CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: Geolion91 on September 05, 2017, 10:21:30 AM
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Time for the next edition of Penn State's rivalry with the Panthers.
Penn State looked strong with a big win over Akron; however, you can never tell with MAC teams. Is Penn State really good, or is Akron really that bad.
On the other side, this doesn't look like the same Pitt team as last year, escaping with a close win against Youngstown State.
Personally, I'm looking forward to Penn State avenging the loss from last year, with The Lions taking Pitt behind the woodshed.
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I'll be disappointed if PSU doesn't beat the snot out of them
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Penn St leads the all-time series 50-43-4.
They played every year from 1900-2000 except 1932-34 and 1993-96.
In the 1890s, Penn St took both games in 93 and 96.
In the 19-ots, Pitt won in 03 and 07
In the 1910s, Penn St won in 11, 12, and 19
In the 1920s, 20 and 21 were ties, but then Pitt won out the decade.
In the 1930s, they played every year except 32-34. Pitt won every year except 39.
In the 1940s, Pitt won in 40, then Penn St took the next three. After that Pitt won out the decade except 47, which went to Penn St.
In the 1950s, Penn St went 5-4-1 vs Pitt.
In the 1960s, Penn St won every game except 63 and 65, which went to Pitt.
In the 1970s, Penn St won every game except 76 and 79, which went to Pitt.
In the 1980s, Penn St again went 5-4-1 vs Pitt. Just like the 50s.
In the 1990s, They played every year except 93-96. Penn St swept the decade.
So far this millennium, they have only played twice. Pitt won both games, in 2000 and 2016.
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I had looked at going to this game, but I had several in-laws that expressed interest in going to a game and the $200 per ticket was not doable for them.
Should be an awesome atmosphere, the stands will be rockin'.
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Penn St leads the all-time series 50-43-4.
They played every year from 1900-2000 except 1932-34 and 1993-96.
In the 1890s, Penn St took both games in 93 and 96.
In the 19-ots, Pitt won in 03 and 07
In the 1910s, Penn St won in 11, 12, and 19
In the 1920s, 20 and 21 were ties, but then Pitt won out the decade.
In the 1930s, they played every year except 32-34. Pitt won every year except 39.
In the 1940s, Pitt won in 40, then Penn St took the next three. After that Pitt won out the decade except 47, which went to Penn St.
In the 1950s, Penn St went 5-4-1 vs Pitt.
In the 1960s, Penn St won every game except 63 and 65, which went to Pitt.
In the 1970s, Penn St won every game except 76 and 79, which went to Pitt.
In the 1980s, Penn St again went 5-4-1 vs Pitt. Just like the 50s.
In the 1990s, They played every year except 93-96. Penn St swept the decade.
So far this millennium, they have only played twice. Pitt won both games, in 2000 and 2016.
25 home games for PSU, 75 away games in the series.
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25 home games for PSU, 75 away games in the series.
Don't let UM fans hear you say that
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In the early years, all the games were in Pittsburgh. No one wanted to travel to State College, took too long.
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I know, just like the UM-MSU series. But up the fact that the first like 50ish games of the series were almost exclusively played in Ann Arbor, when MSU was still MAC, a small ag school, to give some perspective, and watch out.
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rivalry game, I'd like to see Pitt give them at least a half, so we can see how PSU responds to some adversity, but Barkley is so freaking good, as long as PSU is not stupid and gives him 20-25 carries they should win by at least a couple TDs.
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Getting embarrassed in Ann Arbor by Michigan last year hurt. But losing to Pitt is what has really stuck around for a full year, particularly after the coaches got the rivalry amped back up going into last year. It's amazing how much has changed since that game ended a year ago. For Pitt, perhaps Narduzzi was beginning to install the consistency that the program has lacked, seemingly since the days of Marino. For Penn State, perhaps James Franklin's days were numbered, an elite recruiter who wasn't able to translate it to game days. Now, Pitt is mired in the same inconsistencies that haunted Chryst and Graham and Wannstedt and really every Pitt coach. Just when they show you the talent is there, they struggle to put wins together. Penn State finished last year as hot as anyone in the country, and now have their eyes set on a College Football Playoff appearance, unthinkable 365 days ago. Perhaps the most important difference from last year is that Matt Canada was hired away, and Joe Moorhead was not. Canada was the most underrated playcaller in the nation last year, and he had the Nittany Lions defense stymied. Without him, and their entire offensive backfield lost to the NFL (Nathan Peterman and James Conner), and suspensions to arguably their best player on each side of the ball (OL Alex Bookser and DB Jordan Whitehead), Pitt looks to be in trouble. Penn State looked like there might as well have been no offseason, the offense picking up right where it left off to close 2016. The nature of Pitt is that you'd expect them to nearly lose that game last week to Youngstown State and turn around and beat either Penn State or Oklahoma State, before dropping to Virginia or someone like that, but I just don't see it. The game was close last year, and that was in front of a 50-50ish crowd in Heinz Field, not a rowdy Penn State crowd; Penn State hadn't yet found its groove; and Pitt had Canada, Peterman, Conner, Bookser, Whitehead). I'm not sure this will get out of hand ugly, but I don't see any way Pitt keeps it close either.
