Thursday night
- Thread starter Tarheel8592
- Start date
I think you are right there will be on both sides and I hope neither team comes out with serious injuries. There will be mental pain for one at the end. UNC a 3 pt. favorite , slightly surprising since at Pitt. I think Thursday games are a slightly bigger advantage for a home team especially when there is a lot of travel distance.
The thing that jumps off the page to me about Pitt is their margin of victory. IIRC, Pitt has won something like 5 games by 6 points or less. Some would call that luck, I tend to think that it shows a grit and determination. Pitt will not roll over, especially at home. The Heels will have to play a game akin to what they did against Wake Forest and it won't be nearly as lopsided as that game ended up being. The Heels will have to bring AT LEAST their B+ game to have a shot to win and more of the stupid penalties will doom the Heels to a L.
It's going to be hard fought on both sides. I think its going to be one of those ugly games. Penalties, maybe an injury on both sides. We give up a couple of back breaking big plays. I'm sticking to my prediction but I hope I'm wrong.
27-23 Pitt
27-23 Pitt
We win comfortably (2 TDs or more) or lose a nail biter. Pitt is a team w/ 2 late FG wins in the last two weeks....typically, either the close calls catch up to you, or you just keep finding ways to put yourself in that situation. Both of these teams represent precisely the type of team that will be anathema to each other. Not sure we can win a slugfest on the road yet; I'm at least equally inclined that Pitt isn't suited to throw haymakers back and forth for 60 min, either, in any setting.
If we are a 3 pt. fav, then I'd say the early $$ has been on UNC and Vegas is trying to get some $$ on Pitt and the points at home.
James Conner was our biggest problem last year, in a game we still won. Without Conner, I'm hoping the Heels will be able to pull it out again.
This is the type of game UNC teams of the past would get crushed in - riding a nice little winning streak, on the fringe of ranked, people starting to chirp about an appearance in the ACCCG, going up against a gritty, solid opponent on a Thursday Night on the road. I'm thinking they will finally turn the corner in a big game and rise to the occasion, and get a hard fought 34-27 W.
This is the type of game UNC teams of the past would get crushed in - riding a nice little winning streak, on the fringe of ranked, people starting to chirp about an appearance in the ACCCG, going up against a gritty, solid opponent on a Thursday Night on the road. I'm thinking they will finally turn the corner in a big game and rise to the occasion, and get a hard fought 34-27 W.
Elijah Hood Time!
Play action will be important since Pitt likes to bring 9 in the box. Weather permitting, the long ball success will be important to force them to tone down the numbers in the box.
Grit and determination - Narduzzi. He is the difference between Pitt this year and Pitt last year.
Rain early Thursday but should clear out by kickoff! Temps in the mid to high 40s…….i.e. football weather
my gut has been pretty solid predicting games this year. I feel good about this one but also feel it will be hard fought.
Was reading on TOS that Pitt likes to stack the box w/ 8 or 9 a BUNCH of the time. Is that true? I haven't seen a Pitt game this year. If true, they'll either NOT do that, or they will pay a heavy, heavy price Thurs. night. We'll play the stick routes and the boundary screens to death, and if we don't break them for TDs, the majority of the time we'll get big gains....we execute those plays really well most of the time (ugh, I HATE the preponderance of East-West-y stuff we do, but so be it if an opponent plays in such a way that it's effective). And if they cheat their DBs up enough to engage the blockers in shallow enough space to minimize the stick/screen damage, they become very vulnerable to the long ball in the form of the skinny post, and stop and go routes.
I simply think Narduzzi is too good a coach to do that. Is Fed a good enough coach to prep/plan for the probability that Narduzzi won't stack the box, and not take that tendency as gospel to where our 1st 10 play script and/or gameplan in general is ineffective? Or, can Narduzzi bait Fed into trying for the homerun at inopportune times (ala this past Sat., up 13-10 in the 2nd Q and moving at will, then got greedy and had the INT)?
I simply think Narduzzi is too good a coach to do that. Is Fed a good enough coach to prep/plan for the probability that Narduzzi won't stack the box, and not take that tendency as gospel to where our 1st 10 play script and/or gameplan in general is ineffective? Or, can Narduzzi bait Fed into trying for the homerun at inopportune times (ala this past Sat., up 13-10 in the 2nd Q and moving at will, then got greedy and had the INT)?
