Pitt Panthers Primed To Give Wannstedt Sixth Straight Victory Over Syracuse

Believing the Pitt administration has addressed problems with the football program is a crap shoot. At this point the only sure thing is faith.

Knowing Steve Pederson is on top of things and Chancellor Nordenberg is dedicated to the program more than he values his friendship with the head coach would lead to the conclusion that an important conversation with Dave Wannstedt did take place this week resulting in a refocusing on the program's goals.

Odds are high that conversation never took place. What appears to have happened is a connection between Wannstedt and his relentless critics. Those close to the head coach say he is very focused on beating Syracuse. The guy who gets distracted by individual players' problems and the team's temperament has only one thing to say about Syracuse: Pitt must win.

No team on the schedule is more beatable by a Wannstedt-coached team than the Orange. Both squads play power football. Both squads want to pound the ball up the middle. Both now have lots of young talent. Pitt had more veterans before the injury bug hit. A one-on-one talent matchup favors the Panthers.

If Pitt plays poorly for any significant part of the game tomorrow, Wannstedt will have failed again. The Panthers can't use crowd noise as an excuse. They've already dealt with Rice-Echels and Notre Dame stadiums. They can't use a young QB as an excuse. Sunseri has been sacked enough to develop better vision. The emerging connection he made with Jon Baldwin last week should continue.

There will be no excuse for stalling in the Red Zone. Syracuse's defense will not stop the Panthers there. Fans will be looking at an old-fashioned pro set offense from Syracuse with a combination of run and pass that mirrors Pitt's. In other words, Wannstedt shouldn't have many opportunities to make bonehead coaching decisions. At least fans can hope for as much.

The Panther defense can't claim they weren't prepared for a hurry up offense or the spread. Syracuse runs neither. The Syracuse team they will see across the line tomorrow won't look much different from the Pitt offense they line up against in practices.    

Wannstedt said this week:

"“We just have to win, period, and build some confidence. I think that is where we are at right now as a team. You give yourself the best chance to win on how you prepare and our guys have prepared good. Our guys are excited about playing, but we’ve got to transfer practice to the game.”

That quote should lift the expectations of fans.

Prediction: Pitt 24 - Syracuse 20