I am high on this Pitt Coaching Staff and players hanging with ULou’s too. Still, Pitt Players cannot have drop passes, miss sacks, blocks and runs, and little turnovers? The Panthers win a close one by some Panther Paws grabbing a one or two Cardinal Air Balls and winning it by a late kick!
Game Day Pick:
28 PITT Ulou 24
Preseason Prediction August 2015
Louisville:
The good news is ULou will be rebuilding and starting a few freshmen too. The bad news ULou is coached by Petrino that knows how to develop great teams everywhere he coaches. Pitt has a chance, but that is about it. This is a Georgia Tech type case, Pitt has to show it can beat Johnson and Petrino and until they do, ULou gets the picks?
Preseason Prediction:
Pitt-23 ULOU-34 (7-4)
Game Day Result:

Individual Game Results of Pittsburgh vs Louisville):
2014 Did Not Play
2013 Did Not Play
2012 Louisville (11-2)L 35 45
2011 @Louisville (7-6) W 21 14
2010 Louisville (7-6) W 20 3
2009 @Louisville (4-8) W 35 10
2008 Louisville (5-7) W 41 7

Pitt-ULOU Recruiting Talent Rankings Favors ULOU!
2011:
29TH ULOU
59th Pitt

2012:
42ND ULOU
47TH Pitt

2013:
52ND ULou
35TH PITT

2014:
40TH ULOU
44th Pitt

2015:
32ND ULOU
66th Pitt

2016:
19TH ULOU
67th Pitt

CBS SPORTS RANKINGS 1-128 SCHEDULED TEAMS:
PITT: 39TH > 42ND < 34TH < 27TH 7-3 (5-1)
4 ND L
6 IOWA L
13 UNC L
39TH PITT 7-5, 8-4, 9-3 Projected Ranking Record
50 DUKE W
51 ULOU ???
60 MIAMI
62 VT W
75 AKRON W
82 GT W
84 UVA W
97 CUSE W
N/R YSU W

ULOU: 38TH 6-4 (5-2)
1 CLEMSON L
10 HOUSTON L
18 FSU L
39 PITT ???
46 NCS W
49th ULOU 7-5 or 8-4 Projected Ranking Record
63 AUBURN L
83 KENTUCKY
84 UVA W
95 BC W
97 CUSE W
100 WAKE W
N/R SAMFORD W

ULOU SCHEDULE 2015 6-4 (5-2)
Sept. 5, 2015 at Auburn L 31-24 0-1
Sept. 12, 2015 Houston L 34-31 0-2
Sept. 17, 2015 Clemson L 20-17 0-3 (0-1)
Sept. 26, 2015 Samford W 45-3 1-3
Oct. 3, 2015 at NC State W 20-13 2-3 (1-1)
Oct. 17, 2015 at Florida State L 41-21 2-4 (1-2)
Oct. 24, 2015 Boston College W 17-14 3-4 (2-2)
Oct. 30, 2015 at Wake ForestW 20-19 4-4 (3-2)
Nov. 7, 2015 Syracuse W 41-17 5-4 (4-2)
Nov. 14, 2015 Virginia W 38-31 6-4 (5-2)
Nov. 21, 2015 at Pittsburgh 3:45 pm
Nov. 28, 2015 at Kentucky 12:00 pm

PITT SCHEDULE 2015 7-3 (5-1):
Sept. 5, 2015 Youngstown St. W 45-37 1-0
Sept. 12, 2015 at Akron W 24-7 2-0
Sept. 19, 2015 at Iowa L 27-24 2-1
Oct. 3, 2015 at Virginia Tech W 17-13 3-1 (1-0)
Oct. 10, 2015 Virginia W 26-19 4-1 (2-0)
Oct. 17, 2015 at Georgia Tech W 31-28 5-1 (3-0)
Oct. 24, 2015 at Syracuse W 23-20 6-1 (4-0)
Oct. 29, 2015 North Carolina L 26-19 6-2 (4-1)
Nov. 7, 2015 Notre Dame L 42-30 6-3 (4-1)
Nov. 14, 2015at Duke W 31-13 7-3 (5-1)
Nov. 27, 2015 Miami-FL TBA

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Panthers - 33
Cards - 31

 

[UPitt '89]

School with respectable decent human beings and role models as coaches: 21

School with scumbag despicable human beings as coaches: 13

Pitt ranked #24 next week.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Coach Petrino finds footing with Louisville, LINK!

