If you have the stomach for it, discuss and predict.

I'll go with

Rice 10
Pitt 38

Pitt's results:
W 28-21 vs. FCS Youngstown State in OT
L 33-14 @ Penn St (currently ranked #4)
L 59-21 vs. Oklahoma St (currently ranked #15)
L 35-17 @ Georgia Tech (currently receiving some votes)

The OT game against Youngstown state looks pretty bad at first glance. But they are the #9 ranked FCS team on Massey and I'm glad Rice isn't playing them. Being behind at 49-14 against Oklahoma St at the half looks Rice-like. But Pitt was only down 14-3 against Penn St at halftime and only down 21-17 against Georgia Tech at halftime, telling me they can hang with decent opponents a lot better than Rice has been able to.

I don't see any reason to expect Rice to win. And based on looking tolerable against Penn St and Georgia Tech, Pitt probably isn't as bad as some would lead you to believe. They have lost to 3 top-50 teams, and twice at least looked like they belonged on the same field for a good chunk of the game. Ranked #79 on the Massey composite. A game I would have looked forward to if this was 2008 or 2013. A game I dread most other years.

Rice 13
Pitt 45

42-3 Pitt.

45-10 Pitt. And hope I'm wrong.

56-10 (roughly doubled the CH score) and it will be over by halftime as this is the game where Pitt takes all their frustrations out, remember VMI in 69 and 70 or UNT in 08? I bet the 96 or 97 teams might have beat them (geesh that's 20 years ago), maybe 08, not 13.

Current line is 20 and that actually moved a little to Rice from open. It seems like most of us here think the spread should be bigger.

(09-25-2017 06:24 PM)DFW Owl Wrote:  Current line is 20 and that actually moved a little to Rice from open. It seems like most of us here think the spread should be bigger.

Most of us here have seen Rice play, at least on the tube if not live.

Against my better judgement, offering a prediction.

If we can get over a some key injuries...
Pitt 38 Rice 6.

I have very little expectations from our offense.

ESPN gives Rice a 7.6% chance of winning. That's more than they gave the Owls against Stanford or UH.

Of course, they gave Rice a 60+% chance of beating FIU, and that didn't work out so well.

Rice 19, Pitt 24.

Rice 2, Pitt 0.

Yay defense.

What's the award for best prediction?

I'm sticking with 45 - 14 Pitt. They'll look good for the first time this season. Over by halftime.

(09-25-2017 08:17 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Rice 19, Pitt 24.

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After reading the articles on Pitt's QB woes, the defense should have a good game. Both teams seem to have similar poor offensive performances. I look for us to win the turnover battle, but lose a close game. Pitt 10, Rice 3.

(09-25-2017 10:12 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  After reading the articles on Pitt's QB woes, the defense should have a good game. Both teams seem to have similar poor offensive performances. I look for us to win the turnover battle, but lose a close game. Pitt 10, Rice 3.

I’m very concerned about our special teams coverage. Pitt has a great return man who returned one to the house on Saturday.

Most of Pitt’s receivers on Saturday looked like Rice players though, in that they went down at first contact. Very few broken tackles.

No TV coverage for the game listed on riceowls.com

Per Pitt's webpage, it will be on the ACCN. I assume that is the ACC network.

According to Sagarin, Pitt is ranked 61st and has played the 3rd toughest schedule. Rice is ranked 156th and has played the 73rd toughest schedule.

Against better opponents, Pitt has scored 80 points on 638 yards rushing and 813 yards passing. Pitt has 3 fumbles lost and 4 INT thrown.
Against lesser opponents, Rice has scored 48 points on 681 yards rushing and 487 yards passing. Rice has 4 fumbles lost and 3 INT thrown.

Against better opponents, Pitt has allowed 148 points on 880 yards rushing and 1095 yards passing. Pitt has recovered 5 fumbles and has 3 INT.
Against lesser opponents, Rice has allowed 127 points on 542 yards rushing and 1098 yards passing. Rice has recovered 1 fumble and has 1 INT.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI):
Pitt is ranked #70 of 130 and is -2.7 points below average.
Rice is ranked #125 of 130 and is -19.6 points below average.

According to ESPN's Team Efficiencies (50 is average, numbers adjusted for strength-of-schedule and down-weighted for garbage time):
Pitt's offense/defense/special teams have scores of 44.5/30.5/76.6. Overall 39.5.
Rice's offense/defense/special teams have scores of 16.4/24.2/49.4. Overall 14.6.

(09-25-2017 10:46 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  Per Pitt's webpage, it will be on the ACCN. I assume that is the ACC network.

You can access that through the “WatchESPN” app or website.

(09-25-2017 10:32 PM)greyowl72 Wrote:  No TV coverage for the game listed on riceowls.com

Fox Sports SW