Syracuse (4-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) travels to Pittsburgh for a conference bout with the Panthers (2-3, 1-1) on Saturday at 12:20 p.m. at Heinz Field.

The Orange enters the game coming off a demoralizing last-minute loss at No. 3 Clemson, while Pitt went and got drubbed by No. 13 Central Florida, 45-14. Syracuse has looked the better team all season, even in last weekend’s loss, but the Orange has struggled with Pitt in recent years, especially on the road.

Below, our beat writers pick their winners.

Andrew Graham (5-0)

This pick will be easier for basketball season

Syracuse 31, Pittsburgh 23

The Orange averages nearly 500 yards of offense per game; the Panthers surrender about 430. Pitt’s offense struggles to score, and Syracuse’s defense only gives up 21.4 points a game, 45th best in college football. On paper, Syracuse shouldn’t have much trouble dispatching a weak Pitt squad Saturday. But demons from last Saturday’s loss at No. 3 Clemson, despite the full-steam-ahead mindset from the Orange, won’t feel like they’re fully banished unless SU picks up an important win Saturday. After upsetting Clemson a season ago, Syracuse lost every game. This year’s iteration of the Orange is much better than last year’s, and it will prove that Saturday by doing what past teams have rarely done: winning a toss-up conference game on the road. It probably won’t be pretty and Syracuse’s run defense needs to come to play — Pitt loves to keep it on the ground — but the Orange are just that much better. And that makes all the difference in the world.

Josh Schafer (5-0)

Dilly dilly

Syracuse 42 Pittsburgh 17

Syracuse won’t be heading to the pit of misery this year. In the last two seasons, Syracuse failed to win an elusive fifth game. That won’t be the case in 2018. The Orange have played far more consistent this season than they have in year’s past. Against Clemson, Syracuse’s defense tallied four more sacks and now has 17 on the season, tied for 11th in the country with Clemson. If the Orange can pressure Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and force the Panther to be one dimensional, it will be more than fine.  

Matt Liberman (4-1)

There’s no T’Challa

Syracuse 41, Pittsburgh 24

There are two glaring reasons to look at this game as one in favor of Pitt. First is the fact that Syracuse has struggled mightily at Heinz Field. SU hasn’t won on the road against Pitt since 2001, and the last time the Orange played there, they gave up 76 points in 2016. Another reason would be because of last week’s loss. Where it was such a demoralizing result in the way Syracuse lost to Clemson, I wouldn’t be surprised if SU came out of the gates slowly and struggle to come back. That said, SU is the better team all-around and the Panthers basically do not have a passing game. And there is no Travis Etienne suiting up for them.

Published on October 6, 2018 at 11:03 am