Twice, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino led his team to a top-six ranking in the final Associated Press poll. Twice, he was somewhere else the next season. In 2006, Louisville was 12-1, finishing sixth in the country, but Petrino left at the end of the season for the Atlanta Falcons.


There, he coached 13 games (losing 10) and told Falcons owner Arthur Blank he was staying. A day later, he resigned and boarded an airplane for Arkansas. Atlanta was one of seven jobs Petrino left after only one season.


Blank said he felt “betrayed.” Petrino told his players he was leaving by having a 78-word letter posted in the locker room. Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy scratched out Petrino's name on his copy, wrote “Coward” in red Sharpie and showed it to reporters.


In his fourth season at Arkansas in 2011, Petrino finished 11-2 and ranked No. 5 in the nation. That offseason, he crashed his motorcycle — a woman was riding with him —leading to an admission of an extramarital relationship and his ultimate firing by athletic director Jeff Long.


Now in his second Louisville tenure, Petrino will bring the Cardinals to Heinz Field on Saturday to play Pitt in a game matching two of the better teams in the ACC.


Through his checkered past, Petrino has proven this much: Other than the motorcycle crash, he knows how to land on his feet.


With only one losing season among 11 in college (5-7 with Arkansas in 2008), Petrino has resurrected his Louisville team after a 2-4 start. The Cardinals (6-4, 5-2) have won four in a row.


Among the recent victories are three-, one- and seven-point decisions against Boston College, Wake Forest and Virginia. Petrino said that's a sign of “young guys growing up.”


“Guys have been able to make plays when the pressure has been on,” he said. “It's fun to see how much smarter we are than we were earlier in the year.” Petrino bolstered his Louisville roster by bringing in two players with questionable pasts.

Devonte Fields was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 at TCU before he was kicked off the team amid domestic violence allegations. Fields, a defensive end, leads Louisville with 13 tackles for a loss.


Safety Josh Harvey-Clemons was dismissed by Georgia in 2014 for violation of team rules, but at Louisville, he is third in tackles (65) and has two of the team's 15 interceptions.Petrino gave both a second chance and was rewarded.


“What I'm most impressed with,” Petrino said, “is how well they're doing in the classroom and how well they're doing everything outside of football.”


Notes: Pitt running back James Conner ran cone drills Wednesday, testing speed and lateral movement. He also went through his usual calisthenics with teammates, still without helmet or pads. Later, when asked on the ACC coaches conference call about losing Conner, coach Pat Narduzzi praised his team's resiliency and said, “It would be amazing to really see where we'd be right now if James was with us, I can tell you that.” ... Wide receiver Tyler Boyd said he's disappointed to not be one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award. “It's an award I really wanted,” he said. “I'm the type of guy, I came here to help this team win. That's what I'm going to continue to do.”
Petrino through the years
Year School W-L
2003 Louisville 9-4
2004 Louisville 11-1
2005 Louisville 9-3
2006 Louisville 12-1
2007 Atlanta Falcons 3-10
2008 Arkansas 5-7
2009 Arkansas 8-5
2010 Arkansas 10-3
2011 Arkansas 11-2
2013 W. Kentucky 8-4
2014 Louisville 9-4
2015 Louisville 6-4
LINK:
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.

http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9459431-74/petrino-louisville-arkansas

 

[Bearcat_Nippert]

Louisville 24 - Pitt - 56

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Its not an ideal matchup for Pitt, especially their wr and secondary.
Peterman will have to continue to protect the ball.
I think he will.

PT 29
LV 28

 

[The Public Enemy]

Louisville 26 Pitt 24...but really as a Cardinal Fan this is a Toss Up for us at best and it would be our best win if we beat Pitt.

To the UC Fan...why are you upset that we got the ACC Bid...hope you guys get to a P5 Conference...most UofL fans feel that way...you deserve better then the AAC.

 

[oldpanther]

Its not an ideal matchup for Pitt, especially their wr and secondary.
Peterman will have to continue to protect the ball.
I think he will.

PT 29
LV 28

Pitt 28 Louisville 17

 

[raleighpanther]

I've only seen Louisville play a little bit this year but from what I've seen I'm not impressed. I suppose they've gotten better as the season has worn on, but a highlight ( for their opponent) showed the worst tackling I've ever seen. A guy ran 70 yards and 9 guys had a good chance to tackle him, but they all tried to grab his arm instead of hitting him and wrapping up. It looked like watching a QB with the red jersey on in a team scrimmage running out of the pocket.

