PITT-Syracuse: The Low-Key Rivalry

We all remember last season’s PITT-Syracuse game where they ran up and down the court and were just hitting threes all night……Wait hold on they run up and down the court in Basketball.  My bad, but it is a good comparison when talking about last seasons 76-61 PITT victory at Heinz Field in front of a very excited (and possibly confused) crowd.

When you see 20 touchdowns combined by both teams, you don’t know whether to say good job offense or what the heck was the defense doing that day.  But, will we see a game like that again this season?  My gut tells me probably not.

The PITT-Syracuse rivalry doesn’t get the attention that the PITT rivalries with Penn State and West Virginia do, but that can probably be because Syracuse and PITT has been rebuilding the past few years and they both now have potential to be dangerous teams for years to come because both Athletic Departments have finally found coaches that want to build the programs back up to, well at least close to, where they were in the past.

And we have to remember that Syracuse has taken LSU and N.C State down to the wire which shows that they don’t back down, despite a tough loss to Middle Tennessee in Week 2 of this season.

Looking back at last week’s 42-10 victory over Rice, we saw what can happen when the offensive line gives Browne time to throw.  He has himself a day on his way to earning the “ACC Offensive Back of the Week” award for his performance.

I also think PITT found themselves a running back last week against Rice, again if the offensive line can repeat its performance from last week.  Chawntez Moss has been the most consistent and explosive back so far this season and has, in my opinion, jumped ahead of Qadree Ollison on the depth chart.  I was all on board when the season started with Ollison, but what I’ve seen from Moss through 5 games this season……..Moss is the running back I want to see get the bulk of the carries the rest of the season.

Now looking ahead to Syracuse on Saturday, in a series that began in 1916 and has been played every year since 1955.  Most of the time the games have come down a touchdown or a field goal with a few exceptions as you can probably find in every teams history against familiar opponents.  PITT is currently on a 4 game win streak against Syracuse and has won 13 of the last 15 meetings as well.

Pittsburgh leads the all time series 38-31-3 and the longest win streak in the series is a 11 games and both teams have achieved that.  Pittsburgh from 1973-1983 and Syracuse from 1991-2001.

Looking at the history of games that have happened at the Carrier Dome, I don’t see this game being a blowout in either direction.  And I also don’t see a 20 combined touchdown performance by both teams again either.

For PITT’s defense in this game, it is going to come down to stopping Syracuse Quarterback Eric Dungey as he is the Orange’s leading rusher, as well as passer obviously, so far this season.  Dungey has rushed for 277 net yards and 7 touchdowns and has thrown for 1437 yards and 7 touchdowns.  The leading receiver for the Orange this season has been Steve Ishmael with 632 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The key for the defense on Saturday will be to get consistent pressure from their front 7 and give Dungey happy feet in the pocket.  If it’s a pass play, maybe make him tuck it and run sooner than he would like.   I would want to make Dungey beat you through the air if he is going to because he doesn’t seem to get into a rhythm if he doesn’t have the option to run it effectively, whether it be himself or one of the other running backs of Dontae Strickland or Moe Neal.

The key for PITT’s offense will be the same key it has been every week so far this season, don’t beat yourself.  PITT’s offense does have the talent to be a really good offense once again this season, but they have shot themselves in the foot way to many times this season, whether it has been a turnover, missed an open receiver or just bad route running or play calling.

It also, as I mentioned earlier, comes down to can this offensive line control the line of scrimmage and keep Browne off the ground and open up the holes for Moss and the rushing attack.

So to sum it up, the three keys for PITT to have success against Syracuse this week will be for the Offensive Line to protect the Quarterback and open up holes for the running game, the Defense to get pressure with the front 7 and make Dungey uncomfortable and finally don’t shoot themselves in the foot with mistakes.

PITT is 2-3 (0-1 in the ACC) and no one should have lost hope of an ACC Coastal title yet because of 1 loss.  If they can beat Syracuse this week and come back home for Homecoming Weekend against N.C State at .500 overall and in conference.  The confidence of the team, fan base and students should come back and give them hope that they can still TAKE the Coastal.  That would involve most likely winning out, but why can’t it be done?

Alright, it’s prediction time and I have basically been hinting at the fact it is going to be a close game throughout this entire preview article and I am definitely going to stand by that prediction.  I am going to say PITT wins the game 30-22 against Syracuse on Saturday.

What are your Game Predictions and Keys to the Game on Saturday? Tweet them to @IntoPITT or to me at @MattyIcePGH.