Miami
3rd ACC7-5
Pittsburgh
3rd Big East7-5
Miami @ Pittsburgh preview
Heinz Field
It’s a non-conference game, but Miami and Pittsburgh badly need a victory when the former Big East rivals meet Thursday night in a nationally televised game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
Miami, ranked No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a mistake-filled performance at No. 2 Ohio State, which intercepted Hurricanes junior quarterback Jacory Harris four times in a 36-24 win. Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon sent a message loud and clear to his players after the loss to Ohio State that their performance was embarrassing on both sides of the ball.
Thursday's game is the second in a difficult stretch for Miami, which concludes with upcoming games at Clemson (Oct. 2) and against Florida State (Oct. 9).
Pitt, which started the season ranked No. 15, fell out of the Top 25 after a 27-24 overtime loss to Utah in its season opener. The Panthers rebounded with a 38-16 win against New Hampshire on Sept. 11, but off-the-field problems have created some turmoil. Three players have been suspended indefinitely and linebacker Dan Mason has been demoted from first team for disciplinary reasons.
Injuries have further depleted the Panthers, including standout defensive end Greg Romeus. The Big East co-defensive player of the year in 2009 is out indefinitely after having surgery this week to replace a herniated disc in his back. Safeties Dom DeCicco (hamstring) and Andrew Taglianetti (groin) also are nursing injuries.
To make things more difficult for Pitt, star running back Dion Lewis, who rushed for 1,799 yards last season, has been limited to 102 yards on 35 carries in the Panthers’ first two games, which has put more pressure on sophomore quarterback Tino Suseri to produce in the passing game.
Lewis needs to get untracked so the Panthers can play ball-control offense, but it won’t be easy against a Miami defense that is allowing only 262 yards per game and leads the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 12.5 a game, and is second in sacks, averaging 4.5 a game.
Despite the interceptions he threw against Ohio State, Harris and the Miami offense is capable of putting plenty of points on the board with its speedy and athletic receivers and backs. Miami’s special teams also could pose problems for PItt. Lamar Miller returned a kickoff 88 yards and Travis Benjamin returned a punt 79 yards, both for touchdowns, against Ohio State.
Neither team has played in 12 days.
Miami leads the all-time series 29-9-1. The last time the ‘Canes and Panthers met was 2003 when UM defeated Pitt 28-14.
The game will be a reunion for the two head coaches. Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt was the defensive coordinator at Miami in the mid-1980s when UM’s Shannon was a starting linebacker for the ‘Canes. Shannon also coached with Wannstedt when he was with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
Miami, ranked No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a mistake-filled performance at No. 2 Ohio State, which intercepted Hurricanes junior quarterback Jacory Harris four times in a 36-24 win. Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon sent a message loud and clear to his players after the loss to Ohio State that their performance was embarrassing on both sides of the ball.
Thursday's game is the second in a difficult stretch for Miami, which concludes with upcoming games at Clemson (Oct. 2) and against Florida State (Oct. 9).
Pitt, which started the season ranked No. 15, fell out of the Top 25 after a 27-24 overtime loss to Utah in its season opener. The Panthers rebounded with a 38-16 win against New Hampshire on Sept. 11, but off-the-field problems have created some turmoil. Three players have been suspended indefinitely and linebacker Dan Mason has been demoted from first team for disciplinary reasons.
Injuries have further depleted the Panthers, including standout defensive end Greg Romeus. The Big East co-defensive player of the year in 2009 is out indefinitely after having surgery this week to replace a herniated disc in his back. Safeties Dom DeCicco (hamstring) and Andrew Taglianetti (groin) also are nursing injuries.
To make things more difficult for Pitt, star running back Dion Lewis, who rushed for 1,799 yards last season, has been limited to 102 yards on 35 carries in the Panthers’ first two games, which has put more pressure on sophomore quarterback Tino Suseri to produce in the passing game.
Lewis needs to get untracked so the Panthers can play ball-control offense, but it won’t be easy against a Miami defense that is allowing only 262 yards per game and leads the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 12.5 a game, and is second in sacks, averaging 4.5 a game.
Despite the interceptions he threw against Ohio State, Harris and the Miami offense is capable of putting plenty of points on the board with its speedy and athletic receivers and backs. Miami’s special teams also could pose problems for PItt. Lamar Miller returned a kickoff 88 yards and Travis Benjamin returned a punt 79 yards, both for touchdowns, against Ohio State.
Neither team has played in 12 days.
Miami leads the all-time series 29-9-1. The last time the ‘Canes and Panthers met was 2003 when UM defeated Pitt 28-14.
The game will be a reunion for the two head coaches. Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt was the defensive coordinator at Miami in the mid-1980s when UM’s Shannon was a starting linebacker for the ‘Canes. Shannon also coached with Wannstedt when he was with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.