Miami-Pittsburgh Preview
No. 19 Miami (1-1) at Pittsburgh (1-1), 7:30 p.m., ESPN.
Line: Miami by 3.
Series record: Miami leads 21-9-1.
Last meeting: 2003, Miami 28, Pitt 14.
What's at Stake
A national ranking - Miami will stay ranked if it wins, and Pitt assuredly would move into the Top 25 if it does. The Hurricanes' 36-24 loss at No. 2 Ohio State wasn't unexpected, but coach Randy Shannon was upset about the sloppiness. So upset he ordered all of his players to stop posting messages on Twitter. Pitt lost its opener at Utah, and a 1-2 start would be deemed a failure for a Dave Wannstedt-coached team that was a near-unanimous pick to win the Big East.
Key matchup
Miami's speed vs. Pitt's offense and defense. Speed was the one Hurricanes' asset that Pitt consistently failed to match during its six-game Big East losing streak against Miami that ran from 1998-2003, long before any of these players arrived. The teams haven't played since Miami moved into the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt has upgraded its speed under Wannstedt, but no team on Pitt's schedule has as much speed throughout its roster as Miami does.
Players to watch
Miami LB Sean Spence. Spence already has four tackles for losses on a team that leads the nation with 25. Controlling Pitt RB Dion Lewis and backup Ray Graham on first and second downs will be a priority for Spence and the Hurricanes.
Pitt RB Dion Lewis. The nation's leading returning rusher after gaining 1,799 yards last season, Lewis is off to a surprisingly slow start with 102 yards and a 2.9 yards per carry average. He was benched for Ray Graham during the second half against New Hampshire. Pitt is ranked 89th in the country in rushing.
Facts & Figures
Miami's last loss to Pitt was in 1997 at now-demolished Pitt Stadium. Miami has won 32 consecutive games against unranked conference opponents. Pitt is 1-10 against ranked non-conference opponents since 1996. Pitt DE Brandon Lindsey has two sacks while replacing the injured Greg Romeus (back surgery), the 2009 Big East co_defensive player of the year who will miss most of the season. Shannon was a LB at Miami when Wannstedt was the defensive coordinator from 1986-88 and later was the linebackers coach when Wannstedt coached the Dolphins. By winning, Miami would start 2-1 for the third consecutive season.
Miami at Pittsburgh: What Bettors Need to Know
By Ben Burns.
Talent-wise, Miami wasn’t overwhelmed by Ohio State in a 36-24 loss to the Buckeyes on Sept. 11. Pitt doesn’t have Buckeye-talent.
The Hurricanes (1-1) head to Heinz Field as 3.5-point favorites over the banged-up Panthers (1-1), who will be without their best player, defensive end Greg Romeus, Thursday night.
But Miami’s talent advantage won’t matter, if the ’Canes continue to turn the ball over. Quarterback Jacory Harris threw four picks against Ohio State. Miami is ranked 118th in the nation in turnover margin. The Panthers’ defense has created four turnovers this season.
Pittsburgh sophomore quarterback Tino Sunseri has been solid, but also has thrown an interception in each of his first two starts. The offensive line hasn’t afforded him much time in the pocket, a major concern against an aggressive Miami defense.
HOW THEY ENTER
Both of these teams were picked as favorites to win their conferences. But both have suffered deflating early losses. The Panthers opened the season with a 27-24 overtime defeat on the road at what looks like a good Utah squad.
Overall, these are two similar programs trying to take the next step into national prominence. Miami has been a popular public team for decades. So, if anything, the line may be a little inflated, if you’re getting it a -3.5. The Hurricanes certainly have the talent advantage to cover the number, but can they limit their mistakes in a hostile environment? Randy Shannon’s team hasn’t proved that, yet.
THE LINE
Miami opened at -3.5. The number hadn’t move significantly as of Wednesday. Pittsburgh is on a 7-3 ATS run at home.