PENN STATE 35, PITTSBURGH 17
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Penn State and the Nitts fans have come to except getting their butt kicked by Michigan as just part of their place in the Big Ten. If Narduzzi has Pitt's defense playing like some of his teams at Michigan State it would be a good idea for Penn State to have a couple other QBs ready. Who do the Nitts have in reserve?
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Penn State and the Nitts fans have come to except getting their butt kicked by Michigan as just part of their place in the Big Ten. If Narduzzi has Pitt's defense playing like some of his teams at Michigan State it would be a good idea for Penn State to have a couple other QBs ready. Who do the Nitts have in reserve?
Penn State's 2nd string QB is Tommy Stevens. He and Trace McSorley were neck and neck trying to win the starting job last year. Ultimately Trace prevailed, but it was very close. Stevens has made several appearances in games, and has always played well. In addition, Franklin and the players have made many remarks about how good Stevens is.
Stevens is more of a threat to run, and he is built like a fullback. He's made a couple of draw-dropping plays on offense in the past. I feel good about PSU's top 2 QBs.
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Still, it is always a concern to have to go to your backup QB. Stevens runs like a freight train, but we would definitely be more 1 dimensional if he had to take over.
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I was expecting Pitt to just get blown up on the lines of 52-7. However the Pitt D seems decent this year.
Pitt's offense is just plain lack of talent. Now a good QB can cover up for a lack of offensive talent but that doesn't appear to be Max Browne. I saw this coming after the way the Pitt offense looked after Conner and Nate were knocked out of the bowl game. Its the same offense and Canada leaving has little bearing on it. The gameplan worked great in the 1st half though, just turnovers and not scoring in the red zone did them in. PSU was always going to win but it could have been a 1 score game going into the 4th.
McSorley seems like he always wants to scramble but I don't think he's very accurate at all throwing on the run at all (in the pocket though, very good). Also any D would be fine having him gain 50 or so yards on the ground becuase it means Barkley isn't getting the ball.
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McSorley looked off on Saturday. He is usually more accurate than he was, even on the run. Pitt prepared well to get him off balance.
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This game was weird to watch for me. My daughter had a softball tournament outside of Charlotte so I watched some of this game while on an elliptical with the sound down while at the same time keeping an eye on my kids swimming in the hotel pool in the next room.
So, I was watching but wasn't as dialed in as someone watching at home would be. I say all of that to say it looked like Pitt was working Penn St but the score in the right corner of the screen kept telling me otherwise. But every time I looked up Pitt was pressuring McSorley, stuffing Barkley, or getting a nice run from #37 (Ollison?).
Idk. I didn't watch the entire game but what I did watch and how I digested it didn't match up with the score.
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This game was weird to watch for me. My daughter had a softball tournament outside of Charlotte so I watched some of this game while on an elliptical with the sound down while at the same time keeping an eye on my kids swimming in the hotel pool in the next room.
So, I was watching but wasn't as dialed in as someone watching at home would be. I say all of that to say it looked like Pitt was working Penn St but the score in the right corner of the screen kept telling me otherwise. But every time I looked up Pitt was pressuring McSorley, stuffing Barkley, or getting a nice run from #37 (Ollison?).
Idk. I didn't watch the entire game but what I did watch and how I digested it didn't match up with the score.
Yeah, I didn't watch a ton, with it being up against the MSU game, but Pitt got more pressure with their front than I would have expected. The only part of the Pitt defense I had any confidence in was the secondary, and without Whitehead, I didn't even think the back would be good. Not sure if they are better than I thought, or PSU has some offensive line issues.
Their offensive backfield doesn't look like what you'd expect a Power 5 team to field.
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PSU looks like an almost complete team to me. That is rare.
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Penn State didn't try Barkley outside much in the first half. In the second half, they started taking him outside more, and had some success. I don't know if they made any adjustments at the line, or just changed up the play calling.
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I didn't get to watch much either, but how's mscorely looking? his stat sheet for this game was kind of blah. just over 50% completion, 5.9 avg. did he struggle? or is it breaking in the new WR's that's the issue?
one game is probably nothing to worry about, but I thought he'd have a pretty good day against Pitt.
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I didn't get to watch much either, but how's mscorely looking? his stat sheet for this game was kind of blah. just over 50% completion, 5.9 avg. did he struggle? or is it breaking in the new WR's that's the issue?
one game is probably nothing to worry about, but I thought he'd have a pretty good day against Pitt.
He was under a lot of pressure. He wasn't great, but the OL looked as bad as I've seen them since the UM game last year.
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I didn't get to watch much either, but how's mscorely looking? his stat sheet for this game was kind of blah. just over 50% completion, 5.9 avg. did he struggle? or is it breaking in the new WR's that's the issue?
one game is probably nothing to worry about, but I thought he'd have a pretty good day against Pitt.
In the first half he was off. He was missing passes he normally hit, and he was also not stepping up in the pocket like he normally does. He kept scrambling and leaving the pocket before he needed to. He settled down in the second half and played a much better game.
Honestly, Pitt's offense is responsible for keeping Penn State's offense off of the field. The TOP difference was crazy.
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I wasn't happy about the TOP difference. I was worried about the defense getting gassed in the second half.