Rather have faced Navy or LSU in the bowl?

[pittpitt]

Based on how Navy played in the bowl and how LSU played in their bowl (you can adjust that however you want based on Pitt's D vs Texas Tech's D, but for this exercise you must assume LSU still brings the A game they brought to the Texas Bowl), would you have rather still faced Navy or faced the name-brand LSU?

Some fans were clamoring for Pitt to face a big-name opponent like LSU, saying a loss to them wouldn't matter at all. Well LSU went out and absolutely annihilated a team that recruits in Texas, and their NFL running back went for 256 total yards (and 5 TD's) and their "nothing" QB threw for 254. The opponent's QB threw for 370 and they were never in the game. Do the people who thought facing LSU was a great idea still wish that was the case?

Sure we lost to a non-P5 school, but it's a school that was very good this year -- ranked, amazing QB, only loses were to top-10 teams. Even with the endzone interception earlier in the game that would have been a TD if Boyd doesn't fall down on his route, we were making a decent comeback push late in the 4th. Facing that LSU team with that line and that RB? We all stop watching at halftime and bitch about it being LSU's down year. You know how I feel -- your thoughts?

 

[crharris8892]

This whole idea of revisiting the game is torture. Too soon. Yeah they were good.

 

[UPitt '89]

Based on how Navy played in the bowl and how LSU played in their bowl (you can adjust that however you want based on Pitt's D vs Texas Tech's D, but for this exercise you must assume LSU still brings the A game they brought to the Texas Bowl), would you have rather still faced Navy or faced the name-brand LSU?

Some fans were clamoring for Pitt to face a big-name opponent like LSU, saying a loss to them wouldn't matter at all. Well LSU went out and absolutely annihilated a team that recruits in Texas, and their NFL running back went for 256 total yards (and 5 TD's) and their "nothing" QB threw for 254. The opponent's QB threw for 370 and they were never in the game. Do the people who thought facing LSU was a great idea still wish that was the case?

Sure we lost to a non-P5 school, but it's a school that was very good this year -- ranked, amazing QB, only loses were to top-10 teams. Even with the endzone interception earlier in the game that would have been a TD if Boyd doesn't fall down on his route, we were making a decent comeback push late in the 4th. Facing that LSU team with that line and that RB? We all stop watching at halftime and bitch about it being LSU's down year. You know how I feel -- your thoughts?

Getting blown out by LSU is better, perception-wise, than being blown out by Navy.

While I really enjoyed Annapolis..... it would've been better for Pitt to get crushed by LSU than crushed by Navy.

 

[rojo36]

Based on how Navy played in the bowl and how LSU played in their bowl (you can adjust that however you want based on Pitt's D vs Texas Tech's D, but for this exercise you must assume LSU still brings the A game they brought to the Texas Bowl), would you have rather still faced Navy or faced the name-brand LSU?

Some fans were clamoring for Pitt to face a big-name opponent like LSU, saying a loss to them wouldn't matter at all. Well LSU went out and absolutely annihilated a team that recruits in Texas, and their NFL running back went for 256 total yards (and 5 TD's) and their "nothing" QB threw for 254. The opponent's QB threw for 370 and they were never in the game. Do the people who thought facing LSU was a great idea still wish that was the case?

Sure we lost to a non-P5 school, but it's a school that was very good this year -- ranked, amazing QB, only loses were to top-10 teams. Even with the endzone interception earlier in the game that would have been a TD if Boyd doesn't fall down on his route, we were making a decent comeback push late in the 4th. Facing that LSU team with that line and that RB? We all stop watching at halftime and bitch about it being LSU's down year. You know how I feel -- your thoughts?

Neither team. Playing LSU would not have been any better-it would have been in some southern city close to LA if not in New Orleans.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

Since Navy already beat us. I'd rather play LSU.

 

[thebadby2]

Neither team. Playing LSU would not have been any better-it would have been in some southern city close to LA if not in New Orleans.

LSU would have destroyed Pitt on any field in the country this year. It would have been a lot uglier than Navy. I doubt our O would've crossed midfield against LSU.

 

[UPitt '89]

LSU would have destroyed Pitt on any field in the country this year. It would have been a lot uglier than Navy. I doubt our O would've crossed midfield against LSU.

LSU barely beat Syracuse this year. Let's get some perspective.