THE TOTAL
Bettors, likely sharp, pounced when the total opened up at 54 online. It’s all the way down to 50.5 at most books.
Miami is averaging 34.5 points per game, but scored only one offensive touchdown against Ohio State. The Hurricanes are 16th in the nation in total defense. Pittsburgh is averaging 32.5 points per game, but its offense hasn’t been consistent. The Panthers are surrendering an average of just less than 22 points per game.
Recently against ACC competition, The Panthers lost a 38-31 to North Carolina State last year and won a defensive battle, 19-7, against North Carolina in the Meinke Car Care Bowl.
Recently against the Big East, Miami went on the road and hammered South Florida 31-10 last season.
The under is 7-0 in the Hurricanes’ last seven vs. Big East and 37-16 in last 53 non-conference games. The under is 10-4 in the Panthers’ last 14 home games.
Weather isn’t expected to impact the game.
INJURY REPORT
Pittsburgh is a banged-up football team that will be without its best player in Romeus. The 2009 Big East of Defensive Player of the Year, Romeus had surgery on his back and is expected to miss the majority of the season. That leaves the Panthers with a patchwork defensive front.
In addition, starting linebacker Dan Mason has been demoted due to an off-the-field incident that caused three reserves to be suspended for Thursday’s game.
The ’Canes’ most significant injury concern is starting defensive tackle Marcus Robinson, who is questionable with an ankle injury he suffered against Ohio State.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Miami has potent kick returners in Lamar Miller and Travis Benjamin. Both scored touchdowns on returns against Ohio State. The Hurricanes lead the nation in punt returns at 27.5 yards.
Pittsburgh counters with the nation’s second-best punting unit, led by punter Dan Hutchins, who is averaging 48 points per kick.
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BATTLE
Pittsburgh entered the season with major questions on the offensive line. Those questions have yet to be answered. That’s not a good sign against a Miami defense that leads the nation in tackles for loss and is second in sacks.
Miami, Fl. at Pittsburgh
By Christian Alexander
Last week we witnessed the Cincinnati Bearcats, Big East Champions from 2009, get manhandled on the road in the ACC by the N.C. State Wolfpack. This week presents the opportunity for the Big East to get a measure of payback on the ACC as we head north to watch the Pittsburgh Panthers, play host to the Miami Hurricanes of the ACC.
For Pittsburgh, the preseason favorite to win the Big East, it has not been a good start to the season. The Panthers opened on the road at Utah, full of confidence with national ranking (#15) and a tailback (Dion Lewis) who was squarely in the Heisman conversation to start the year.
However, demonstrating how quickly things can turn, just two weeks later, Pittsburgh finds itself lacking confidence, searching for an identity and trying to keep players healthy and out of trouble.
It all started with a 27-24 overtime loss at Utah to open the season; certainly forgivable considering how tough the Utes are, especially at home. The Panthers then followed up that loss with a very uninspiring win over New Hampshire in which Lewis gained just 27 yards on 10 carries.
Then the personnel hits started.
First there was the news that the 2009 Big East co-defensive player of the year, defensive end Greg Romeus, will likely miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a disc in his lower back.
As Coach Dave Wannstedt was dealing with that loss he also had to deal with off-the-field matters as running back Jason Douglas and offensive lineman Keith Coleman were suspended indefinitely after being arrested for a DUI and aggravated assault respectively.
And so three weeks to the day after starting the season on a Thursday night in Utah, Pittsburgh must figure out a way to get Lewis (102 yards on 35 carries) on track, make up for the loss of their best defender, while also regaining the team’s focus after the off-the-field distractions.
You’ll excuse Coach Randy Shannon if he doesn’t have much sympathy for the plight of the Panthers. The head man for the University of Miami is hoping his team to get his team headed back in the right direction after a disheartening loss at Ohio State.
Clearly, a loss to the Buckeyes at the “Horseshoe” is nothing to hang your head about but that said, the way Miami squandered opportunity after opportunity in a 36-24 defeat to OSU has many in the program feeling a hangover. And no one has a bigger headache from the loss than QB Jacory Harris.
