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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 3512877, member: 289"] - We all remember the days of the big, bad Pittsburgh basketball team under first Ben Howland, then Jamie Dixon. From 2001-2017. The Panthers beat us 20 of 28 games by an average of 5 points. From 2002-2019, the Panther’s football team has been just as successful, actually, a little moreso. They have won 15 of the last 18 games against us by an average of 10.1 points per game. Yet we found their basketball team intimidating and we usually think of their football team as ‘beatable’. In fact, we usually get handled by Pitt and they will probably be in full control again tomorrow. - They have a much better defense, on paper than North Carolina. Last year the Tar Heels were 51st in rushing defense, 71st in passing defense, 49th in total defense and 44th in scoring defense. Pitt was #12, #34, #15 and #36 in those same categories. They were going to have 8 starters back on defense until star tackle Jaylen Twyman opted out. But they should still be excellent. They have “a deep and experienced line muzzling opponents” and an “exceptional” secondary including preseason conference #1 safety, (over Andre Cisco), Paris Ford. End Patrick Jones wa s also first team. - Their offense was poor last year, amazingly #119 in the run after having two 1,000 yard rushers the year before. Pitt traditionally is a power running team so that should come back to the mean. But they have Mark Whipple running their offense so you know they can get fancy, too. Kenny Pickett is back at quarterback and he threw for 3,098 yards last year, (13TD, 9int). He has his top three running backs and 3 of his top 4 receivers back , Including Taysir Mack, who caught 63 balls for 736 yards and 3 scores. They have 4 of 5 offensive linemen returning. Their offense might not be up to the standard of the defense but it should give it more support this year. - Pitt beat Austin Peay State 55-0 in a game shortened to 50 minutes. They are an FCS team so that’s meaningless, right? Last year Maryland opened with a meaningless 79-0 victory over Howard, an FCS team. You know what happened next. - Alex Kessman is warming up for some more monster field goals against us. In 2017 he kicked field goals of 56, 49 and 42 yards against us. In 2018 it was 54, 55 and 45. Last year he added a 47 yarder and a 34 yarder. Expect more of the same. [/QUOTE]

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