Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh Game Preview
by Lenny Del Genio
Thursday, September 23rd, 7:45 ET
(Matchup)

Former Big East rivals Miami and Pittsburgh meet Thursday night on ESPN in what should be a very competitive game with drastic reprecussions for the loser. Both schools were expected to challenge for its respective conference championship, but each has already suffered a non-conference loss meaning whoever goes down Thursday night falls to 1-2. The early betting line has the visiting Hurricanes favored by 3.5 points.

This will be the first time these two schools have played since Miami left the Big East in 2004. The Canes won that prior meeting 28-14 as a three-point road favorite here at Heinz Field for their eighth straight victory over the Panthers and 14th and 15 tries. Perhaps its worth noting that Pitt was outgained in five of the last six meetings and done so by an average of 185 yards per game.

There is a coaching connection here as Pitt HC Wannstedt served as defensive coordinator at Coral Gables under Jimmy Johnson from 1986-88. Miami HC Shannon was a starting LB on the 1987 team.

Back to this year, both squads had hoped to come into this game unbeaten. Miami's loss was more excusable as it came playing at #2 Ohio State twelve days ago. "The U" did not cover as 8.5-point underdogs in the 36-24 defeat. Said Shannon, "Ohio State is a good football team, a great football team, but we made so many mistakes we didn't give ourselves a chance."

Those mistakes Shannon spoke of included eight penalties and four interceptions thrown by QB Jacory Harris. Those problems underscore a deeper problem for the Canes as in five key road games under their current head coach - at Virginia Tech (twice), Florida St, Oklahoma and Ohio State - they've been outscored by a whopping 188-61 margin while going 0-5 ATS. Harris threw 17 INT's last year, so that's another thing to keep an eye on.

Miami has not played since the Ohio State loss and will be trying to avoid back to back regular season losses for the first time since the final two games of the 2008 season.

Pittsburgh suffered its defeat in the season opener, also on the road, at Utah. The only difference is that they were far more competitive in a 27-24 overtime loss, which did drop them out of the Top 25. Wanny and company rebounded with a win over an FCS opponent, New Hampshire, by a score of 38-16. Neither of these teams has beaten an FBS opponent yet this season.

The Panthers may have larger issues than a 1-10 SU record vs. non-conference, ranked opponents (since '96) as freshman tailback Jason Douglas (DUI) and reserve offensive lineman Keith Coleman (aggravated assault) have been suspended indefinitely. Both players were arrested, as was defensive end Jabaal Sheard in July for an off-campus fight. On the field, RB Dion Lewis has been held to just 102 yards on 35 carries.

Totals players take note that Miami has gone Under in 27 of 37 games with a total between 49.5 and 56.