I'm always a younger generation (who isn't?) of Lou Holtz. By the time we play them, I could have Kansas the equivalent of the New England Patriots in my mind. I felt pretty good about Wake; uva had me nervous (as much about the "look ahead" factor, but also their talent level), and I had GT killing us if the game started like it did (and we all saw what happened). Pitt is good, but I don't think they've seen our level of athleticism, and if the weather doesn't hamper that, I think we can hurt them offensively. Defensively, can we stop them in the red zone, b/c they are going to move the ball on us some....gotta make 'em kick FGs.
Feeling good about Thursday night as long as the "good" Quise shows up. Box gets stacked and its Mack to the House!
Completely agree....Think Carolina needs to complete a couple of big pass plays early to get Pitt looking over their shoulder and the Lbers on their Heels....If that were to happen, Hood could have a big day?
Pitt as mentioned above will generally have 9 in the box and man coverage outside to limit Carolina's short passing game.... Our TE Singleton may be needed more this week than he has thus far....
Should be a great game, and hope we don't have anymore INTs in the endzone like we did the last time we played in front of a National audience on a Thursday night?
Go Tar Heels!
The players (I believe it was Switzer who specifically mentioned it in an interview) know that they laid an egg and gave the game away last time they were on a nationally televised game where they the only* game on TV -- and they are raring to atone for that on this nationally televised game.
Fedora and the players haven't hid the fact that they're aware of how much exposure they will get in this game and how they'll be the only* game on TV with all college football fans watching. I get the sense they're chomping at the bit to put on a good performance. Let's just hope they come out loose and focused and not uptight (specifically Marquise). I don't know what to expect in terms of who wins, but I do expect to see our guys give 100% effort til the final whistle.
*I say the ''only'' game on TV....yes there was others on TV on that night in August, but UNC - Scar was the main headliner. And yes, there's a Big 12 game on Thursday featuring #5 TCU, but let's be honest....more people will watch the ESPN game. Even diehard sports fans like me still haven't trained their brain to think of Fox Sports 1 as a channel to turn to for football.
Fedora and the players haven't hid the fact that they're aware of how much exposure they will get in this game and how they'll be the only* game on TV with all college football fans watching. I get the sense they're chomping at the bit to put on a good performance. Let's just hope they come out loose and focused and not uptight (specifically Marquise). I don't know what to expect in terms of who wins, but I do expect to see our guys give 100% effort til the final whistle.
*I say the ''only'' game on TV....yes there was others on TV on that night in August, but UNC - Scar was the main headliner. And yes, there's a Big 12 game on Thursday featuring #5 TCU, but let's be honest....more people will watch the ESPN game. Even diehard sports fans like me still haven't trained their brain to think of Fox Sports 1 as a channel to turn to for football.
Wind is a huge factor at Heinz field, The more windy it is the more I like Pitt... Either way should be a good game... Williams will have to make quick and accurate throws. If he does that UNC will have some big plays in the passing game.. Hood is a very good runner but I think Pitt will scheme in such a way to try and nuetralize him.. Passing game success or failure for UNC will determine outcome
I see Switzer having a big game. Quick screens to him and let him loose on the edge.
Also, if they are going to play single coverage, Quishad (who has been quiet), could
be big. As mentioned in this thread, Pitt is probably not going to allow us to go wild
in the passing game. I am sure they have a strategy. Our defense has to play
solid and give our offense time to figure out how to score against a good Pitt
team.
Also, if they are going to play single coverage, Quishad (who has been quiet), could
be big. As mentioned in this thread, Pitt is probably not going to allow us to go wild
in the passing game. I am sure they have a strategy. Our defense has to play
solid and give our offense time to figure out how to score against a good Pitt
team.
Can we limit their pressure on Quise? OL must have a big game.
Phil Steele on a local radio station picked Pitt this afternoon to beat the current (-3) spread and win against Carolina this Thursday...To paraphrase, he said that Pitt's stats are more impressive, and have come from mostly contested road games, including a road game against a top-10 team in Iowa that beat them by only 3pts...He then mentioned that Carolina's stats have benefited from the fact that 5 of the 6 games played, have been played inside the state of N.C., and he also mentioned the 2 FCS opponents too boot as another reason why he says Pitt is the better team, and will win....
