GAME PREVIEW: MIAMI AT PITT

The Hurricanes travel to Pittsburgh tonight. It has the makings for a good one, but Pitt is a bit banged up. Let's take a look at some of the finer points.

Miami @ Pitt
7:30 PM - ESPN
Both teams come in 1-1. Pitt lost a nail biter out in Salt Lake City to a really good Utah team, and Miami lost on the road to the Buckeyes. Both losses are understandable especially when you consider both were on the road. Pitt is pretty banged up. Key personnel losses for Pitt include: Knox (S), Wright (CB) Romeus (DE), Murphy (DE), and Peeler (RB). Yet the Hurricanes have some people out too: Lewis (DT), Nelson (LB), and Cooper (RB). I think Pitt at home should be stout as the home crowd will be jacked up. I think this one really comes down to the play of Jacory Harris. Will he throw a couple picks. If the pressure is not there - I doubt it.

I think the last time they matched up was back in 2003 when Miami travelled to Pitt and won 28-14. With that being said it is a different time and these are different teams.

Here are some of the Key Overall Stats worth noting so far in 2010: (Overall Div1/FBS Ranking Stats)

Rushing Yards:
Miami - 77th
Pitt - 89th

Passing Yards:
Miami - 38th
Pitt - 50th

Points Scored:
Miami - 30th
Pitt - 49th

Points Allowed:
Miami - 34th
Pitt -  61st

The numbers don't lie here, and Miami is a favorite across the board. I do think Pitt gets better at rushing. Graham & Lewis are going to get more yards. It's just a matter of what night they decides to flip the switch.

I see Jacory Harris putting on a show tonight. He'll be running for first downs and moving the sticks through the air via Hankerson and Benjamin.

(Photo courtesy of Doug Benc)

Pitt's D could step up and stop them, but I just don't sense it tonight especially considering Romeus is out. Look for Miami getting the W on the road tonight and winning by 7.

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UTAH SURVIVES PITT IN OVERTIME AS FRESHMAN BLECHEN STEALS THE SHOW

Going in this game was regarded as "The Best Match Up of the Night", and Pitt @ Utah last night did not disappoint. Utah at home in Salt Lake City is a force to be reckoned with, and Dave Wanndstedt and Pitt found that out first hand last night.

The home crowd was amped and the play was a bit sloppy at times, as the officials really worked it out last night calling 33 penalties. After a scoreless 1st Quarter Dion Lewis opened the second quarter with a TD run, and Pitt was letting the home crowd know about it.

(Photo courtesy of AP/Steve C.)

Overall though, the Utah Defense which ranked very close to the top of Mountain West Conference last year was on point again last night. Utah held Pitt to a lousy 5-14 on 3rd Down Efficiency, and Dion Lewis was effectively done for night

While Jordan Wynn did have one interception in the end zone last night, he still had a very effective outing for Utah. He threw for 283 yards and 3 TDs on the night. While he will need to bring up the completion percentage as he had just 58.3% last night, but I credit the Pitt D on making things difficult for Wynn, who in the end really made things look easy last night.

The Red Zone was a very tough place to be last night for Pitt, and one can not go far in describing last night's Defensive effort without mentioning the true freshman, Brian Blechen. He came up big last night in overtime, as Tino Sunseri rolled right on the first play in OT and stared down his receiver. Blechen made a move on the ball and set his team up for the win by picking off the pass. It was over right there. Utah took possession and muscled it down the field setting up the game winning field goal by Joe Phillips.

(Photo courtesy of AP/Steve C.)

In a losing effort, Pitt's #22 Antwuan Reed (CB & Special Teams) played big. He blocked a punt late in the 3rd Quarter and recovered a fumble. He did get toasted on a big play, but his effort on the night helped keep Pitt in the game. Dion Lewis put up some decent numbers. He got 25 touches and produced 75 yards and 1 TD.


It was truly a wild finish, and it lived up to the hype. Make no mistake, nobody wants to play Utah this year, especially at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT where the Utes have won 18 in a row.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but it is going to be bigtime when TCU comes to Salt Lake November 6th.