SB Nation Pittsburgh - Pitt Vs. Louisville: Panthers Drop Louisville 21-14https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-11-20T10:12:45-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23188532011-11-20T10:12:45-05:002011-11-20T10:12:45-05:002011 Bowl Projections: Penn State Still Currently Slotted For Outback Bowl
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Penn State Nittany Lions traveled to Columbus Saturday to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes, and left with a hard fought 20-14 victory over their Big Ten rivals. The victory set up a winner-take-all clash with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/wisconsin-badgers" class="sbn-auto-link">Wisconsin Badgers</a> next week for the Big Ten's Leaders Division title, and with it a berth in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game. Despite the victory, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/20/2575119/college-bowl-game-projections-week-13-2011">current SB Nation bowl projections</a> still place the Nittany Lions in the Outback Bowl on January 2, 2012.</p>
<p>Neither Pittsburgh nor West Virginia played Saturday. The Mountaineers are slotted to play in the Belk Bowl against Georgia Tech of the ACC, but the Panthers, still a win shy of bowl eligibility, no longer appear in the bowl projections. Pittsburgh will need to defeat either West Virginia or Syracuse in their final two games to become eligible for postseason play.</p>
<p>Here are <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/20/2575119/college-bowl-game-projections-week-13-2011">current bowl projections</a> for Penn State and West Virginia:</p>
<p><b>Belk Bowl, December 27, 2011</b></p>
<p>West Virginia vs. Georgia Tech</p>
<p><b>Outback Bowl, January 2, 2012</b></p>
<p>Penn State vs. Georgia</p>
<p><b><i>For more 2011 bowl projections, check out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football">SB Nation's college football hub</a>. For a complete bowl schedule, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/Ncf/News/Story?Id=6672862">click here</a>. For more on the Mountaineers, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.smokingmusket.com/">The Smoking Musket</a>. For all your Penn State news and notes, pop over to <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/Ncf/News/Story?Id=6672862">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Pittsburgh fans should check out <a href="http://www.cardiachill.com/">Cardiac Hill</a>.</i></b></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/11/20/2575288/bowl-projections-2011-penn-state-georgia-outback-bowlT.J. Doyle2011-11-12T16:09:20-05:002011-11-12T16:09:20-05:00Pitt Vs. Louisville: Panthers Holds Onto Bowl Hopes With First Road Win Of Season
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Pitt’s defense was the story today, helping the team to the win and making their hopes for a bowl game a bit brighter.</p>
<p>Pitt needs to win at least one more of its remaining two games against West Virginia and Syracuse to become bowl eligible and need to win both to be guaranteed a spot in a postseason bowl game.</p>
<p>Another thing that came out of today is that the team’s slim hopes for a <span class="caps">BCS</span> bowl appearance remained alive. Pitt is tied in second place with a slew of two-loss teams in the Big East. Previously undefeated Cincinnati lost to West Virginia on Saturday and are now only one game ahead of the pack. For the Panthers to have a chance, they need the Bearcats to lose again, which would create a large group of teams with two losses and lead to some strange tiebreaker, I’m sure.</p>
<p>Quarterback Tino Sunseri continued to play well enough for the team to have a chance to win. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 196 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. No one’s going to mistake him for Dan Marino or even Bill Stull, but with the season hanging in the balance, his effort today was a good one.</p>
<p>But back to the defense – the final score wasn’t as indicative of their effort as it should have been. Louisville’s first touchdown came after an incredibly bad seven-yard punt by Matt Yoklic (no, that’s not a typo – Seven. Yards.) leading to them getting the ball around the ten-yard line. The other touchdown came late with about 15 seconds left when Pitt had all but wrapped up the game.</p>
<p>The defense had a great game plan, harassing Teddy Bridgewater into an interception, sacking him three times, and maybe most importantly, getting off the field. They held Louisville to 3-11 on third down conversions and that was a big part of the win today.</p>
