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.

SO CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE IT

With the opening kickoff of the College Football 2010 season just weeks away its time to start breaking down games.


Let's start with opening night, Thursday September 2nd.

(All times are listed in EST)

Southern Miss @ South Carolina
7:30 ESPN
Both teams finished last season with a loss to end the season, and both finished 7-6 in their respective campaigns. But considering the tone that needs to be set early for this season, especially considering the way USC finished last season (they were sloppy and man-handled by UCONN in the bowl game), South Carolina should roll. They will be getting tuned up for the always important early season showdown with Georgia (9/11). The most intriguing aspects for me in this game will be the Offensive Line for USC and how well they protect (Sr.) Stephen Garcia. I am also very interested in seeing the crown jewel of Coach Spurrier's most recent recruiting class, Marcus Lattimore. Is he the second coming? Will he be the starter? Is he THE player that ushers in the balance that Coach has lacked since arriving in Columbia? Look for Carolina to come out gunning for the end zone, and expect Carolina to win by 21.



Marshall @ Ohio State
7:30 Big Ten Network
Ohio state is coming off an 11-2 season last year capped off by an impressive Rose Bowl victory over a very good Oregon team. Marshall on the other hand is coming off a 7-6 season, which they posted just 2 conference wins. I will be keeping an eye on Terrelle Pryor's surgically repaired right knee. He could be wearing a knee brace, and it is going to be a long season. So he might be handing off and focusing on pocket passing for the opener with VERY little scrambling. But let's be honest, running is in his blood and if it's 3rd Down, and he sees daylight and no one open, then there is a really good chance he could bolt. I just hope the body holds up (reference Colt McCoy in the Bama game). Marshall's Defense will resemble swiss cheese and The Buckeyes will roll in front of the home crowd. The Defense will be stifling, and OSU should win by 28.



Pitt @ Utah
8:30 Versus
Huge road test for Pitt. This is without a doubt the best matchup of the night. Both teams finished the season with 10-3 records, but take note: Utah went undefeated in conference play while Pitt dropped 2 games in the conference last year. Of course this is a non-conference game, but those are interesting numbers regardless, especially considering teams without a doubt should be getting up for the conference matchups. Pitt will be working out the kinks with a new QB under center, but look for them to handoff all night and rely on the strong D they bring to the table in 2010. Utah should be tough, but ultimately not have the answers to stop Dion Lewis and Pitt's ground game. Look for Pitt by 10.



USC @ Hawaii
11:00 ESPN
Southern Cal is coming an unusually crazy ride of an off season, and in my opinion get used to it as you, USC, officially signed up for it with Lane Kiffin and the Merry Pranksters. And for USC the hits keep coming as star freshman tailback Dillon Baxter will not be playing in the season opener. Either way usher in the Kiffin Era with a win. USC finished last year 9-4 and Hawaii subpar 6-7 record. Monty is one of the best in the business and the Defense will be stout. USC by 21.

Let me know what you think. How do you see the opening Thursday night festivities panning out?