Seems I've seen a few of his predictions in the past in some of his Preseason magazines, and hope this prediction turns out like those, in which case, I like the Tar Heels chances...
Seems I've seen a few of his predictions in the past in some of his Preseason magazines, and hope this prediction turns out like those, in which case, I like the Tar Heels chances...
the only reason i know where fox sports 1 is on the dial is because of baseball the last 2 weeks.
i don't like MW history on prime time.
i don't like MW history on prime time.
May I extend an invitation to come on the PantherLAIR and put up your scores, insights and predictions that I have read here. great insight Tar Heel Fans and good luck today and have a great game.
LINK To LAIR:
http://pittsburgh.forums.rivals.com...rolina-game-day-prediction.31985/#post-459617
PITT-North Carolina Game Day Prediction:
Fedora’s experience and Veteran Stable Staff has out prepared, out coached, out recruited, and out played Pitt the last 2 years? The games I am using to portend this game are UVA and GT. Both Pitt and UNC played UNC about the same, so no help there to predict. I think Cuse was the Trap Scare Game Pitt Players is the clue they needed to be even more focus on this game, along with better tackling, and long drives. I have one big fear, that I expect Fedora will use a few dirty plays on Pitt Players, and the ACC Refs like to ignore such misdeeds from North Carolina Teams. If Boyd can be, knock out, the Panther Claws are gone, and UNC needs to stop Pitt’s Beast to win, so look out? On the other hand, Coach Narduzzi knows how to give that right back should he need it? So, how to measure and predict this important game know the following details? Both Teams have won the same games as last season, qualified for a Bowl Games, Undefeated in Conference, Ranks next to each other in Betting Line Power Ratings, Eyeing a Coastal Division Championship, Playing in the ACC Championship Game, Playing Success not seen In Years, Both lost Heart-Breakers to SEC SC and B1G Iowa, and the last time both had 10 wins they played in Bowl Game? At the same time, Pitt does not look great in winning late and by a few points, while UNC has won by more points often and higher. Pitt just does not blow away anybody, but the Players stay in the game all day long, but so does UNC? It gets worse; Pitt coming from behind to win 4th Quarter was last done against UNC in the Bowl Game of 2009? Nevertheless, the Old Panthers that lost 32 consecutive games when losing in the 4th is gone now. UNC is 3-0 since 1997 but this year they win late games too, by stopping and outscoring Teams. Therefore, Both Coaches & Staff know it is not about just Half Time Adjustments in this game. It is about which Team can stay focus, discipline, and not panic with being more patient with their play, as far as I am concern. UNC can defend the pass, but has some trouble against the run. Remember how Special Teams are important well no edge there either, both will play well. My Head says until Pitt shows it can beat Fedora UNC players they will win by an edge, but…my Heart is with Narduzzi having a better Defense and Special Teams. More importantly, the UNC Players are not expecting this typeof guile this time around and by the time they wake up, unless the ACC Refs makes some bad calls, Pitt will pull it out. Therefore, I am going with Pitt by 3 or less under the lights out at Heinz. Since I am going with my Heart, ("Intelligence Comes From The Heart!"), I am going to also use magic and miracles with superstition near this Halloween! Along with the mystical Pitt Script official return as well too that is slowly removing Pederson's Poison out of the Pitt Football Program? Yeah, that’s right, if you gussed it....PITT IRON-HEAD HEYWARD #34 is smiling down on his beloved Pitt and his son that is on the Steelers there to see Pitt win it with all of Pitt too!
Game Day Prediction:
"34" PITT 31 North Carolina
Game Day Result:
Pitt Preseason Prediction August 2015:
Get use to an exact rematch the last two seasons when Pitt lost on Chryst’s Special Education on Special Teams costing Pitt players that played their hearts out losing leads they had and did not deserve to be let down by Chryst arrogance and ignorance not needing Special Teams? Total Toss Up Game, and tough call, I will go with Pitt but have no clue until Game Day? Fedora again has been there at UNC while Coach Pat & Staff are in the first year.