The Miami signal caller was intercepted four times, a career-high for the junior, in a game that saw the Hurricanes commit eight penalties. Now Shannon must get his team to quickly clean up their act and travel to face a Pittsburgh team who is equally motivated for a win. There will definitely be a sense of urgency in the air this Thursday night on both sidelines as neither team wants to dip below .500 for the year.
The Panthers will look to Lewis, and his backup Ray Graham, to drive the offense but that pair of sophomores will clearly need help from QB Tino Sunseri – who is starting just his third collegiate game –in order to move the ball and score points against a tough Miami defense.
For the Hurricanes it will be about eliminating mistakes. If Harris can eliminate mistakes, and get the ball to weapons such as WR’s Leonard Hankerson and LaRon Byrd, then Miami can pile up points at a fast clip. Already this season the Hurricanes have four touchdown drives that have lasted less than two minutes, including one against Ohio State.
There is a pretty decent chunk of history between these two schools that used to compete against one another in the Big East. Pittsburgh would be just fine erasing most of that history as Miami has owned the Panthers to a 20-9-1 tune since these two began playing in 1950.
Pittsburgh and Miami haven’t played since 2003 – the last year Miami was in the Big East – but the Hurricanes are on a six-game winning streak in this series. The most ominous stat for the home team this Thursday night might be that the Panthers are 1-10 against ranked, non-conference opponents since 1996.
Tips and Trends
Miami Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Panthers
HURRICANES: (-4, O/U 50) Miami has nobody to blame but themselves for their loss last week to Ohio St. The Hurricanes had 4 turnovers compared to 0 for Ohio St. That right there was the ballgame, as the Hurricanes lost SU and ATS 24-36. Miami still has plenty to play for, as they are still the 19th ranked team in the nation. Prized QB Jacory Harris needs to put the Ohio St. 4 INT game behind him, as he needs to focus on the rest of the season. The Hurricanes have the 38th best passing offense in the nation at 241 YPG. Harris will need to throw the ball early and often against a Pittsburgh team that is quite stout against the run. Defensively, the Hurricanes are 34th in the nation in scoring defense at 18 PPG. Coach Shannon gave his team quite the motivational speech this week, so one would expect to see an emotional Hurricanes team tonight. Miami has played to the under in 10 of their past 14 games played on Thursday night. Miami is in the middle of 3 consecutive road games.
Hurricanes are 3-13 ATS last 16 games following a bye week.
Under is 7-0 last 7 vs. Big East.
Key Injuries - DL Marcus Robinson (ankle) is questionable.
Projected Score: 24
PANTHERS: Pittsburgh is already off to a disappointing start, and that was after the first game of the season. The popular pick to win the Big East Conference, as well as contend as a darkhorse for the National Championship is, is already unranked. Making matters worse is the simple fact that this team has yet to win a game ATS this season. After losing both SU and ATS to Utah, the Panthers beat New Hampshire 38-16 SU yet lost ATS as a 29.5 favorite. Coach Wannstedt is on the hot seat for not just his teams play on the field, but off it as well. How will the Panthers handle the distractions of 3 of their own and their problems with the law? RB Dion Lewis has underachieved so far this year, gaining only 102 YDS on 35 carries. Defenses are teeing off on the Pittsburgh rushing attack, because they don't respect the passing game of the Panthers. QB Tino Sunseri needs to develop faster as the QB and leader of this team. Defensively, Pittsburgh has allowed an average of 21.5 PPG this year, 61st in the nation. The Panthers are hoping for some help from the fans, as the team is playing in front of a national audience midweek against a ranked opponent.
Panthers are 6-1 ATS last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 11-5 last 16 games following a bye week.
Key Injuries - TE Brock DeCicco (hamstring) is probable.
Projected Score: 27 (SIDE of the Day)