Panthers 14th in both polls

By Bob Smizik | Sunday 3:05 p.m.

It was a good weekend for the Pitt football team, although it didn’t play.

The Panthers moved up two places to 14th in the Associated Press football rankings. They advanced three slots in the USA Today poll to also place 14th.

In the AP pool, the Panthers leaped over No. 13 Oklahoma State, which was crushed by Texas, 41-14, and No. 14 Virginia Tech, which lost to unranked North Carolina.

Oklahoma State fell to 18th and Virginia Tech to 24th.

In the USA Today pool, the Panthers also passed Houston, which narrowly won over unranked Southern Mississippi.

Additionally, the Panthers last win, 41-14 over South Florida, was enhanced when the Bulls beat No. 20 West Virginia, 30-19.

Pitt completely stymied South Florida quarterback B. J. Daniels, holding him to 54 yards passing and 50 running. By contrast, Daniels went wild against West Virginia, passing for 232 yards and running for 104. He had more yardage than the entire West Virginia team.

In the latest NCAA statistics, freshman Dion Lewis is fourth in rushing with 128.63 yards a game and Bill Stull is fourth in passing efficiency with a rating of 161.09. He trails only Kellen Moore of Boise State and Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame.

 

 

 

Posted Nov 01 2009, 03:04 PM by Bob Smizik
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Comments

collegesportsfan wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Sun, Nov 1 2009 6:36 PM

Note that OSU moved up to 12th in Coaches poll but only to 15th in AP.  Cincy is 4th in AP but 7th in Coaches.  Iowa is 8th in AP but 4th in Coaches ... no real surprise.

joerevs300 wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Sun, Nov 1 2009 7:44 PM

Pitt's still got a long road, as they are going to have to beat Notre Dame and Cincinnati (both at home, however) to have a chance to win the Big East.

But let's not sleep on that WVU game either, especially since their chances to win the Big East evaporated with that ugly loss to USF.

They'd love nothing more than to knock their next door neighbor out of the running.

Let's not also forget the Panthers have teased us like this before under Walt Harris, only to lose ugly (against Miami) or unexpectedly (against Toledo).  They already have that loss to NC State which is looking worse with each passing week.

And even if they make a BCS game, let's hope they make a better showing than they did against Utah.  

In any case, this is all good for someone who is already a good recruiter (Wannstadt).  Say what you will about the guy but he's got people coming to Pitt that wouldn't have even considered it under Walt Harris, and he's recruiting areas (i.e. Florida) which also would have never thought about Pitt.

Now if we can only get a fan base to support the team, we'll be doing good. :)

(The Notre Dame game is not a factor in determining a Big East champ. -- Bob Smizik)

collegesportsfan wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Sun, Nov 1 2009 8:02 PM

Pitt is 13 in BCS which I assume means the computers like them.  Smart fellas!!

This Pitt team is much more talented than the 04 BCS team which tied for 1st with 3 other teams in a 7 team league.  If they make a BCS bowl this year, they certainly will earn it, and I expect to be pretty competitive.

Californication wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Sun, Nov 1 2009 11:56 PM

Logjam @ the top of the BCS....

1) Florida (8-0)

2) Texas (8-0)

3) Alabama (8-0)

4) Iowa (9-0)

5) Cincinnati (8-0)

6) TCU (8-0)

7) Boise State (8-0)

Someone is not gong to get a invitation to the BIG BCS dance this year.....

joerevs300 wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Mon, Nov 2 2009 8:01 AM

Bob,

Of course...however, I think it would be a stretch to say a 2 loss Pitt team, even under the BCS rules would be more deserving, or even a better team, than seeing someone like Boise State get shut out.

Really, the whole system is irrelevant except who is #1 & 2 in the BCS.  Everything else is about money.

JSS wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Mon, Nov 2 2009 11:43 AM

Let us all be confident in this team and take care of business as it comes to us.  Pitt can win all four of these remaining games but they can also lose them all.  I think this team has what it takes to win out but just want them to take them one at a time.  Cheer the Panthers onto victory against the Cuse this weekend, then we can worry about the rest.  

Always enjoy your thoughts, Bob.  

BlitzBurghDude wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Mon, Nov 2 2009 11:58 AM

joerevs,

Surely you're not implying that by beating ND, Cin & WVU that Pitt has any shot of playing in the BCS title game.  If not then Bob's point is valid that the ND game means nothing in determining the BE champ & accordingly is meaningless in whether Pitt plays in a BCS bowl game, since winning the BE is their ticket.

collegesportsfan wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Mon, Nov 2 2009 3:44 PM

way too many things would have to hapen for Pitt to play in title game .... even more remote than Pitt playing PSU in bowl game .. a little more remote than Pitt playng PSU in regular season in near future ... and even less remote than a playoff system being implemented

born2run wrote re: Panthers 14th in both polls
on Mon, Nov 2 2009 5:12 PM

Here is a wild scenario that would be a fitting conclusion to the BCS ranking:  Pitt wins out, and Cincy wins all but Pitt,  and they end up as the top 2 teams, as upsets happen everywhere and all the other teams have at least 2 losses.  The chances of that happening are no doubt very remote, but it is that kind of conclusion that would make it so obvious that a playoff system is needed.