 

[heybandguy]

I think Pitt has enough to win this, though not by as much as people would like. Some big plays really hurt the defense (and the scoreboard) seemingly every week. Still, offense is figuring some things out and looked good last week.
Pitt 27 Ville(ans) 23

 

[Rollem Cards]

You guys have this.

We suck.

Bet the house on it.

 

[Panthertag]

34-26, Pitt, if Chaney doesn't fall into Bullwinkle syndrome.

 

[Bearcat_Nippert]

Louisville's offense is a joke, especially if they put in that running QB. He runs the read option, problem for him is he thinks he's the only option. If Petrino puts him in then your defense will tee off on him. Ha Ha Ha.

 

[WKCard]

What is Ulou??? Careful what you ask for. Here's to a good, injury free game to all.
Cards 27 - Pitt 23.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

What is Ulou??? Careful what you ask for.

It is great Football and Basketball program, put up your prediction! No offense taken, just speak what you think and that defines you more than any banter, but banter is acceptable too! we talk, discuss, and share CFB on the Lair!

 

[deepelemblues]

A second "surprise" "easy" victory as Pitt wins 35-24. For no more than one half quarter will Pitt fans be utterly convinced that Pitt will find a way to lose the game.

 

[balderthanu]

Hey UPitt'89, suck it

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Its amazing that Pitt, WVU, and PSU are all undefeated against teams rated lower and all winless against teams rated higher. No big wins, no bad losses.

The trend continues.

Pitt 21
Lou 20

The one thing we havent seen in maybe a decade. A late-game TD drive to win a game.

 

[The Public Enemy]

Louisville's offense is a joke, especially if they put in that running QB. He runs the read option, problem for him is he thinks he's the only option. If Petrino puts him in then your defense will tee off on him. Ha Ha Ha.

Bolin is the starter for the rest of the season..since he has been named the stater the Louisville offense has scored over 30 plus points.

 

[PushupMan]

Louisville's offense is a joke, especially if they put in that running QB. He runs the read option, problem for him is he thinks he's the only option. If Petrino puts him in then your defense will tee off on him. Ha Ha Ha.

Jackson (#8) was pretty lethal on the two plays he was used as a change of pace for Bolin (#14) against Virginia. On the first one in the second quarter, he kept the ball on a read option and ran for 45 yards, setting us up for a TD two plays later. In the fourth quarter, he handed off to the running back who ran for 31 yards, setting up another touchdown.

And also against Virginia, our third string quarterback Reggie Bonnafon #7 (who started against Auburn) had a halfback option pass for a TD.

We do seem to have hit on the right combination with Bolin as the starter, Jackson subbing in as a change of pace, and Bonnafon in the QB/RB/WR flex spot. The real question will be whether we can block Pitt's defense. We've struggled to do that against just about everybody except Samford, Syracuse and Virginia.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

Hey UPitt'89, suck it

Balder, the last two words are those the words your recruits used ?

 

[PushupMan]

I've only seen Louisville play a little bit this year but from what I've seen I'm not impressed. I suppose they've gotten better as the season has worn on, but a highlight ( for their opponent) showed the worst tackling I've ever seen. A guy ran 70 yards and 9 guys had a good chance to tackle him, but they all tried to grab his arm instead of hitting him and wrapping up. It looked like watching a QB with the red jersey on in a team scrimmage running out of the pocket.

I remember that play!. Dalvin Cook should definitely use that one in his Heisman highlight reel.

The two 70+ yard TD passes given up to Wake Forest were about as bad, though not as many people missed on the tackles.

Getting the ball in space to your best speed players is the best way to score on this UofL defense. Tackling in the flats has definitely been spotty.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I remember that play!. Dalvin Cook should definitely use that one in his Heisman highlight reel.

The two 70+ yard TD passes given up to Wake Forest were about as bad, though not as many people missed on the tackles.

Getting the ball in space to your best speed players is the best way to score on this UofL defense. Tackling in the flats has definitely been spotty.

Interesting that Petrino on Offense has a QB like Chad Freshmen that runs more and operates a Special Unit to change up the Defenses. Just like Coach Pat had with Voytik earlier in the season? We shall see if both are used?

 

[PushupMan]

Interesting that Petrino on Offense has a QB like Chad Freshmen that runs more and operates a Special Unit to change up the Defenses. Just like Coach Pat had with Voytik earlier in the season? We shall see if both are used?