Texas Tech has the worst defense in FBS. Technically second worst, #127.

LSU runs a more traditional set and Narduzzi and Conklin would've been much better prepared for it.

Yes, LSU would beat Pitt, but let's not get carried away based on how they did against a Big 12 defense... and the worst Big 12 defense to boot.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

LSU would have destroyed Pitt on any field in the country this year. It would have been a lot uglier than Navy. I doubt our O would've crossed midfield against LSU.

You never know about scores. Navy played a close game with Army. Rivalry or not Army is not a very good team.

 

[colingrant2]

LSU

 

[thebadby2]

LSU barely beat Syracuse this year. Let's get some perspective.

Texas Tech has the worst defense in FBS. Technically second worst, #127.

LSU runs a more traditional set and Narduzzi and Conklin would've been much better prepared for it.

Yes, LSU would beat Pitt, but let's not get carried away based on how they did against a Big 12 defense... and the worst Big 12 defense to boot.

Yes and Syracuse went to 3 overtones with Central Michigan. We lost to Iowa on a last second FG. Alabama lost to Ol' Miss.

What do all those games have in common?

Play them again and they are all likely to turn out very differently. As someone on this board likes to say, the outcomes of team sports contests are not transitive. The better team doesn't always win. The results of a game played between 2 teams one week may be very different the next.

If you're suggesting this LSU team is only a little better than Cuse, you're out of your mind. Here's what they would roll us. They would be the most physical offensive line we've played since FSU 2 years ago. They have a beast of an all-everything tailback, the best in the country. Their defense is loaded with size, speed and athleticism. It would be a physical mismatch all over the field and it not be close, trust me.

You never know about scores. Navy played a close game with Army. Rivalry or not Army is not a very good team.

You can't say "rivalry or not"-bitter rivalry is everything. Changes all the odds and evens the playinf field.

You don't believe the better football team won 13-9, do you?

 

[UPitt '89]

As someone on this board likes to say, the outcomes of team sports contests are not transitive.

Exactly.

So for you to conclude that LSU would destroy Pitt because they destroyed the worst FBS defense in the country in Texas Tech is a silly assumption to make.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

LSU. I hate the triple option with a passion. Wish Paul Johnson would leave tech as well

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

Yes and Syracuse went to 3 overtones with Central Michigan. We lost to Iowa on a last second FG. Alabama lost to Ol' Miss.

What do all those games have in common?

Play them again and they are all likely to turn out very differently. As someone on this board likes to say, the outcomes of team sports contests are not transitive. The better team doesn't always win. The results of a game played between 2 teams one week may be very different the next.

If you're suggesting this LSU team is only a little better than Cuse, you're out of your mind. Here's what they would roll us. They would be the most physical offensive line we've played since FSU 2 years ago. They have a beast of an all-everything tailback, the best in the country. Their defense is loaded with size, speed and athleticism. It would be a physical mismatch all over the field and it not be close, trust me.

You can't say "rivalry or not"-bitter rivalry is everything. Changes all the odds and evens the playinf field.

You don't believe the better football team won 13-9, do you?

So every rivalry game evens the playing field? Come on.

 

[JSSTartan]

I still would have rather faced LSU as well. Sure they're definitely more talented and that would have probably won them the game, but I would rather not play the triple option more than we have to do so (even though it appears our coaching staff could use the practice defending it).

 

[thebadby2]

Exactly.

So for you to conclude that LSU would destroy Pitt because they destroyed the worst FBS defense in the country in Texas Tech is a silly assumption to make.

You may want to re-read my post. I make no assumptions. I explained why LSU would destroy Pitt, and it has nothing to do with that bowl game. LSU would have destroyed Pitt because they have drastically superior personnel at every position on the field with the arguable exception of QB. Whitehead? Boyd? They have those guys all over the place. Their guys make Navy look like an intramural team. Navy has its scheme and Keenan Reynolds, LSU has 15 future NFL starters, most of whom are on D. They come into that game focused as they did in that bowl game, they would have pushed us around like the rag dolls we were. If you watched them play more than the one game they just played, as I have, and if you have any idea what you're seeing when watching a football game, you'd see this for yourself.

 

[thebadby2]

So every rivalry game evens the playing field? Come on.

Did I say that?