<p>Pitt now gets next weekend off and will square off in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on the following Friday. Extra days off couldn’t come at a better time as Pitt will need plenty of time to figure out a way to try to slow down the Mountaineers’ offense.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com" target="new">For more on the Louisville game and Pitt football, check out SB Nation Pitt blog, Cardiac Hill.</a></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/12/2557205/pitt-vs-louisville-football-score-pittsburgh-panthers-2011-bowl-predictions-bcs-big-east-bowlsAnson Whaley2011-11-12T15:24:29-05:002011-11-12T15:24:29-05:00Pittsburgh Vs. Louisville Final: Panthers Hold On, Win 21-14
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Despite a late surge by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/louisville-cardinals">Louisville Cardinals</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/pittsburgh-panthers">Pittsburgh Panthers</a> held on to win 21-14 and improve their record to 5-5 overall. The Pitt defense held the Cardinals offense in for much of the game. Louisville scored a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, but limited the team to just 280 yards of offense.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Panthers offense rolled right along behind quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri">Tino Sunseri</a> who threw for 196 yards a touchdown and another touchdown on the ground. As a team, the Panthers ran the ball for 200 yards and controlled the clock. Wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75541/devin-street">Devin Street</a> had a nice day, catching 6 passes for over 100 yards and tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37503/mike-shanahan">Mike Shanahan</a> once again caught a touchdown and picked up 55 yards on just 3 receptions.</p>
<p><b><i>For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit <a href="http://www.cardiachill.com/" target="blank">Pittsburgh blog Cardiac Hill</a> and <a href="http://www.cardchronicle.com/" target="blank">Louisville blog Card Chronicle</a>. Here’s the complete Week 10 <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/8/2546853/college-football-tv-schedule-oregon-stanford-georgia-auburn">college football TV schedule</a>, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news hub</a> for more.</i></b></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/12/2556997/pittsburgh-vs-louisville-final-panthers-hold-on-win-21-14Alfie Crow2011-11-12T14:19:20-05:002011-11-12T14:19:20-05:00Pittsburgh Vs. Louisville Score Update: Cardinals Cut Pitt Lead In Half, 14-7
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Louisville opened the second half with the football, but despite some nice sideline passes by quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/133918/teddy-bridgewater">Teddy Bridgewater</a>, the Cardinals couldn't get past mid-field and punted the ball right back to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh took advantage of their defense forcing the punt and marched down the field and scored another touchdown.</p>
<p>Quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri">Tino Sunseri</a> hit wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75541/devin-street">Devin Street</a> for 59-yards down the sideline on the first play of the drive. Two plays later, Sunseri hit tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37503/mike-shanahan">Mike Shanahan</a> for the 17-yard touchdown pass to increase the Panthers lead to 14-0.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh's defense once again stalled out a promising Louisville drive to get their offense the ball back, but Pitt's next drive was just an absolute disaster. The drive picked up -9 yards on just three plays and then punter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/99578/matt-yoklic">Matt Yoklic</a> shanked the punt out of bounds for just seven yards, giving Louisville the ball in striking distance on the 11-yard line. Two plays later, Victor Anderson ran the ball in from three yards out to cut the Pitt lead in half, 14-7.</p>
<p>Pitt ended the second-quarter drive down the field with their rushing attack, having just crossed midfield.</p>
<p><b><i>For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit <a href="http://www.cardiachill.com/" target="blank">Pittsburgh blog Cardiac Hill</a> and <a href="http://www.cardchronicle.com/" target="blank">Louisville blog Card Chronicle</a>. Here’s the complete Week 10 <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/8/2546853/college-football-tv-schedule-oregon-stanford-georgia-auburn">college football TV schedule</a>, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news hub</a> for more.</i></b></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/12/2556960/pittsburgh-vs-louisville-score-updateAlfie Crow2011-11-12T13:36:40-05:002011-11-12T13:36:40-05:00Pittsburgh Vs. Louisville Halftime Update: Offenses Stall, But Pitt Holds 7-0 Lead