I definitely expect that you will see Jackson in the game running the read option at some point on Saturday. The only way that doesn't happen is that UofL is having so much success running the "normal" Petrino offense that the coaches don't feel a need to try something different. As a UofL fan, I can hope for that kind of success, but I certainly don't expect it on the road against a very good Pitt football team.

 

[BillyWestFan]

Here's to a Panther victory and a TarHeel defeat.

PITT 31
L'Ville 27

H2P

 

[Jeffburgh]

I think Pitt has enough to win this, though not by as much as people would like. Some big plays really hurt the defense (and the scoreboard) seemingly every week. Still, offense is figuring some things out and looked good last week.
Pitt 27 Ville(ans) 23

That is my take - this is not a vintage (of late) Louisville team, but they are finding their footing and have some talent.

I did not like the ND and NC matchups - they were just more talented teams in peak years.

I did like Duke, a team with equal or lesser talent.

I think Louisville falls in between Louisville and ND and NC - a team with more talent than Duke. BUT, their offensive system is a little better match for Nards defense and it is at home.

This is a game Nards SHOULD win ...

 

[Las Panteras]

Louisville has losses to Clemson, Houston, Fla State and Auburn

Pitt with losses to Iowa, ND and UNC

I would argue they have a tougher schedule...but have beaten nobody...very similar to Pitt

I think the line is right on the money. I am not convinced Pitt can put up two solid offensive performances in a row.

Louisville steals one on the road, 24-21 with a FG with no time left.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

IMHO, Louisville's roster has more overall talent. We win if we turn them over several times and don't turn it over ourselves. Otherwise their talent edge wins out. The key is having a strong first half. That is something we have failed to do in ACC play +ND.

 

[EastOhioPanther]

Pitt 27-24

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"PushupMan, post: 534557, member: 38"]I definitely expect that you will see Jackson in the game running the read option at some point on Saturday. The only way that doesn't happen is that UofL is having so much success running the "normal" Petrino offense that the coaches don't feel a need to try something different. As a UofL fan, I can hope for that kind of success, but I certainly don't expect it on the road against a very good Pitt football team.
Coach Pat in his Press Conference seems to have coached against Petrino before and has loads of respect for him and says he has Great Offenses. It is funny, but I see Coach Pat the Defensive Prone Type that matches Petrino's Type Offenses so it is going to be a great game totally dependent on what Players execute both Coaches Game Plans?

What is even more valuable to learn is that both Coaches also have worked hard to develop Complete Teams all season long. In the case of Petrino he stated it took some time develop his Offense and and now the Defense is doing just as well too. As Petrino is rebuilding his Players into Complete Teams and has come together by theses last few Wins.

Coach Pat & Staff is a brand New Head Coach and he too along with his Staff has had to implement his own Coaching System and his Team finally in the Duke game has put together a Complete Team on Offense and Defense, and now Pitt Defense is coming together.

So, as I see it, it comes down to Two Very Good Coaches that have to develop a Great Game Plans against one another strengths, just as when their Players are executing on all 3 Units and all 4 Quarters long.

I expect a great game and Petrino will try to confuse Pitt Defense with both QBs one Freshmen running wild, much like Pitt's Voytik that has not played as much that much, and the other Cardinal's Sophomore much like Pitt's Peterman with Freshmen Wild Cat Runner Whitehead and how all 3 or QBs will handle the Defenses with the least mistakes?

Consequently, if both Teams do execute the coaches Game Plans it is a very even game, and so Special Teams will play a big role on what Team wins?

All I know is Petrino is a Terrific Head Coach glad to be back at Louisville and just doing what he always does....develop Players into Great Teams to WIN!

The same goes to Coach Narduzzi that is showing in his first year all the elements of becoming a great Coach too by changing the attitude of his Players and developing them into Complete Teams.

I stand by my Original Prediction, a very hard close fought game, dependent on the QB or QBs that do not panic and execute better than other on Defense, and decided by a Late Kick.

Therefore, Louisville's Petrino has the more experience at Head Coach Winning everywhere he has been as a Head Coach and growing his Teams into better better as the season goes along. As Narduzzi has the same traits and doing the same thing but with the surprise of having Petrino adjust to his type of coaching that also has this young Pitt Team progressing better all season long.