Preseason Prediction:
PITT- 34 North Carolina-29 (6-2)
Pitt-UNC Record Last 2 Years:
2014 @North Carolina (6-7) L 35 40
2013 North Carolina (7-6) L 27 34
PITT 2015 Wins & Losses 6-1:
2015 Youngstown St. W 45-37 1-0
2015 at Akron W 24-7 2-0
2015 at Iowa L 27-24 2-1
2015 at Virginia Tech W 17-13 3-1 (1-0)
2015 Virginia W 26-19 4-1 (2-0)
2015 at Georgia Tech W 31-28 5-1 (3-0)
2015 at Syracuse W 23-20 6-1 (4-0)
UNC 2015 Wins & Losses 6-1:
2015 at South Carolina L 17-13 0-1
2015 North Carolina A&T W 53-14 1-1
2015 Illinois W 48-14 2-1
2015 Delaware W 41-14 3-1
2015 at Georgia Tech W 38-31 4-1 (1-0)
2015 Wake Forest W 50-14 5-1 (2-0)
2015 Virginia W 26-13 6-1 (3-0)
PITT-UNC Recruiting Rankings: Favors UNC!
2011:
16TH-UNC
59TH Pitt
2012:
44TH-UNC
47TH Pitt
2013:
35TH PITT
42ND-Unc
2014:
23RD-UNC
44TH Pitt
2015
28TH-UNC
66TH Pitt
2016:
14TH-UNC
66TH-Pitt
CBS SPORTS RANKINGS 1-128 SCHEDULED TEAMS:
PITT: 27TH 6-1
8 IOWA-L
9 ND
22 DUKE
25 UNC
27TH PITT 8-4 = 8-4 Projected Ranking Record
58 ULOU
53 GT W
63 MIAMI
71 VT-W
82 AKRON-W
85 SU W
92 UVA-W
N/R. YSU-W
UNC 25TH 6-1
22 DUKE
25TH UNC 11-1 = 10-2 Projected Ranking Record
27 PITT
46 NCS
56 ILLINOIS W
53 GT W
63 MIAMI
71 VT
79 SOUTH CAROLINA-L
92 UVA-W
95 WAKE FOREST-W
N/R DELAWARE-W
N/R. NCA&T -W
UNWEIGHTED AVERAGE RANKING & COMPARISON LINKS:
http://www.winsipedia.com/pittsburgh
http://www.winsipedia.com/pittsburgh
http://www.winsipedia.com/pittsburgh/vs/north-carolina
LINK To LAIR:
http://pittsburgh.forums.rivals.com...rolina-game-day-prediction.31985/#post-459617
PITT-North Carolina Game Day Prediction:
Fedora’s experience and Veteran Stable Staff has out prepared, out coached, out recruited, and out played Pitt the last 2 years? The games I am using to portend this game are UVA and GT. Both Pitt and UNC played UNC about the same, so no help there to predict. I think Cuse was the Trap Scare Game Pitt Players is the clue they needed to be even more focus on this game, along with better tackling, and long drives. I have one big fear, that I expect Fedora will use a few dirty plays on Pitt Players, and the ACC Refs like to ignore such misdeeds from North Carolina Teams. If Boyd can be, knock out, the Panther Claws are gone, and UNC needs to stop Pitt’s Beast to win, so look out? On the other hand, Coach Narduzzi knows how to give that right back should he need it? So, how to measure and predict this important game know the following details? Both Teams have won the same games as last season, qualified for a Bowl Games, Undefeated in Conference, Ranks next to each other in Betting Line Power Ratings, Eyeing a Coastal Division Championship, Playing in the ACC Championship Game, Playing Success not seen In Years, Both lost Heart-Breakers to SEC SC and B1G Iowa, and the last time both had 10 wins they played in Bowl Game? At the same time, Pitt does not look great in winning late and by a few points, while UNC has won by more points often and higher. Pitt just does not blow away anybody, but the Players stay in the game all day long, but so does UNC? It gets worse; Pitt coming from behind to win 4th Quarter was last done against UNC in the Bowl Game of 2009? Nevertheless, the Old Panthers that lost 32 consecutive games when losing in the 4th is gone now. UNC is 3-0 since 1997 but this year they win late games too, by stopping and outscoring Teams. Therefore, Both Coaches & Staff know it is not about just Half Time Adjustments in this game. It is about which Team can stay focus, discipline, and not panic with being more patient with their play, as far as I am concern. UNC can defend the pass, but has some trouble against the run. Remember how Special Teams are important well no edge there either, both will play well. My Head says until Pitt shows it can beat Fedora UNC players they will win by an edge, but…my Heart is with Narduzzi having a better Defense and Special Teams. More importantly, the UNC Players are not expecting this typeof guile this time around and by the time they wake up, unless the ACC Refs makes some bad calls, Pitt will pull it out. Therefore, I am going with Pitt by 3 or less under the lights out at Heinz. Since I am going with my Heart, ("Intelligence Comes From The Heart!"), I am going to also use magic and miracles with superstition near this Halloween! Along with the mystical Pitt Script official return as well too that is slowly removing Pederson's Poison out of the Pitt Football Program? Yeah, that’s right, if you gussed it....PITT IRON-HEAD HEYWARD #34 is smiling down on his beloved Pitt and his son that is on the Steelers there to see Pitt win it with all of Pitt too!