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The offensive momentum from the first quarter didn't carry over to the second quarter. Pitt's drive stalled out, leading to a punt. Louisville got the ball back and went backwards, killing their drive from the start with an illegal block penalty. Despite a 26-yard run by quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/133918/teddy-bridgewater">Teddy Bridgewater</a>, Louisville was forced to punt. </p>
<p>Pitt teased on the ensuing drive as well when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri">Tino Sunseri</a> hit <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37503/mike-shanahan">Mike Shanahan</a> on a 24-yard pass, but after that the drive stalled. Pittsburgh punted the ball back to Louisville, who once again shot themselves in the foot early in their drive picking up another illegal block penalty. Bridgewater hit on back to back long passes to put Louisville in 3rd and short, but the Cardinals couldn't convert.</p>
<p>Pitt got the ball back and once again after a big play, a 20-yard run by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134010/isaac-bennett">Isaac Bennett</a>, the Panthers drive stalled to a stop. Sunseri was sacked for an 11-yard loss immediately after the long run and the drive stalled out from there. Pitt takes a 7-0 lead into halftime.</p>
<p><b><i>For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit <a href="http://www.cardiachill.com/" target="blank">Pittsburgh blog Cardiac Hill</a> and <a href="http://www.cardchronicle.com/" target="blank">Louisville blog Card Chronicle</a>. Here’s the complete Week 10 <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/8/2546853/college-football-tv-schedule-oregon-stanford-georgia-auburn">college football TV schedule</a>, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news hub</a> for more.</i></b></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/12/2556842/pittsburgh-vs-louisville-halftime-update-offenses-stall-but-pittAlfie Crow2011-11-12T12:46:13-05:002011-11-12T12:46:13-05:00Pittsburgh Vs. Louisville Score Update: Panthers Take An Early 7-0 Lead
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/pittsburgh-panthers" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Panthers</a> got the football first and made the most of their opening drive. Quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri" class="sbn-auto-link">Tino Sunseri</a> hit on all seven of his passes ad the Panthers marched right down the football field. The offense went on a 12-play, 80-yard drive eating nearly 6 minutes off the clock, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134010/isaac-bennett" class="sbn-auto-link">Isaac Bennett</a> to put Pitt to an early 7-0 lead.</p>
<p>Louisville got the football and began to go on their own drive, pounding the football with Victor Anderson and Daniel Brown, with quarterback Tyler Bridgewater hitting on some sideline throws. Louisville marched across midfield, but Bridgewater was intercepted by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75524/carl-fleming" class="sbn-auto-link">Carl Fleming</a> on a long pass down the field.</p>
<p>Pitt wasn't able to capitalize on the turnover, however, with their drive stalling out just after crossing the 50-yard line. Louisville's ensuing drive went no where and the Cardinals punted the football. Pittsburgh will begin the second quarter with a 7-0 lead.</p>
<p><b><i>For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit <a target="blank" href="http://www.cardiachill.com/">Pittsburgh blog Cardiac Hill</a> and <a target="blank" href="http://www.cardchronicle.com/">Louisville blog Card Chronicle</a>. Here’s the complete Week 10 <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/8/2546853/college-football-tv-schedule-oregon-stanford-georgia-auburn">college football TV schedule</a>, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news hub</a> for more.</i></b></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/12/2556702/pittsburgh-vs-louisville-score-updateAlfie Crow2011-11-12T08:00:55-05:002011-11-12T08:00:55-05:00Pittsburgh Vs. Louisville Game Time, TV Schedule And More
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/pittsburgh-panthers">Pittsburgh Panthers</a> (4-5, 2-2 Big East) visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/louisville-cardinals">Louisville Cardinals</a> (5-4, 3-1) in a Big East showdown. Pitt fell below the .500 mark with last week's narrow defeat to the No. 23 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/cincinnati-bearcats">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>, while Louisville has won its last three games--including an upset over the No. 24 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a>--after an uneven start. </p>
