***(Write-up assumes…AP plays —- with the terrible news we’ve learned Friday)
Both of these teams have struggled so far this season, especially Minnesota who made the playoffs last year and has been totally flat all season long. The trouble has been at the quarterback spot which is why they acquired Josh Freeman after he was jettisoned by the Bucs…anything is an improvement over Christian Ponder.
Pitt is now in the ACC but this game should feel a little familiar to the Panthers as they visit Blacksburg to face their old Big East pals the Hokies. So far Pitt has fared reasonably well in their new league, the only hiccup being getting blitzed by Florida State in the opener, not shame in that.
The end of July marks the start of most NFL training camps as all 32 teams begin preparations for a run at Super Bowl XLVIII. While Bovada’s has released its NFL futures odds in a number of areas, we want to dig deeper into the ones for a team’s chances to win its division. This time around we will focus-in on the NFC South.
The Falcons have taken an early commanding lead in the NFC South at 3-0 while the Bucs and Panthers are 1-2 and the Saints are, surprisingly, 0-3.
Both the Giants and the Panthers rebounded from season opening losses and the panthers looked very impressive last week beating the Saints at home.
Both the Saints and Panthers lost their season openers and one of these NFC South teams will be in a 0-2 hole early in the season. After breaking the passing yardage record last season he struggled in his first game not completing 50% of his passes after completing over 70% last season.
As the NFL season approaches the NFC South may be the most wide open one and I think every team, yes even the Panthers, have a legit shot to win the division. The Saints have Drew Brees back in the fold, but will their tumultuous off-season catch up with them?
UCONN (17-12) is the defending champion, but they have really sputtered down the stretch and have lost 3 of their last 4 games including their last 2.
The Pittsburgh Panthers will host the West Virginia Mountaineers as the two Big East rivals meet in the “Basketball Backyard Brawl” for the 184th time on Thursday night at the Peterson Events Center.
Pitt (11-7) has beaten Syracuse (19-0) in 8 of their last 9 match ups including the last 5 at the Carrier Dome, but the Orange are undefeated and the top-ranked team in the nation while the Panthers are reeling and have lost their first 5 Big East games.
The SMU Mustangs, out of Conference-USA tangle with the Big East’s Pittsburgh Panthers this upcoming Saturday in the BBVA Compass Bowl from Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Saints (12-3) have already wrapped up the NFC South and the 3rd seed in the playoffs, but if they win this game and San Francisco loses to St. Louis New Orleans will have the 2nd seed and a bye in the first round in the post season.
How will the Pittsburgh Panthers respond to a shocking loss this past week? Pitt was rolling along in the top ten before falling at home to unranked Wagner. The Panthers must put the pieces together quickly as they travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame Tuesday night.
An intriguing AFC South battle comes our way on Sunday – intriguing not because the two teams are grappling for top spot but intriguing because both teams are far from where most thought they would be at this point of the season.
No. 17 Pittsburgh Panthers improved to 6-1 on the season with their win over Duquesne, while the Tennessee Volunteers continue to struggle, and followed up their Chaminade win with a loss on Monday to the Golden Grizzlies, 89-81.
The Syracuse Orange will look to add a crucial sixth victory to their 2011 resume when they travel to Heinz Field this Saturday for a Big East regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
