Pitt-USF Preview - from panther.com

[Velcro]

PJ & CD if the O sputters

[Guest guest-bull]

I am stunned!  Wow, nothing biased there is there?

Where to start?  How about strength of schedule.

Pitt:

 Notre Dame - (per Sagarin) #18 and 4-1

 Ohio U - #96 and 2-3

 Nebraska - #41 and 4-1

 Youngstown St - #107 and 5-1

 Rutgers - #92 and 3-2

 Cincy - #118 and 2-3

USF:

 Penn State - #5 and 6-0

 FAMU - #186 and 2-3

 UCF - #47 and 3-2

 Louisville - #11 and 4-1

 Miami (Fl) - #4 and 4-1

Why is this relevent?  To put the offensive and defensive stats into perspective.

QB:  Palko vs PJ/Denson - Advantage Pitt

RB:  Hall/Ponton vs. Kirkley/Jennings and Co. - Advantage USF

OL:  Given Pitt's porousness and USF's lack of sacks given up - Advantage USF

WR:  Great athletes on both sides, USF is deeper.  The question is, can a USF QB get the ball to a WR and them catch it?  Will Palko have time to through?  Advantage - PUSH

Offense overall - USF

DL - Getting sacks and holding the other team in rushing.  Advantage USF

LB - Your kidding right?  Advantage USF

DB - Two names Johnnie Jones and Mike Jenkins - nuff said.  Advantage USF

Defense overall - take away the gift TOs to PSU and UM and the defense has shown itself to be stout and tenacious.  Advantage USF

ST-Punt:  Baker is doing a fine job (when he gets the chance).  I saw that Pitt punter and the fake.  Advantage USF.

ST Kick:  You either get the ball in the EZ on the kick off or you don't.  Then there is the coverage aspect.  I like USF's kicker (Teachy) and the two hits he has had.  Advantage USF

ST-PR:  Speed speed speed (illegal block in the back).  Still, USF has the break away potential.  Advantage USF

ST-KR:  Chad Simpson.  Advantage USF

Screw Pitt!

[ChiTownBull]

ucf is #47 ???

[puc86]

Let me get this straight (from their standpoint):

We cannot pass

they can shut down the pass

We can run

they cannot plug holes or tackle.

So they will shut us down by defending our weakness and allowing our strength?

[puc86]

http://pittsburgh.scout.com/2/452514.html

Special Teams

Kyle Bronson has nailed all 14 of his PAT’s and three of five field goals. Brandon baker leads the conference with a 45.5 yard average per punt. Chad Simpson leads the conference averaging 30.8 yards per kick return. Jackie Chambers leads the conference in punt returns with a 15.7 average. USF boasts one of the best kick coverage units in the conference.

Josh Cummings missed two games due to injury, but he has converted 8-11 FG’s and five of five PAT’s. Adam Graessle is third in the conference with an average of 42.9 yards per punt . Darrelle Revis is second in the conference in punt returns with an average of 14.6 yards per return. Terrell Allen and Larod Stephens are both very dangerous kick returners.

Analysis: This component of the game could decide the outcome. Both teams are very evenly matched in special teams. We give the nod to Pitt because of the open end zone and Pitt’s familiarity with it.

Edge: Pitt

Prediction:  Pitt 27, USF 24

What ??? How does leading in most categories become an advantage for the other team?

[sdgukhsdgl]

this reminds me of a local pregame show produced here in knoxville...  before the UGA game they broke down the offense and defenses and UGA had the edge in nearly EVERY category according to them, but when it came time to predict the winner.... they all took UT.  

Also brings back memories of the SNL skit where they debate Ditka vs. everyone in the world, only to conclude Ditka wins

[smazza]

this game will tell alot about bulls

if we can't beat pitt

we will not beat rutgers or unconn either

[bulls96go]

this game will tell alot about bulls

if we can't beat pitt

we will not beat rutgers or unconn either

this is our legitimizing game

win this and we have taken a real step forward

lose and the ul win is afluke in the media's eyes

go bulls! beat pitt