SB Nation Pittsburgh - Syracuse Vs. Pitt: Panthers Grab Bowl Eligibility With 33-20 Win Over Orangehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-12-03T16:04:34-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23717512011-12-03T16:04:34-05:002011-12-03T16:04:34-05:00Syracuse Vs. Pitt: Panthers Win Over Sloppy Orange
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<p>Pitt defeated the Syracuse Orange Saturday 33-20 at Heinz Field to become bowl eligible.</p>
<p>The Panthers played a good game, but Syracuse will remember it as a mistake-prone contest. The Orange finished with 10 total penalties for 95 yards and while they did much better in that aspect in the second half (one penalty for five yards), the early mistakes plagued the team.</p>
<p>But even worse than the penalties were the turnovers. The Orange had six of them – four lost fumbles and two interceptions.</p>
<p>Still, Pitt wasn’t able to pull away and the Orange even had a chance late to win. They had the ball late in the fourth quarter deep in their own territory down only six. Antwuan Reed recovered a fumble for Pitt, though, and returned it for a touchdown, sealing the game for the Panthers.</p>
<p>Freshman running back Isaac Bennett filled in admirably in place of the injured Zach Brown. Bennett had only 51 yards on the ground on 13 carries, but also had 61 yards on seven catches and scored the first touchdown of the game.</p>
<p>Pitt now will wait to find out its bowl fate to see if they’ll be invited to postseason play.</p>
<p><a target="new" href="http://www.cardiachill.com">For more on Pitt and the game, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2608574/syracuse-vs-pitt-panthers-pittsburgh-syracuse-orange-2011-score-football-bowl-scenarioAnson Whaley2011-12-03T13:44:57-05:002011-12-03T13:44:57-05:00Syracuse Vs. Pitt: Panthers Lead 20-10 At Halftime
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<p>Pitt has a 20-10 lead on Syracuse at halftime in the final regular season contest for both teams. Sitting at 5-6 the winner of the game will get bowl eligibility, but not necessarily a guaranteed bowl spot.</p>
<p>Quarterback Tino Sunseri is having a good game so far. He’s completed 14 of his 19 passes for 179 yards and has a touchdown pass to Issac Bennett. Bennett is playing and got the start for Zach Brown, who isn’t playing today due to injury.</p>
<p>The story for Syracuse is penalties. The Orange have been penalized nine times for a whopping 90 yards in the first half. Pitt’s taken advantage and has put together four scoring drives. Kicker Kevin Harper has hit both of his field goal attempts on the day.</p>
<p>Pitt has faded in close games down the stretch this season, and it will be interesting to see what they do in the second half with a bowl game on the line.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com" target="new">For more on Pitt and the game, check out SB Nation blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2608312/syracuse-vs-pitt-panthers-score-picks-2011-big-east-to-acc-expansion-pittsburgh-orangeAnson Whaley2011-12-03T12:50:32-05:002011-12-03T12:50:32-05:00Syracuse Vs. Pitt Score: Panthers Up 17-7
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<p>Both Pitt and Syracuse added a touchdown in the first quarter and Pitt now leads 17-7.</p>
<p>The big news for Pitt is that Anthony Gonzalez has gotten some snaps as the backup quarterback. Gonzalez, though, hasn’t been doing any throwing. Both times he’s gotten in, he’s run with the ball. The first, though, was a big play as he scored the aforementioned Panthers touchdown.</p>
<p>Gonzalez was actually assumed to be the backup coming out of the Spring, but after a suspension in the offseason, has since been moved to H-back.</p>
<p>This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s being moved from that position as I mentioned that both plays were direct snap running plays. Another reason he may be assuming this role today is that wide receiver Ronald Jones, who typically has run these types of plays, is out with a concussion. But the possibility exists that we could see more of Gonzalez doing these types of plays.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cardiachill.com">For more on Pitt, check out SB Nation blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2608179/syracuse-vs-pitt-score-2011-pittsburgh-panthers-orange-football-big-east-acc-anthon-gonzalezAnson Whaley2011-12-03T12:15:28-05:002011-12-03T12:15:28-05:00Syracuse Vs. Pitt: Panthers Off To Fast Start With 10-0 Lead
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<p>Playing for a potential bowl game appearance, Pitt has gotten off to a fast start against the Orange.</p>
<p>Syracuse fumbled the ball on a short opening kickoff and the Panthers recovered it. On their first play from scrimmage, Tino Sunseri threw a touchdown pass to freshman Issac Bennett, apparently starting for an injured Zach Brown.</p>
