2011 Pittsburgh Panthers College Football Expert Predictions, Picks, Vegas Odds and Schedule – Pittsburgh NCAA Football Preview: It has been a wild offseason for the Pittsburgh football program to say the least. Dave Wannstedt stepped down as head coach, following back-to-back seasons when the Panthers let potential Big East titles slip away in ugly fashion late in the year. Wannstedt’s replacement Mike Haywood was fired after getting into some legal trouble, leaving Todd Graham with the gig. Needless to say, recruiting was a major issue for Pitt thanks to the coaching turnover. As a result, the Panthers will have to win with their returning talent if they plan on competing for the conference title once again.
Unfortunately for Graham, he takes over an offense that is losing some of its top players. Big play wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin, running back Dion Lewis, and fullback Henry Hynoski all left Pittsburgh for the NFL. The good news for quarterback Tino Sunseri is that Graham is an offensive mastermind and will install the high-powered spread system that should get the most out every player on the offensive side of the ball. Even with the turnover at the skill positions, the Panthers’ offense should be able to put up points.
In addition to the new system, Pittsburgh also has capable backups that will get a chance to start this season. Running back Ray Graham will move into a full-time role this season, and considering he topped 900 yards on more than six yards a carry as a backup, he should enjoy a monster season in the new spread attack. Not to mention the fact that two wide receivers standing 6-foot-4 or taller should provide Sunseri with big targets to move the chains.
On defense, the unit will have to adjust to a new 3-4 scheme. The good news is that the new system should help compensate for the loss of two defensive ends from last year’s team, including sack master Jabaal Sheard. The rest of the front seven and secondary remain intact for the most part, giving the Panthers plenty of talent to work with on the defensive side of the ball. Depending on how quickly the players adjust to the 3-4 system, Pittsburgh could end up with one of the better units in the Big East.
Looking at the schedule, the Panthers are one of the few teams in a major conference that have a tougher out-of-conference slate. Pittsburgh travels to Iowa and has to play Notre Dame and Utah and home. In Big East play, home games against South Florida and Cincinnati and a road matchup against West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl look like the three big games. If the Panthers can win at least two out of three of those conference games, they should be in the thick of the Big East title fight.
Even with the loss of several NFL-caliber players on both sides of the ball, the Panthers have more than enough talent left to compete in the Big East. In the end, Pittsburgh likely comes up short against more complete West Virginia and USF teams. Two conference losses probably prevent the Panthers from winning the conference crown, but they will be a contender throughout the Big East season and will make a bowl game.
2011 Pittsburgh Panthers College Football Predictions: 7-5 Record
Preseason 2011 Pittsburgh Panthers NCAA Football Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 BCS Championship: +8000
Odds to Win 2011 Big East Champonship: +350
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2011 Pittsburgh Panthers College Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 3 Buffalo 6:00 pm —
Sat, Sep 10 Maine 1:00 pm —
Sat, Sep 17 at Iowa 12:00 pm —
Sat, Sep 24 Notre Dame TBA —
Thu, Sep 29 South Florida 8:00 pm —
Sat, Oct 8 at Rutgers TBA —
Sat, Oct 15 Utah TBA —
Wed, Oct 26 Connecticut 8:00 pm —
Sat, Nov 5 Cincinnati TBA —
Sat, Nov 12 at Louisville TBA —
Fri, Nov 25 at West Virginia TBA —
Sat, Dec 3 Syracuse TBA —
Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2011 Big East Football Predictions, Odds and Preview article.
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