We're not Pitt's easiest game, according to this article, which was posted on Alan Shelby's Rice Update today.

Rather, we're rated as their 2nd easiest ... after the Panthers' season-opening game against depleted FCS title game participant Youngstown):

Quote:11. Sept. 30 vs. Rice The Owls went 3-9 last fall and are trending in the wrong direction under longtime head coach David Bailiff. Rice loses all of their starters at the offensive skill positions and had one of the nation’s worst defenses in 2016.

Ouch.

Wow. What did they say about Youngstown?

(07-25-2017 08:47 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Wow. What did they say about Youngstown?

"Former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini brought the once proud Penguins back into FCS title contention, leading Youngstown all the way to the national title game in 2016. But Pelini’s crew suffered significant losses and this game should be an easy victory for the Panthers."

(07-25-2017 08:08 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

Quote: Rice loses all of their starters at the offensive skill positions.

Apparently he sees losing Stehling as a blow we cannot overcome. Clearly, the RB position was left bare - maybe we can find a walk-on. Same for WR.

(07-25-2017 08:08 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  We're not Pitt's easiest game, according to this article, which was posted on Alan Shelby's Rice Update today.

Rather, we're rated as their 2nd easiest ... after the Panthers' season-opening game against depleted FCS title game participant Youngstown):

Quote:11. Sept. 30 vs. Rice The Owls went 3-9 last fall and are trending in the wrong direction under longtime head coach David Bailiff. Rice loses all of their starters at the offensive skill positions and had one of the nation’s worst defenses in 2016.

Ouch.

Utterly ridiculous.

There is no way the Rice-Pitt score will be closer than the YSU-Pitt score.

(But I'll still go. Got to have another Primanti Bros. sandwich!)

To write that Rice is the second easiest team is not insulting when viewing Pitt's schedule. Their other two non-conference games are @Penn State and Oklahoma State. Add to that a brutal ACC slate, and Rice should be seen as an easy game.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE
@Penn State
OKLAHOMA STATE
@Georgia Tech
RICE
@Syracuse
N.C. STATE
@Duke
VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA
@Virginia Tech
MIAMI, FLA.

(07-26-2017 11:51 AM)illiniowl Wrote:  Utterly ridiculous.

There is no way the Rice-Pitt score will be closer than the YSU-Pitt score.

(But I'll still go. Got to have another Primanti Bros. sandwich!)

Pitt looks to have a pretty tough schedule. At least eight of Pitt's opponents are top-25 candidates. Rice is going to be little more than a week of rest for the Panthers, just like the Youngstown game. Normally, I would expect Youngstown to put up a bit of a fight, but since YSU apparently lost a lot of key players, they probably won't be able to hang with Pitt for more than a quarter.

Oh, and Pitt beat Clemson in Death Valley last year. Yep.