<p>On the next Syracuse possession, Brandon Lindsey recorded an interception and the Panthers were in business again. After committing a roughing the passer penalty, Pitt moved into field goal range. The Panthers were unable to get a touchdown, but Kevin Harper came on and kicked a field goal.</p>
<p>Pitt now has a 10-0 lead only a few minutes into the game. Head coach Todd Graham is clearly pulling out all the stops as on the ensuing kickoff, Pitt tried a pooch/short kick to try to recover the ball again. Syracuse was able to hold onto that kick, but it was a bit of an adventure.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com" target="new">For more on Pitt football, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2608113/syracuse-vs-pitt-panthers-score-2011-football-pittsburgh-big-east-syracuse-orangeAnson Whaley2011-12-03T08:56:42-05:002011-12-03T08:56:42-05:00Syracuse Vs. Pittsburgh Game Time, TV Schedule And More
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/syracuse-orange" class="sbn-auto-link">Syracuse Orange</a> (5-6, 1-5 Big East) and Pittsburgh Panthers (5-6, 3-3) face off Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field with bowl eligibility on the line. The winner of the game will most likely play December 20 in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl. The loser goes home one win shy of a bowl game.</p>
<p>Syracuse started the season 5-2, but have lost four straight games, as the offense has fallen apart and the defense has given up huge chunks of yards and points in the past month.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh has lost four of six games, the last being a 21-20 heartbreaker to West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl.</p>
<p>Here are all the details you need for this afternoon's Orange vs. Panthers matchup:</p>
<p><b>Game date, time:</b> 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, December 3rd</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA</p>
<p><b>TV channel:</b> ESPN2/3</p>
<p><b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2607041/sbnation.com/ncaa-football/odds">Spread</a>:</b> Pittsburgh favored by 11.5</p>
<p><b>Series history:</b> Pittsburgh leads, 33-30</p>
<p><i>For more news and notes, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nunesmagician.com/">Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cardiachill.com/">Pittsburgh blog Cardiac Hill</a>. Here's the complete Week 14 <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/29/2596572/bedlam-conference-championship-games-tv-schedule-2011">college football TV schedule</a>, and stay tuned to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football">college football news hub</a> for more.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/3/2607712/syracuse-vs-pittsburgh-game-time-tv-schedule-and-moreT.J. Doyle2011-12-03T08:01:49-05:002011-12-03T08:01:49-05:00Syracuse Vs. Pitt: Panthers And Orange Look To Become Bowl-Eligible in Season Finale
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<p>Pitt and Syracuse head into the regular season finale hoping to salvage their year in some small way. Both teams are 5-6 and a win will make one of the two teams eligible for a postseason bowl game.</p>
<p>The Panthers under first-year head coach Todd Graham have been particularly disappointing. Pitt had eight home games this season and having averaged nine wins per season over the past three years. Now they are facing the prospect of their first losing season since 2007.</p>
<p>Pitt has been banged up all season and after watching starting running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75526/ray-graham">Ray Graham</a> several weeks ago, the team may be without backup Zach Brown, who was injured in last week's Backyard Brawl against West Virginia. If Brown is unable to go, look for freshman Issac Bennett to get the start in his place. </p>
<p>After a big win against the Mountaineers, Syracuse's train has fallen off the tracks. The Orange destroyed conference favorite West Virginia 49-23 in that game, but have promptly lost four straight games against Louisville, UConn, South Florida, and Cincinnati. That game against the Mountaineers remains the team's only conference win to date.</p>
<p>Both Pitt and Syracuse are 5-6, but the Panthers have probably been the more impressive of the two teams. They've suffered some close losses to good teams. In losses against West Virginia, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and Iowa, they've lost by a combined 11 points. This game is also a home contest for the Panthers, which should give the team an advantage.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that Todd Graham is a master motivator. I fully expect him to be able to sell this team on the fact that playing in a bowl game, no matter how minor it may be, is a big deal. The Panthers should be ready to play on Senior Day.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com">For more on Pitt and the game, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/12/3/2607296/syracuse-vs-pitt-panthers-2011-score-football-picks-prediction-2011-bowl-predictions-big-eastAnson Whaley