<p>Despite heading in opposite directions of late, Pittsburgh has owned Louisville head-to-head in recent years, winning each of the last three matchups by an average of 25.3 points while not allowing the Cardinals to score more than 10 points in any of those contests. </p>
<p>Pitt quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri">Tino Sunseri</a> has played brilliantly in the last two games, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and just one interception; he's rushed for 104 yards and two scores in those contests as well. </p>
<p><b>Game date, time:</b> 12 pm ET, Saturday, Nov. 12</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Papa John's Cardinals Stadium, Louisville</p>
<p><b>TV channel:</b> Big East Network</p>
<p><b><a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football/odds">Spread</a>:</b> Cardinals favored by three</p>
<p><b>Series history:</b> Series tied, <a href="http://cfbref.com/tiny/MQUqh" target="blank">7-7</a></p>
<p><b><i>For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit <a href="http://www.cardiachill.com/" target="blank">Pittsburgh blog Cardiac Hill</a> and <a href="http://www.cardchronicle.com/" target="blank">Louisville blog Card Chronicle</a>. Here’s the complete Week 10 <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/8/2546853/college-football-tv-schedule-oregon-stanford-georgia-auburn">college football TV schedule</a>, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s <a href="sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news hub</a> for more.</i></b></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/12/2554855/pittsburgh-football-schedule-louisville-game-time-tvEvan Dunlap2011-11-11T12:00:57-05:002011-11-11T12:00:57-05:00Pitt Vs. Louisville: Panthers Try To Salvage Football Season In Road Game Against Cardinals
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Believe it or not, but football season isn't quite over yet in Pittsburgh. The Panthers have three more games left and with the Big East title a long shot, the primary goal of Pitt is getting to a bowl game. And at 4-5, a bowl game is far from a given. The team needs to find a way to win two out of three games against Louisville, Syracuse, and West Virginia.</p>
<p>It all starts this Saturday and Pitt would be wise to come out swinging to secure a victory. It won't be easy, but a noon game against Louisville is a bit less threatening than going into a potential night game against West Virginia with in a must-win situation.</p>
<p>Pitt enters the game having played fairly well in their past two contests. They defeated UConn 35-20 a few weeks back and held a ten-point lead against Cincinnati, the top team in the Big East, before losing. Pitt is capable of winning this game against Louisville, who comes in only one game better than Pitt in the standings and having played a far weaker non-conference schedule. But the Cardinals are on a roll, having won their last three games including beating Rutgers (a team that beat Pitt), Syracuse, and preseason favorite West Virginia.</p>
<p>Like many of the teams the Panthers have faced, Louisville doesn't have a great offense. But the Cardinals do boast a 15th ranked defense and have held four teams to 14 points or less this season.</p>
<p>Freshman quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/133918/teddy-bridgewater">Teddy Bridgewater</a> leads the Louisville offense and he provides an opportunity for Pitt's defense to force some turnovers. Bridgewater has thrown at least one interception in five of his past six games and is clearly mistake-prone. He will get much better as his career goes along, but for now, he's still a first-year quarterback.</p>
<p>Pitt quarterback, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37486/tino-sunseri">Tino Sunseri</a>, meanwhile, has been playing better since being named the starter for the rest of the season. Over the past two games, he's thrown for 637 yards, three touchdowns, and has only one interception against two good defenses. There's no guarantee that will continue as he faces another strong D and he's certainly shown flashes of the old Tino, but he has looked more comfortable of late and has generally played better.</p>
<p>This is bound to be a close game, and at home, I'm tempted to go with Louisville. But I'm still not sold on the Cardinals and after Pitt gave Cincinnati all they could handle last weekend, I think they come out and get a narrow win.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cardiachill.com">For more on the game and Pitt football, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill.</a></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/11/2553008/pitt-vs-louisville-score-football-pittsburgh-panthers-big-east-expansion-bowl-game-cardinalsAnson Whaley