The emotions and passion that go into rivalry games many times enable underdogs to hang with superior teams. A basic truth of team sports as long as they have existed. Do you really disagree with that? If so, please explain how Army hung with Navy to the end. Was it because they were similar quality teams? I don;t think so. Do you think we were a similar quality team to WVU in when we beat them in 2007? Not even close. But we won. How? Why?

 

[UPitt '89]

You may want to re-read my post. I make no assumptions. I explained why LSU would destroy Pitt, and it has nothing to do with that bowl game. LSU would have destroyed Pitt because they have drastically superior personnel at every position on the field with the arguable exception of QB. Whitehead? Boyd? They have those guys all over the place. Their guys make Navy look like an intramural team. Navy has its scheme and Keenan Reynolds, LSU has 15 future NFL starters, most of whom are on D. They come into that game focused as they did in that bowl game, they would have pushed us around like the rag dolls we were. If you watched them play more than the one game they just played, as I have, and if you have any idea what you're seeing when watching a football game, you'd see this for yourself.

So explain their struggle to beat Syracuse? If Navy is an intramural team compared to them, Syracuse is a high school JV team. I

It's about matchups. Pitt could match up with LSU's scheme, even with better athletes, much better than they could match up with Navy's.

If we're going to get blown out, I'd rather get blown out by LSU than Navy. We saw how well we played against Navy, I'd rather have seen us play against LSU.

I have watch LSU this year. A lot. They put up 19 points against a Texas A&M defense that Louisville put up 500+ yards against. They also gave up 28 points to a Florida offense that could only generate 9 against Vanderbilt and 14 against FAU in regulation.

LSU is very good and talented. But if Syracuse can hang with them, it isn't far fetched to think Pitt could as well.

LSU wouldve beaten Pitt.... but it wouldnt have been any more embarrassing than giving up 500+ yards and six touchdowns to Navy.

 

[thebadby2]

So explain their struggle to beat Syracuse? If Navy is an intramural team compared to them, Syracuse is a high school JV team. I

It's about matchups. Pitt could match up with LSU's scheme, even with better athletes, much better than they could match up with Navy's.

If we're going to get blown out, I'd rather get blown out by LSU than Navy. We saw how well we played against Navy, I'd rather have seen us play against LSU.

I have watch LSU this year. A lot. They put up 19 points against a Texas A&M defense that Louisville put up 500+ yards against. They also gave up 28 points to a Florida offense that could only generate 9 against Vanderbilt and 14 against FAU in regulation.

LSU is very good and talented. But if Syracuse can hang with them, it isn't far fetched to think Pitt could as well.

LSU wouldve beaten Pitt.... but it wouldnt have been any more embarrassing than giving up 500+ yards and six touchdowns to Navy.

So explain their struggle to beat Syracuse?

Because that $hit happens to every team. Every team has a bad game or two against an inferior opponent. How did Texas beat Oklahoma? How did Indiana "almost" beat Michigan? How did Nebraska beat MSU? How did Northwestern beat Stanford? How did Northern Illinois "almost" beat OSU? And while we're at it, how did Pitt "almost" beat Iowa? Those games taken individually don't mean anything when it comes to evaluating the quality of the teams that had the scare or unexpected loss. It's football, and anyone can have a bad/good day--or two or three.

 

[UPitt '89]

So explain their struggle to beat Syracuse?

Because that $hit happens to every team. Every team has a bad game or two against an inferior opponent. How did Texas beat Oklahoma? How did Indiana "almost" beat Michigan? How did Nebraska beat MSU? How did Northwestern beat Stanford? How did Northern Illinois "almost" beat OSU? And while we're at it, how did Pitt "almost" beat Iowa? Those games taken individually don't mean anything when it comes to evaluating the quality of the teams that had the scare or unexpected loss. It's football, and anyone can have a bad/good day--or two or three.

Right. So using your logic, what makes you think LSU would repeat the performance against Pitt that they had against TTU?

And even if they did, it wouldnt be any worse for Pitt than giving up 400+ rushing yards and 6 TDs against Navy.

 

[thebadby2]

Right. So using your logic, what makes you think LSU would repeat the performance against Pitt that they had against TTU?

And even if they did, it wouldnt be any worse for Pitt than giving up 400+ rushing yards and 6 TDs against Navy.

You think our sketchy O would have had an easier time with LSU's NFL-laden D than Navy's MAC level D?