We shall see, but 28-24 sound good to me, and even though I picked Pitt, Louisville can win it too with that kick and score. All I can say, it will be a great game and can't wait? A Blowout only happens if big breakdowns happen on execution and I just don't see that happening because of these Coaches & Staffs?

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

IMHO, Louisville's roster has more overall talent. We win if we turn them over several times and don't turn it over ourselves. Otherwise their talent edge wins out. The key is having a strong first half. That is something we have failed to do in ACC play +ND.

Excellent Analysis! Both Teams will adjust at half time, so that First Half is very important and Petrino has that experience in coaching his Players and Narduzzi has the surprise of doing the same, but how the Players execute makes the difference?

Petrino's 2 QBs one a Passing Sophomore and other Freshmen Runner are young but executing great now in the 11th Game. As Pitt's Peterman a Junior had his first complete Game with all his Weapons doing the same against Cutcliffe's Duke last week?

Still, Petrino's Louisville Players have more talent so up to Pitt players to out play them, hard game to decide because it now depends on execution and we can't see that until Game Time?

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I think we match up better against Louisville than a spread team like UNC or Duke. I think the defense shuts down their "pro-style" QB and we take an early lead; 17-3. The freshman running QB comes in 2nd half and gives us fits with the read-option to tie the score, We stage a late 4th quarter drive to get a game winning FG, 20-17. Whitehead preserves victory with game ending interception.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I think we match up better against Louisville than a spread team like UNC or Duke. I think the defense shuts down their "pro-style" QB and we take an early lead; 17-3. The freshman running QB comes in 2nd half and gives us fits with the read-option to tie the score, We stage a late 4th quarter drive to get a game winning FG, 20-17. Whitehead preserves victory with game ending interception.

Good concise analysis, I like it when you post Football, it is right to the point and provide good insights!

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Good concise analysis, I like it when you post Football, it is right to the point and provide good insights!

ask and you shall receive

 

[cruzer]

Louisville has real problems with pass protection. I see us bringing lots of heat and sacking them 4-5 times. Defensively, they look pretty solid, so I'll go with:

Pitt 24
Louisville 17

 

[rpost3]

lol at 'ulou'
Sometimes I think you're speakin your own language, Capn.
Put me down for
Pitt 45
UL 20

Huge games for Boyd and Peterman thanks to Whitehead keeping the secondary off Boyd's ass.
So in other words Lousiville will win by 6 touchdowns

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

lol at 'ulou'
Sometimes I think you're speakin your own language, Capn.
Put me down for
Pitt 45
UL 20
Huge games for Boyd and Peterman thanks to Whitehead keeping the secondary off Boyd's ass.
So in other words Lousiville will win by 6 touchdowns

I know what you mean, I just like short names, like Pitt, Cuse, UCincy, UTenn, UTexas, and ULou but the ULou fans take it as an insult, when I really respect the University and Program.

This is a tough game to gage, just know Petrino is a Superb Coach, hard to beat as the season gets longer. Yet, Narduzzi is new and I suspect just as good, but the Teams are very even for this game, playing as complete Teams right now.

 

[PushupMan]

Coach Pat in his Press Conference seems to have coached against Petrino before and has loads of respect for him and says he has Great Offenses.

After you posted this I went back to see when they might have crossed paths....

Coach Narduzzi was DC at Miami(OH) in 2003, when they played Petrino's first UofL team in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, AL. Miami(OH) won 49-28. Miami's QB that year was none other than Ben Roethlisberger.

During Petrino's next three years (2004-2006), Narduzzi was the DC for Mark Dantonio at Cincinnati while Petrino was at Louisville. UofL won 70-7 in 2004, 46-22 in 2005, and 23-17 in 2006. That 2006 game was a real nailbiter, with Cincy having a chance to win at the end. That was a very good Cincinnati defense that year.

 

[The Public Enemy]

No real offense from me...UL works and is even shorter

 

[wreckcard#22]

We kinda owned y'all in in the BE, I think that continues this weekend...don't worry bout it though, you won't have to worry bout us for another 10 yrs...if the current ACC schedule holds pat.

On paper, very close...but the psychology of y'all comin off a route to the Dukies and us still having stuff to prove may lead to some complacency of your younger players...We'll be fired up, and I'm afraid you'll have to be in the unfortunate position of incurring our wrath.

I, for one, found the Ulou name to be just fine...no offence taken, I just hope you don't take offence to us walking out with a relatively easy 40-24 W.