Game Day Prediction:
"34" PITT 31 North Carolina
Game Day Result:
Pitt Preseason Prediction August 2015:
Get use to an exact rematch the last two seasons when Pitt lost on Chryst’s Special Education on Special Teams costing Pitt players that played their hearts out losing leads they had and did not deserve to be let down by Chryst arrogance and ignorance not needing Special Teams? Total Toss Up Game, and tough call, I will go with Pitt but have no clue until Game Day? Fedora again has been there at UNC while Coach Pat & Staff are in the first year.
Preseason Prediction:
PITT- 34 North Carolina-29 (6-2)
Pitt-UNC Record Last 2 Years:
2014 @North Carolina (6-7) L 35 40
2013 North Carolina (7-6) L 27 34
PITT 2015 Wins & Losses 6-1:
2015 Youngstown St. W 45-37 1-0
2015 at Akron W 24-7 2-0
2015 at Iowa L 27-24 2-1
2015 at Virginia Tech W 17-13 3-1 (1-0)
2015 Virginia W 26-19 4-1 (2-0)
2015 at Georgia Tech W 31-28 5-1 (3-0)
2015 at Syracuse W 23-20 6-1 (4-0)
UNC 2015 Wins & Losses 6-1:
2015 at South Carolina L 17-13 0-1
2015 North Carolina A&T W 53-14 1-1
2015 Illinois W 48-14 2-1
2015 Delaware W 41-14 3-1
2015 at Georgia Tech W 38-31 4-1 (1-0)
2015 Wake Forest W 50-14 5-1 (2-0)
2015 Virginia W 26-13 6-1 (3-0)
PITT-UNC Recruiting Rankings: Favors UNC!
2011:
16TH-UNC
59TH Pitt
2012:
44TH-UNC
47TH Pitt
2013:
35TH PITT
42ND-Unc
2014:
23RD-UNC
44TH Pitt
2015
28TH-UNC
66TH Pitt
2016:
14TH-UNC
66TH-Pitt
CBS SPORTS RANKINGS 1-128 SCHEDULED TEAMS:
PITT: 27TH 6-1
8 IOWA-L
9 ND
22 DUKE
25 UNC
27TH PITT 8-4 = 8-4 Projected Ranking Record
58 ULOU
53 GT W
63 MIAMI
71 VT-W
82 AKRON-W
85 SU W
92 UVA-W
N/R. YSU-W
UNC 25TH 6-1
22 DUKE
25TH UNC 11-1 = 10-2 Projected Ranking Record
27 PITT
46 NCS
56 ILLINOIS W
53 GT W
63 MIAMI
71 VT
79 SOUTH CAROLINA-L
92 UVA-W
95 WAKE FOREST-W
N/R DELAWARE-W
N/R. NCA&T -W
UNWEIGHTED AVERAGE RANKING & COMPARISON LINKS:
http://www.winsipedia.com/pittsburgh
http://www.winsipedia.com/pittsburgh
http://www.winsipedia.com/pittsburgh/vs/north-carolina
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
UNC vs Cal Prediction Thread, Wednesday, January 15, 7PM (Triple Pts) ODDS UP- Latest: notashelbyfan
-